Windows 8

How To: Use Metro Apps in Desktop View on Windows 8.1

Metro apps are pretty nice, but they absolutely suck on a Windows desktop with a mouse and keyboard. That's to be expected though, since Metro (also known as Modern UI or Microsoft design language) was created mainly with touch input in mind for Surface Pros and Windows Phones.

How To: Get Windows 8.1 Today for Free

Microsoft released a preview version of Windows 8.1 today, notably adding an updated Start screen, the ability to run several Windows 8 apps side by side in a number of configurations, fully integrated search, better HiDPI support for multiple monitors, and for those who miss it, options to bring back the Start button or boot straight to the desktop.

How To: Scan Removable Drives for Malware with Windows 8's Built-In Antivirus Scanner

Windows has its own built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender, which kinda sounds like a sweet arcade game, but it actually does a pretty good job of protecting your Windows PC from spyware and malware.

How To: Share Your Windows 8 PC's Internet with a Phone or Tablet by Turning It into a Wi-Fi Hotspot

These days, there is hardly a place in America that doesn't have access to the internet. But with web usage fees and ridiculous cell phone provider contracts, sometimes it's still necessary to go a little DIY when it comes to staying connected.

How To: Create a System Image Backup of Your Entire Windows 8 PC

There is nothing worse than losing valuable information or programs on your computer. And if you've ever accidentally deleted a file or document, you know how agonizing that entire process can be.

How To: Capture Unauthorized Users Trying to Bypass Your Windows 8 Lock Screen

Who wouldn't want to know if someone was trying to log onto their personal computer without their permission? Be it your annoying co-worker or your girlfriend, there are many cases where people may try to gain access to your desktop or laptop.

How To: Get Your Windows 8 PC to Automatically Wake from Sleep Whenever You Want

I rarely ever turn my desktop off. For starters, it takes a few minutes to boot up, which I hate, and secondly, putting the computer to sleep is perfectly adequate. You really only need to completely shut down your computer every once in a while.

How To: Bored with Your Surface Pro? BlueStacks Lets You Run Any Android App on Windows 8

Now that the Surface Pro is out, you can game your heart out and get down with some serious Minecrafting. You're not just limited to downloading apps in the Windows Store anymore, like with the Surface RT. You can install a lot of Windows-compatible programs on the Surface Pro, but still, with this being a mobile device, it'd be nice to have some more mobile-feeling apps. And thanks to BlueStacks, you can. BlueStacks has helped people without Androids and iPhones get popular apps on their dev...

SWEAT: A Better Way to Edit and Replace Your Text in Windows 8

Editing and formatting large amounts of text can be a hassle. From finding and replacing words to creating uniform spacing, text editing can be a real drag. But with this Windows application, you can take your text edit skills to the next level.

How To: Play SNES Games on the Windows Surface RT and Windows 8 with This Free Emulator

In a huge win for Windows 8 and Surface owners everywhere, a free SNES emulator appeared in the Windows Store last month called Snes8x—and it's awesome.

How To: 7 Great Music Apps for Windows 8

Everyone listens to music. I've got over 3,000 songs in my iTunes library, but am always looking for more, and I'm sure you are too. You can never have enough tunes to rock out to, right? If you're using Windows 8 like I currently am, these are some of the best apps in the Windows Store right now that will help you find new jams for your collection.

How To: Your Complete Guide to Using Remote Desktop on the Microsoft Surface and Windows 8

Remote Desktop gives you access to your Windows 8 PC or device from wherever you are to run your applications and access your files remotely.

How To: The 7 Best Discovery and Wonder Apps for Your Windows 8 Device

There is never a dull moment when it comes to the internet. You can find practically anything you want, whenever you want it. To make that process even smoother and more direct, companies have created a bunch of apps designed to help you find what you're looking for, or enlighten you on a subject you may not have even thought of yourself.

How To: Remove Facebook Ads from Internet Explorer 10 on Your Microsoft Surface

I think most people can agree that advertisements are just annoying. There is only one day out of the entire year when commercials and advertisements are actually welcomed, and that's the Super Bowl. But, since it can't be the Super Bowl every day (if only), those ads that float around on your Microsoft Surface's screen are just obnoxious. Luckily, there is a way to get rid of them, on Facebook at least. Facebook is one of the most visited sites in the world, so having the ability to hide ads...

How To: The Top 8 Free News and Information Apps in the Windows Store

"You can never know too much" is a saying you hear all the time. Funny thing is, I have no idea where it originated, and neither do most of the people who continually say it. Nevertheless, it's a statement that very few would argue with.

How To: Clear All Caches and Free Up Disk Space in Windows 8

Clearing the cache on your computer is (usually) a quick and easy way to help speed it up. Deleting those temporary files frees up space, helping you computer run smoother, especially if you have not cleared the cache for a extended period. However, finding the different caches in Windows 8 is a little trickier than in previous Windows systems.

How To: The 5 Best Social Networking Windows 8 Apps (for Free)

Many social networks have become a part of our daily routine. Checking Facebook or sending out a Tweet are things millions of people do every single day. So, one would think that having a great app offering for Windows 8 would be a no-brainer. But, and this is a huge but, there are still no official Twitter or Facebook apps for Windows 8.

How To: Get the Windows 8 Desktop and Start Screen (Or Taskbar and Start Screen) on the Same Display

I've been using Windows 8 for a few months now, and it's definitely not as terrible as some people say, but it definitely isn't as revolutionary as the big wigs at Microsoft had hoped for.

How To: How You Could Remove Ads from Windows 8 Apps (And Even Unlock Paid Apps for Free)

The beauty of free apps is that, well, they're free. But as we all know, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Sometimes these "free" applications are only feature-limited mini versions, or they're so littered with ads that opting to pay for it is the only way to actually enjoy it.

How To: Build Your Own Apps for Windows 8 from Practically Any Touchscreen Device

TouchDevelop is a browser-based programming tool that allows anyone to build your own Windows 8 apps directly from any touchscreen device, including iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone, Android, PC and Macs. Once the script is created and the app proves to work, it can be placed in the Windows Store for free or purchase.

How To: Pin Your Favorite Websites to the Windows 8 Start Screen for Faster Browsing

Speed—not only is it a great movie, it's something we need from our computers; launching, downloading, uploading, etc. Fast speeds is one of the most important things for any computer process. But that's not all. We also want to get to our favorite sites faster, and in Windows 8, it's as easy as creating a shortcut on your Start screen.

How To: The 10 Best Free Games in the Windows 8 App Store Right Now

As people continue to upgrade their PCs to Microsoft Windows 8, more and more developers are adding content to the Windows Store. While the offerings are not as vast as Google Play or the iTunes App Store, it does have some solid apps for both productive users and those looking to just while away the time.

How To: Watch Free Live-Streaming TV Shows More Easily in Windows 8

When money's tight and you're tired of re-watching and re-watching your gigantic DVD collection, there's always live television. Of course, you probably don't have cable, which means you're resorting to a homemade antenna like this to get broadcasted channels in your area. But, let's face it—it's just not good enough.

How To: Hack Lets You Fully Activate a Bootleg Copy of Windows 8 Pro for Free

Anything free is cool, but getting a fully upgraded operating system for the great price of nothing is downright awesome. A recent exploit was uncovered that allows users to get a free copy of Windows 8 Pro directly from Microsoft's own website. Seriously.

How To: Use Hot Corners More Easily in a Dual Monitor Windows 8 Setup Using Mouse Trapper

Using a second monitor is great for multitasking, especially if you tend to max out your computer's brain power on tons of simultaneously running apps that you want to see, well, simultaneously. That second screen becomes more like a lifesaver.

How To: Disable the Time-Wasting Lock Screen in Windows 8

For many busy people, time is of the essence, and for others, it's simply just being impatient. But no matter what your vice, having your computer start up as quickly as possible is usually a plus for anyone.

How To: Missing Time in Windows 8? Add a Free Live Tile Clock to Your Start Screen

What time is it? It's a question that you'll find yourself asking a million more times throughout your life, but one that hardly goes unanswered. When you're on your phone or at your desktop, there is almost always some type of clock available to immediately give you the time.

How To: Take Screenshots (And Crop Them) in Windows 8

I know what you're thinking—taking a screenshot is super simple. While that is partly true, taking of a screenshot of the Start Screen in Windows 8 is little bit tricky, unless you're on your Surface.

How To: Add a Custom Background Image to Your Windows 8 Start Screen

Like most new things, the Start Screen in Windows 8 has its adorers and detractors, but either way you slice it—it's here to stay. I'm still getting used to the Start Screen, so I'm not sure if it's a love or hate feeling yet, but I do know one thing—I want my own background!

How To: Automatically Add Bing's Daily Background Images to Your Windows 8 Lockscreen

Windows 8 gives you a few different options for the image you want to appear on your lockscreen, whether it's a PC or Surface, but if you're the kind of person who gets bored easily, you may want more to choose from.

How To: Use the Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 8

So, you've got Windows 8 now, but what about all of those keyboard shortcuts that took you years to memorize? Just because Windows 8 is geared more toward touch interactions, doesn't mean keyboard shortcuts are gone—they're just a little different.

How To: Get Windows 8's Metro-Style Start Screen and Charms Bar on Older Versions of Windows

Last week, we showed you how to bring the classic start menu to Windows 8. Now, we're going to show you how to bring the new Metro start menu to older Windows versions! WinMetro

How To: Create a Restore Point in Windows 8

Restoring your computer to a previous point is an extremely important thing if something goes wrong. I've restored my computer at least a dozen times after downloading some suspicious software or running into an error I couldn't remedy on my own.

How To: Group and Organize Your Start Screen Tiles in Windows 8

Keeping your computer organized and your desktop clutter-free can be pretty difficult. And with last week's official release of Windows 8, users have another screen they need to get used to organizing—the new Metro-style Start Screen. It uses large rectangular or square tiles in place of the standard icons you've seen on older Windows operating systems. For better organization and grouping, you can group similar items onto a page (similar to many smartphones), you increase or decrease the siz...

How To: Run Windows 8's Desktop and Metro Views Simultaneously Using a Second Monitor

The new Windows 8 operating system pushes the Metro interface hard, but not all of your apps will play nicely in Metro, which means you'll need to resort to the traditional desktop environment for some of your favorite programs. As a result, it has left many users picking between the two—Metro or traditional? Fortunately, there's a way to run them both simultaneously with the use of second monitor. In the video below, Donald Bell of CNET explains how you can run both interfaces simultaneously...

How To: Get Windows Media Center for Free on Windows 8 Pro

Can't play your DVD movies on your brand new Windows 8 system? That's because Microsoft decided to omit Windows Media Center from Windows 8 this time, instead making it available as an extra download—and it's not free anymore. At least, it won't be next year.

How To: Bring the Classic Start Menu Back in Windows 8

Microsoft's most anticipated OS has finally arrived, and there's no doubt that all of you out there who snagged a copy of Windows 8 are excited to see what's new. But while Windows 8 has received plenty of rave reviews, some users are upset about one controversial change—the missing Start menu. The implementation of the new Metro interface has rendered the old Start menu unnecessary, but some folks just want what they're used to. If you're one of those users who wants the classic Start menu i...

How To: Use Gestures to Control Windows 8 Touchscreen Devices

Windows 8 has been reimagined to take full advantage of touchscreen devices as the "future" of computing. A few years ago, touchscreen devices were super buggy and only played well with smartphones, but with the advent of the iPad and a ton of other tablets, touchscreen capabilities have spread to full-sized desktops and even televisions.

How To: Set Up Parental Controls with the Family Safety Settings in Windows 8

The internet is full of information and entertainment, but if you have children, you might want to put a cap on what sites they have access to. While it may be a free world out there, it doesn't mean that little Mickey should be free to roam the web during his downtime (or uptime, if you know what I mean).

How To: Add, Delete, and Modify User Accounts in Windows 8

Configuring user accounts is extremely important for those with a family shared computer or anyone using a work computer. Assigning different accounts with their own distinctive accessibility, customizations, and applications is the best way to manage a computer with multiple users.