New features in the Windows 8.1 Start button

Description: This blog post gives a description of new functions in the Windows 8 start button.

Microsoft has an update of Windows 8 called 8.1. One of the most popular features on it is the re-addition of a Start button.
 
Some of the new features it comes with are:

1. It's a visible button that takes the user to the Start Screen with a left click.
   
   
   
   
2. Right clicking on it will provide a number of features such as:
   
   
   • Shut down options.
     
     
     
     
   • Quick and easy access to various Management features (e.g. Control Panel, Run window, etc.)
     
     

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Tech Tip: How to boot into the Desktop instead of the Modern User Interface in Windows 8

Description: This article will show you how to tell Windows 8 to start on the desktop as opposed to the Modern User Interface.

1. On the Modern User Interface click at the hotspot in the lower right corner
   
   
   
   
2. Click on Search on the toolbar.
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Settings
   
   
   
   
4.  In the search box type schedule
   
   
   
   
   • Click on Schedule Tasks
     
     
5. At the Task Scheduler screen select Task Scheduler Library
   
   
   
   
   • On the right under Actions click on Create Tasks
     
     
6. At the Create Task screen name the task, here we're naming it Show Desktop at Logon. You can choose what you like.
   
   
   
   
7. Click on the Triggers tab
   
   
   
   
   • Click on the New button
     
     
8. On the New Trigger screen click on the down arrow and select At Log On
   
   
   
   
   • Click OK
     
     
9. On the Actions Tab click on New
   
   
   
   
10. At the New Actions screen for the program/script name enter explorer
    
    
    
    
    • Click on OK
      
      
11. Click on OK on the Create Task window.
    
    
    
    
12. The next time you restart you will be taken to the desktop.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Tech Tip: How to create a Picture Password in Windows 8

Description: This article will show you how to create a picture password for entry into Windows 8 that uses dots (single clicks) or dragged lines instead of a word as a password. Designed for the touch screen, this method can be utilized on any platform using Windows 8 using either a touch screen or a mouse.

1. Click on the hotspot in the lower right corner to activate the charm menu.
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the Settings Charm.
   
   
   
   
3. Click on More PC Settings.
   
   
   
   
4. Under PC Settings click on Users.
   
   
   
   
   • Click on create a picture password.
     
     
5. At the welcome to picture password screen click on Choose picture.
   
   
   
   
6. Select the picture you are using for your lock screen background.
   
   
   
   
   • Click on Open.
     
     
7. If this is the picture you intend to use click on Use this picture.
   
   
   
   
8. You will now be asked to create a pattern using 3 strokes. The strokes can consist of either a single mouse click (a dot) or a dragged straight line. Both are shown below.
   
   
   
   
   • You will then be asked to repeat the pattern and save the password.

Click here to watch a video on this topic!

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Microsoft announces Windows 8 release date

Yesterday, Microsoft officially unveiled the release date for its next operating system. Looks like Friday, October 26^th is when you’ll finally be able to get your hands on the Windows 7 follow-up. Windows President Steven Sinofsky made the announcement yesterday during Microsoft's sales meeting. This date holds true for both new PCs and upgrades, though there’s still no mention if this includes Microsoft's tablet, Surface. Seemingly, we’ll have to wait a little longer for that...

Source: Microsoft

Tech Tip of the Day: Windows 8 Storage Space

Description: This article is a walkthrough on setting up a Storage Space in Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

A Storage Space is a collection of hard drives or drive partitions that are combined in to one storage device, or "Storage Space". Unlike with a RAID, these drives can be different speeds and sizes and retain all available space. Additionally it provides file duplications options (much like RAID 1) that will ensure your data is stored in duplicates on two separate drives, in case one fails.

1. Beginning at the Windows 8 Start screen, right-click in an open area and choose All Apps.
   
   
   
   
2. From the All Apps menu, scroll to the right and choose Control Panel.
   
   • You may notice that instead of a colored background with a Metro icon, many items have a grayed background with a Windows 7 style icon. This means it will open in the Windows 8 Desktop, which works much like it has in previous versions of Windows.
     
     
     
     
3. Windows 8 will switch to Desktop mode and open the Control Panel.
   
   
   
   
4. In the Control Panel, search for Storage Spaces by entering it in the top right, then click on Storage Spaces in green.
   
   
   
   
5. On the Manage Storage Spaces screen, select Create a new pool and storage space, then grant permission when prompted.
   
   
   
   
6. The next screen will show available drives. Note that the OS drive cannot be used, and that any formatted drives will be erased in the process - so make sure you back up all of your data before proceeding. Select the drives to use and click on Create Pool.
   
   
   
   
7. The next page will give options regarding how to set up the Storage Pool. By default it will mirror the files on both drives, which will reduce the size of the end result (shown here in the Logical Size) by half. You could also choose None as the resiliency type and change the Logical Size in order to create a single disk-spanning storage space. Click on Create Storage Space to finalize the settings and create the Storage Space.
   
   • Since the drives are formatted when you create a Storage Space, don't be afraid to play around here to find the right combination, as long as all data is backed up.
     
     
     
     
8. Once it has been set up, the Manage Storage Spaces screen will appear again. In our case it shows here that it is using 2.5GB of space out of the gate, but when looking at the Storage Space from Explorer, it doesn't. At this point, the process is complete and the Storage Space is ready to use.
   
   
   
   
9. The drive is shown here as Unnamed after completion, at this point it can be used as normal and the process is complete.
   
   

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.