If you are new to Windows 8, you may find this Metro desktop a little annoying and you may want to use the default Desktop style. It is pretty easy to switch from Metro to classic Desktop mode and vice-versa.

Method 1: Using Desktop icon

1 Click on Desktop

2 The result

You are now on the classic Desktop and use your computer like Windows 7/Vista …

3 Switch between Desktop and Metro

If you want to go back to Metro interface, from the classic Desktop, press the Start button.
Alternatively, you can press the Windows key to switch between these 2 desktop modes.

Method 2: Windows key + D

1 Press Windows+D

Press in the same time the Windows + D keys. You will switch to classic desktop mode.

Method 3: Using Windows key

1 Press the Windows key

Press the Windows key to switch between these 2 types of desktops: Classic and Metro.

Method 4: Using Start button

1 Find the Start button

Go to the bottom-right side of your screen and put the mouse hover this icon.

2 Click on Start

Then, a new vertical menu will appear (also called Charms menu).
Then, click on the Start button.

3 The result

You are now on the classic Desktop. To switch back, press the Start button again (on the classic Desktop, the Start button is in the bottom-left side of your screen).

The post Windows 8 How Switch To Desktop Mode appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

Method 1: Windows + X

This method works for both desktop modes: Metro and classic.

1 Press Windows + X

2 Access Control Panel

Now you can click on the Control Panel link.

Method 2: Using Windows Explorer

1 Press Windows + E

Press Windows + E keys.

2 This PC

Then click on This PC

3 Go to Computer

Then click on the Computer tab.

4 Go to Control Panel

Then click on Open Control Panel.

Method 3: Search it

1 Open the Search menu

Press Windows + Q keys in the same time.

2 Search it

Then search for Control Panel.

Note: Make sure that Everywhere is selected.

Tip: if you right click on Control Panel icon, you can Pin it to taskbar and you will always have it in the bottom of the screen.

Method 4: Run menu

1 Press Windows + R

2 Search it

Then type control panel, then hit Enter or press Ok.

The Control Panel is now visible.

Method 5: Through Metro interface

1 Go to Apps view

Move the mouse down (to bottom-left) until an arrow will appear. Then click on this arrow.

2 Go to Control panel

Then, a new window will appear, with different applications and buttons. You can swipe to the right (yes, there are more items to the right) and click on Control Panel.

Alternatively, you can search for it in the search bar.

Tip: if you right click, then you can click on Open File Location and from there you can create a shortcut to Control Panel on your desktop.

The post How To Get To Control Panel In Windows 8 appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

For the new features, Windows shows tips and small windows with tutorials that will disappear after you use that feature for a couple of times.

Although you don’t have a touchscreen device, Windows 8.1 shows this message and you can’t close it.
“Switch between apps. Swipe in from the left edge to go back to the last app .. Begin with your finger outside of your screen”.

If you have a touchscreen device, performing the actions (from the message) will make the message to disappear. But if you don’t have it,you need to close this annoying message.

1 The message

2 Go to Search

Press Windows + Q keys, to go to Search menu.

3 Go to Device Manager

Search for “device manager”, then click on it.

4 Go to Human Interface Devices

Double click on it and a menu will expand.

5 Disable touch screen

Right click on HID – compliant touch screen and then click Disable

6 Confirm the Disable

Choose Yes. Then the message will disappear.

The post How To Disable Switch between apps Message in Windows 8.1 appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

To see how you can manually switch between Start(Metro) and Classic desktops on Windows 8 check this tutorial.

Method 1: via Control Panel

1 Go to Control Panel

2 Appearance and Personalization

Then go to Appearance and Personalization

3 Taskbar and Navigation

Then click on Taskbar and Navigation

4 Go to Navigation

Click on Navigation tab.

5 Boot directly to classic desktop

Then check the option “When i sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start”.
Then click Apply and Ok.

Next times when you start Windows, the first screen will be the classic desktop instead Start (Metro).

Method 2: From Taskbar

1 Go to classic Desktop

In you are on the Start(Metro) desktop, then press Windows + D keys to go to classic Desktop.
(for other methods to switch between Start(Metro) and classic Desktop check this guide.

2  Right click on Taskbar

Right click on Taskbar, then click Properties.

3 Go to Navigation

Go to Navigation tab.

4 Change the default desktop

Check the option “When i sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start”, then click Apply and Ok.
Next time, when you start computer, the default desktop will be the classic one.

The post How To Boot/Start Directly to Desktop in Windows 8.1/8 appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

Here is a list with essential hotkeys (keyboard shortcuts) that every new or experienced Windows 8 user should know.

Windows Key

Windows + D

Go to the classic Desktop, from the Start screen.

Ctrl + Esc

From the Desktop, go to the Start (Metro) screen.

Windows Key

Show or hide the Start screen. usually will switch between classic Desktop and Start screen.

Windows + C

The vertical menu from the right is called the Charms menu. By pressing these keys, you will activate it, no matter where you are (Desktop or Start screens).

Windows + Q

Activate the Search window.

Windows + E

Open Windows 8 File Explorer. From here, you can access all hard drives, CD-ROM, USB, network computers and essential Windows folders such as Downloads, Pictures, Documents.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

It will open Task manager menu. From here you can check the hardware usage (CPU, RAM), view active applications and processes, terminate them and more.

Windows + X

Open a vertical menu with important links. From here, you can access Control Panel, Power Options, Programs, Search and many other essential Windows features.

Windows + R

For medium and advanced users, this command will open a small window where you can access different Windows features searching by name. For example, cmd will open the command line, control panel will open the Control Panel and so on.

Windows + Enter

This is a text-to-voice feature of Windows which is able to read for you different documents, texts or to read aloud what you are doing. Is useful for people with disabilities.

If you have activated Windows Narrator by mistake, press again Windows + Enter to close it.

Windows + M

This command will minimize all windows and will let a clean desktop.

Alt + Space + N

This command will minimize only the active window (only one window). To minimize all windows, press Windows Key + M.

Ctrl + Shift + N

Create a new folder. You can give it a name immediately by typing it.

Windows + L

Lock the computer (exit from the current working screen). Then, you can login as another user or if someone wants to login, must enter the password (if that user has a password).

Alt + Tab

Do you have many windows opened? You can switch between them, one by one, pressing Alt + Tab

The post Essential Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts (Hotkeys) appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

Here thee are a few ways to shut down a Windows 8 computer.

Method 1: Using Charms menu

This method works when you are on the new Metro interface.

1 Open Charms menu

2 Go to Settings

Click on Settings

3 Power menu

Click on the Power button

4 Shut down

Click the Shut down button.

Method 2: Alt + F4

1 Go to Desktop

If you are not on the classic desktop, then press Windows + D to go there.

2 Alt + F4

Press once on your desktop background, then press Alt + F4

3 Shut down

The Shut down option should already be selected. If not, select it and then press Ok.

Method 3: Create a custom shortcut

1 Go to desktop

If you are on the Metro (Start) interface, go to classic desktop by pressing Windows + D

2 Create new shortcut

Right click on your desktop, then choose Shortcut.

3 shutdown /p

Then copy and paste this text  shutdown /p

shutdown /p

Then click Next

Then click Finish

4 Change the icon

We will change the icon image, to not shut down the PC by mistake. Right click on the shortcut, then choose Properties.

5 Change icon

Go to Shortcut tab, then click Change icon

 Click Ok if you have this message. Then wait until new window will appear.

6 Choose icon

Choose an icon, then press Ok.
There are many icons, drag the bottom bar to view more of them.

Then click Apply and Ok

7 Add it to Taskbar

Right click on the shortcut, then choose Pin to Taskbar

8 Show down the PC

The Shut down button is now on your Taskbar.
When you click once on it, the computer will be turned off.

Method 4: Right click on Start button

This method works for Windows 8.1

1 Go to Desktop

Press Windows + D keys.

2 Start button

Right click on the Start button.

3 Shut down

Go to Shut down or sign out, then choose Shut down.

 

Method 5: From the Logon Screen

This method works if you have a password for computer access. To learn how to add a password read this guide.

1 Logoff

Press Windows + L keys to logoff.

You should see a screen like this. Click once on it.

2 Shut down

Click the power button from the bottom right corner, then choose Shut down.

The post How To Shutdown Windows 8 appeared first on CrocoTIPS.

Method 1: From the Charms menu

1 Open Charms menu

3 Restart

Method 2: Using Alt + F4

1 Go to Desktop

2 Alt + F4

Click once on your desktop, then press Alt + F4.

3 Restart

Choose Restart and press Ok.

Method 3: Using Custom Shortcut

We will create a custom shortcut which can be added to Taskbar and you can use it anytime to restart the PC with a single mouse click, like we did for the shut down process.

1 Go to Desktop

Press Windows + D to go to Desktop.

2 Create shortcut

Right click on desktop, then choose New, then choose Shortcut

3 shutdown /r /t 0

Then enter these text and click Next.

shutdown /r /t 0

NOTE:  at the end is “zero”, not the letter O.

Then rename the shortcut to restart.exe and then click Finish.

4 Change its icon

We want to change its icon image with another one, to not restart the computer by mistake.
Right click on the shortcut, then choose Properties.

5 Shortcut tab

Go to Shortcut tab, then click Change icon.

Click Ok if you have a message like this.

6 Choose icon

Choose an icon, then click Ok.

Then click Apply and Ok.

7 Pin to Taskbar

Right click on the icon, then choose Pin to Taskbar.

8 Restart

You can delete the icon from Desktop. We have it now on the Taskbar.
If you click once on it, the computer will be restarted.

The post How To Restart Windows 8 appeared first on CrocoTIPS.