Windows 8 Tweaks -- Contents -- Introduction -- Part I: Getting Started with Windows 8 -- Chapter 1: Selecting the Right Edition -- Edition Comparison -- Consumer and Business Editions -- Enterprise Edition -- Edition Matrix -- Add Features to Windows 8 -- Summary -- Chapter 2 -- Chapter 2: Installing Windows 8 -- Understanding the Install Media -- 32-Bit or 64-Bit? -- Installing from USB -- Understanding the Install Process -- Using the Upgrade Install Process -- Using the Clean Install Process -- Dual-Booting Windows -- Creating the VHD File on Windows 7 -- Installing Windows 8 to a VHD -- Using Windows To Go -- Why Enterprises Only? -- Building the Windows To Go Workspace -- Summary -- Chapter 3 -- Chapter 3: Windows 8 Basics -- Using the New Interface -- Using the Start Screen -- Using Charms -- Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows Store Apps and the Start Screen -- Using the Classic Desktop -- What's New? -- Using Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts -- Summary -- Chapter 4 -- Chapter 4: Safe Tweaking -- Using System Restore -- Creating Restore Points -- Reverting to a Previous State -- System Recovery Console -- Accessing the System Recovery Console -- Using the System Recovery Console Tools -- Creating a Backup Image -- Creating the Image -- Restoring a System Image -- Using One-Click Recovery -- Using Refresh Your PC -- Using Reset Your PC -- Summary -- Part II: Customizing Windows 8 -- Chapter 5: Customizing the Startup -- Customizing the Lock Screen -- Changing User Pictures -- Hiding Users on the Lock Screen -- Clearing the Last User Logon -- Changing the Lock Screen Screensaver -- Displaying a Security Message -- Enabling Num Lock by Default -- Changing the Lock Screen Image -- Tweaking Default Color Scheme -- Customize Lock Screen Apps -- Using a Picture Password -- Enable PIN Logon -- Boot To Desktop -- Summary -- Chapter 6.

Chapter 6: Customizing User Navigation -- Customizing the Start Screen -- Changing the Background and Colors -- Working with Live Tiles -- Creating Custom Tiles -- Administrative Tools -- Restoring the Classic Start Menu -- Customizing the Taskbar -- Pinning Applications -- Modifying Icon Locations -- Tweaking Jump Lists -- Enable Classic Taskbar Look and Behavior -- Customize Taskbar Icon Sizes -- Tweaking Taskbar Preview Delay -- Restore Classic Quick Launch Bar -- Modifying the Taskbar Location -- Customizing the Notification Area -- Restoring the Start Button -- Using Group Policy Editor to Customize the Start Screen and Taskbar -- Setting Policies with the Group Policy Editor -- Changing Start Screen and Taskbar Policies -- Summary -- Chapter 7 -- Chapter 7: Personalizing the Desktop -- Customizing the Desktop Icons -- Removing All Icons from the Desktop -- Customizing the Icon Drop Shadow Effect -- Displaying Windows System and User Icons on the Desktop -- Adjusting the Size of Desktop Icons -- Renaming the Recycle Bin -- Customizing the Shortcut Arrow -- Customizing the Icons -- Customizing the Desktop Background -- Automatically Rotate Your Wallpaper -- Desktop Gadgets -- Summary -- Chapter 8 -- Chapter 8: Customizing the Appearance of the Windows Interface -- Working with Themes -- Changing the Current Theme -- Downloading More Themes -- Making Your Own Theme -- Automatic RSS Background Themes -- Making the Desktop Interface Touch Friendly -- Supersize the Interface -- Enable Large Icons -- Skinning Windows 8 -- Using Hacked Visual Styles -- Changing the Look of Windows 8 Via WindowBlinds -- Adding More Skins for WindowBlinds -- Summary -- Chapter 9 -- Chapter 9: Fine-Tuning File Explorer -- Customizing Windows Layout -- Customizing Panes -- Tweaking Search -- Customizing the Ribbon -- Modifying File Associations.

Customizing the Context Menu -- Removing Items from the Context Menu -- Modifying the Send To Menu -- Working with Libraries -- Creating Your Own Libraries -- Customizing Your Folders -- Changing a Folder Icon and Picture -- Changing the Template of a Folder -- Customizing the Folder View -- Applying Your Settings to All Folders -- Working with Hidden Files -- Showing Hidden Files -- Revealing the Super Hidden Files -- Summary -- Chapter 10 -- Chapter 10: Personalizing Internet Explorer -- Customizing Search -- Adding Popular Search Engines -- Managing Your Configured Search Engines -- Adding Custom Search Entries -- Creating Registry Files to Import Sites to Search -- Tweaking the Tabs -- Tab Keyboard Shortcuts -- Multitab Homepages -- Customizing Tabs -- Fun with RSS -- Subscribing to Feeds -- Customizing Feed Settings -- Using Add-ons in Internet Explorer -- Using ieSpell -- Using RoboForm -- Advanced Internet Explorer 10 Features -- Using Accelerators -- Using Pinned Sites -- Summary -- Chapter 11 -- Chapter 11: Customizing Windows Media -- Adjusting Your Audio Experience -- Bass Boost -- Virtual Surround -- Room Correction -- Loudness Equalization -- Headphone Virtualization -- Customizing Windows Media Player -- Tweaking the User Interface -- Sharing Your Library -- Sharing Your Library over the Internet -- Using Audio Effects -- Customizing Media Center -- Installing Windows Media Center -- Turning Your PC into a DVR -- Summary -- Part III: Increasing Your System's Performance -- Chapter 12: Analyzing Your System -- Monitoring Your System Hardware -- Using the Resource Monitor -- Using Performance Monitor to Get More System Stats -- Using the Reliability Monitor -- Using Event Viewer -- Understanding Blue Screens -- Using Task Manager -- Benchmarking Your System -- Windows Experience Index -- Benchmarking with PCMark 7 -- Summary -- Chapter 13.

Chapter 13: Speeding Up the System Boot -- Working with the BIOS -- Changing the Boot Order of Your Drives -- Using the Quick Boot Feature of the BIOS -- Modifying the Operating System Boot -- Windows Boot Manager -- Disabling the System Boot Screen -- Disabling Unneeded Hardware Devices -- Removing Extra Fonts for Speed -- Disabling Unneeded Services -- Optimizing the Location of the Boot Files -- Summary -- Chapter 14 -- Chapter 14: Speeding Up the Logon Process -- Speeding Up the Logon -- Using a PIN Instead of a Password -- Enabling Automatic Logon -- Adjust the Startup Programs -- Customizing Auto-Start Programs for Other Users -- Other Time-Saving Tips -- Turning Off the Logon Sound -- Summary -- Chapter 15 -- Chapter 15: Speeding Up Windows Explorer -- Speeding Up File Browsing and Access -- Disabling Legacy Filename Creation -- Disabling the File Access Timestamp -- Adjusting NTFS Memory Allocation -- Speeding Up the User Interface -- Fine-Tuning Performance Options -- Adjusting Animations -- Adjusting Explorer's Search -- Adjusting Search Settings -- Adjusting Windows Indexing Service -- Using Windows Search without an Index -- Summary -- Chapter 16 -- Chapter 16: Optimizing Core Windows Components -- Windows Loves RAM -- Adding RAM to Your Computer -- Using a USB Storage Device to Add Memory -- Tweaking the Paging File -- Disabling the Paging File -- Adjusting the Size of the Paging File -- Changing the Location of the Paging File -- Defragmenting Your Hard Drive -- Using the Windows Defrag Utility -- Using Third-Party Defrag Utilities -- Upgrading to an SSD -- Selecting an SSD -- Replacing Your Traditional HDD with an SSD -- Adjusting Your Application Priorities -- Using Task Manager to Adjust Priorities -- Starting Applications with a User Set Priority -- Summary -- Chapter 17 -- Chapter 17: Optimizing Your Network.

Optimizing Your Web Browser -- Speeding Up Internet Explorer -- Speeding Up Firefox -- Speeding Up Chrome -- Accelerating Your Downloads -- Speeding Up Your Network Connection -- Tweaking Auto Tuning -- Disabling Unneeded Protocols -- Summary -- Part IV: Securing Windows -- Chapter 18: Windows Security -- Actively Protecting Your Computer -- Staying Up to Date -- Active Security Tips -- Controlling Your Computer Accounts -- Using Complex Passwords on All Your Computer Accounts -- Assigning a Password and Renaming the Guest Account -- Secure the Administrator Account -- Hiding Usernames on the Logon Screen -- Setting the Account Lockout Policy -- Tweaking User Account Control -- Controlling User Account Control -- Using File Encryption -- Encrypting Your Files -- Using BitLocker Drive Encryption -- Summary -- Chapter 19 -- Chapter 19: Internet Security -- Analyzing Your Security -- Testing Internet Security -- Monitor the Action Center -- Using a Firewall -- Using the Windows 8 Firewall -- Using Online Armor Firewall -- Web Browser Security -- Securing Internet Explorer 10 -- Disabling Add-Ons -- Sandbox Internet Apps -- Defending Against Spyware, Malware, and Viruses -- Using Windows Defender -- Summary -- Chapter 20 -- Chapter 20: Protecting Your Privacy -- Internet Explorer Privacy -- Removing Address Bar Suggestions -- Clearing Temporary Internet Files, History, and Cookies -- Adjusting Your Cookie Security Policy -- Protecting Sensitive Online Data -- Disabling AutoComplete -- Clearing Temporary Internet Files Automatically -- Running Internet Explorer 10 in Privacy Mode -- Tracking Protection Lists -- Windows Interface Privacy -- Removing Specific Entries from Taskbar Jump Lists -- Removing Temporary Files from Your Hard Drive -- Removing Saved Passwords with Credential Manager -- Setting File and Folder Permissions -- Summary -- Index.