Sep 2, 2012
How to Install Windows 8 without a Product Key
** Student / Educational Purpose Only.
For the first time since Windows XP, Microsoft is forcing users to
enter a product key before Windows can be installed. This can be very
annoying for legitimate users that simply want to install Windows 8 for
testing. I find myself installing Windows 8 frequently and this is one
of my primary annoyances while writing my new book on Windows 8.
It
is not clear if this change was an attempt to cut down on piracy or
rather a simplification of the installation process. I would bet the
latter since the same installation media is actually used for both the
standard and pro editions of Windows 8. Depending on the product key
entered the correct edition is installed. I can imagine there were
users of Windows 7 that complained when they installed the wrong edition
by mistake which they could not activate with their key and had to
re-install windows and all their apps.
Launch File Explorer with Drive List
In Windows 8 when File Explorer is launched via the Taskbar shortcut,
Libraries are shown by default. This is useful if you actually use the
Library feature but many prefer the traditional behavior of My Computer
where the drives are listed instead.
This behavior can changed by editing the shortcut target. Right click on the taskbar icon for File Explorer.
How to restore the good old Task Manager in Windows 8
Some users (including myself) are extremely pissed off with new
“modern” task manager in Windows 8. Although some of its functions are
not bad, like the “command line” column in the task list or performance
graph, I don’t really need them. The old Task Manager provides a more
consistent way of task management for me, it is familiar and the new one
does not even remember the last active tab. So I am definitely one of
those who want the good old, more usable Task Manager back in Windows 8.
Let me show you how to do that with a few simple steps.
How to restore the good old Task Manager in Windows 8
Change the Default Lock Screen Image in Windows 8
With the November 2012 cumulative update, Microsoft included a new
feature for Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise Edition that allows
users to customize the default lock screen. Best of all the change is
made using group policies which means you can easily deploy it across
all Windows 8 machines on a domain. If you do not have a domain you can
still use local group policies to apply the change. This is very useful
if you want to brand your computers with a company logo or are simply
tired of looking at the default lock screen.
To get started you will need to make sure you have the November 2012 cumulative update installed KB2770917. The instructions below are for local group policy but they can also be easily adapted for a domain group policy.
- Open the Start Screen and type in gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
- When the Local Group Policy Editor loads, navigate through Local Computer Policy, Computer Configuration, Administrative Temples, Control Panel and then Personalization.
- Right click on Force a specific default lock screen image and select Edit.
- Select Enabled and provide a path to a JPG file that you want to
you. You can use a local directory path or even a UNC network share.
- Click OK and reboot your computer.
- You are done.. EnJoY new Lock Screen by change as your wish.
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-MEHUL PATEL - http://www.FB.com/GujaratiKanudo
-MEHUL PATEL - http://www.FB.com/GujaratiKanudo
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