Many new users on the Windows 8 operating software have complained about the new interface. It has simply irritated some users and made others feel that there’s a decrease in productivity when the OS is used. For those wondering, there are a number of tips to make the OS more productive and some visual changes that can make the interface more familiar.
Boot to Desktop
In Windows 8.1 users have the option of booting directly to the desktop. This feature doesn’t come pre-running on the OS and users will have to activate it manually. To do this, simply right-click the Taskbar > Properties > Navigation tab.
Under the Start screen (bottom pane), tick the first option that reads, “ When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start.” Then click OK or Apply.
This will save time when turning devices on and let your employees get to work much more quickly. When you consider the time this can save across your entire network the option to boot directly to the desktop makes sense.
Reunite with the start button
As many users have felt that the Windows 8.1 OS isn’t as familiar to them as they want, it may be a good idea to reintroduce the beloved Start Button. Windows 8.1 has a dumbed down Start Button but, for those who want a similar experience to Windows 7 there are a range of alternatives available.
One of the most popular is free and it’s called Classic Shell
. The app offers users three types of Start Button – Classic, Two Column, and Windows 7.
For users on Windows 8.1 version 4 of Classic Shell offers improved compatibility. There are some new features as well, including a dedicated shutdown button, the ability to pin programs to the taskbar from an Explorer window and better Windows Search functionality.
Libraries
The libraries feature is disabled by default on Windows 8.1. However it can be re-activated manually and it’s easy to do.
Libraries was a feature introduced in Windows 7 that made it easier to find, work with, and organize files scattered across your PC or network. This function allowed users and businesses to bring data into one easily accessible location. The result being that you get more done.
To use the libraries function on Windows 8.1 simply go to Windows Explorer > View > Options. Once there, tick the box “ Show libraries” in the navigation pane and re-activate the feature.
Uninstall unused apps all at once
Apps take up a lot of space and can negatively affect performance. Time can be wasted simply deleting and uninstalling unused apps; however, in Windows 8.1 there’s the option to select multiple apps and uninstall them all at the same time. If you need to do this right click on the Start screen > Customize > Tick apps and uninstall any undesired apps simply by ticking the tile and choosing uninstall.
Open files in the desktop
A lot of the Windows 8.1 interface is designed for increased productivity. However, some of the add-ons get in the way and slow down the user experience. Any wasted time will negatively affect your business and the progress of your staff.
Music, videos, pictures, and PDF files are automatically opened using the Modern UI app on Windows 8.1. This feature can be changed so that files are opened from the desktop.
Any user wanting to do this should access the Windows Start screen and type, “default programs” then click on the Default Programs icon under results. Click “Set your default programs” and select the app you want to set as the default for your files.
Keyboard shortcuts
Using your mouse is only one way to access and edit data and there are numerous keyboard shortcuts that can make using Windows 8.1 much quicker.
Here are a few useful shortcuts:
- Windows key + C: Opens up the charms menu
- Windows key + O: Locks the orientation of the screen
- Windows key + Q: Opens up the App Search pane. This will appear alone and without the start screen
- Windows key + M: This minimizes all open windows and returns the user to the desktop
- Windows key + I: Opens up the setting Charm
- Windows key + (period) + Arrow Key: Moves app to the left or right of the screen so that the user can view more than one app at a time.
Turn off notifications
It’s useful to have lots of information appearing on your screen as it happens but without proper control this can be incredibly distracting. So if you want to get work done without distractions then use Windows 8.1 to suit your individual habits.
Go to PC Setting s> Search & Apps and then make sure that the Quiet Hours switch is on. You can choose the times that you want to be left in peace.
Use SkyDrive properly
Increasingly, storage options are taking the form of cloud storage. SkyDrive is part of the Windows 8.1 OS and it’s important to use it correctly. Any files stored in SkyDrive are listed alongside other categories, such as downloads and documents. Cloud storage is a boon to those who use files across multiple devices; you may however not want all of your files in the cloud for security reasons.
To ensure that Windows isn’t storing files in the cloud without user permission go to PC Settings. Here there are settings for the cloud storage tool allowing you to control how specific content is handled.
SkyDrive also stores information and files to the computer hard drive dubbed “Smart Files.” This is a useful feature but without an internet connection it’s useless. To make sure that files stored on SkyDrive are always accessible when you need them, go to Windows Explorer > right click SkyDrive > select Make Available Offline. This will download all files stored in the cloud and save them locally.
If you’re a business that’s adopting Windows 8.1, make sure that it’s optimized for what your end users need. There are a number of great timesaving tools available, but these will need to be balanced with usability for your employees.
Make the OS look as familiar as possible and ensure that your staff knows how to use it. And remember, the OS is individually customizable, so perhaps it’s worth letting your employees tweak Window 8.1 depending on their job and personal requirements.
William Thompson
William Thompson is the Marketing Manager at Power Admin, a server monitoring software business in the Kansas City area. You can find him on Google+ and Twitter. William has been a professional in website design, digital marketing and 3D/graphic design for over 20 years.