“Windows 8 is less than optimal for a mouse-and-keyboard setup” says former Microsoft program manager Mike Bibik.

How Windows 8 works with mouse-and-keyboard setups, Bibik makes many points. Among them:

1. No tutorial: When you first launch Windows 8, it just dumps you on the Start screen. This will likely be addressed in the consumer release, however.
2. It’s difficult to see all your Metro apps: While the Start screen shows some of the apps in Metro, seeing all of them requires a right-click and navigating to an icon that says “All Apps.” Bibik says this is hard to find, and we have to agree.
3. A Microsoft account is required for some apps: A few apps, like Store, require a Microsoft account (Hotmail or Live will do) to work properly, which can take new users down a cumbersome registration process.
4. Scrolling is counterintuitive: The scroll wheel on the mouse scrolls left-to-right in many Metro apps, since that is the primary way to navigate in Metro.
5. Metro apps don’t have window controls: There’s no way to minimize or maximize a Metro app — they either take up the whole screen or they’re in the background. It’s in this departure from traditional Windows that Bibik says he expects 75% of new users to just give up.

Bibik’s points are illustrated quite painfully in this video.

What do you think? Does Windows 8 work just fine with the mouse and keyboard or does it need major work?

1. Open Start ->-> Run or press Window Key + r , this will open the run prompt.

2. Type “regedit” ( without quotes ) and press Enter.

3. Navigate/Browse down to this registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

Double-click on the default value and set it to “none” without the quotes, as seen here:

This will restore the normal behavior.

If you are also experiencing this problem when you try to click on a drive, you can run this command from the run box or command prompt:

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

1. Open Start ->-> Run or press Window key + r

2. Type “regsvr32 /i shell32.dll” ( without quotes ) and press Enter

After the command run successfully, you will see a message saying DllRegisterServer and DllInstall in Shell32.dll succeeded. This should restore the normal behavior.

If you are getting a message that says “Windows cannot find ‘PET32.exe’”, then at some point you had a virus, or still have a virus. First, make sure that you run a virus scanner to get rid of the virus. Then run the regsvr32 command above, which should fix the problem.

2. In the AutoPlay Run WindowsAdditions.exe

3. Note that Direct3D Support is off by default. You must check this box for this video tutorial to work.

4. Click No. You don’t want the basic Direct3D support. Once you click No, VirtualBox will explain the memory requirements.OK

5. Now click Install. Windows will ask if you want to install a driver; obviously, you do.This popup will appear more than once, so keep an eye on the VM during this process.

6. Once it’s done, you will be asked to reboot.Select I want to manually reboot later. Click on finish and manually turn off the VM.

Confirm Virtual Machine Settings

1. While the VM is off, make sure we have enough display memory for Aero to work. Select the Windows 7 Virtual  Machine > Settings, and then Display:

2. Move the Video slider to128MB or Higher “Enable 3D Acceleration” and click OK

Enabling Aero

1. Right-click the desktop and select Personalize. The Personalization window will open:

2. Under Aero Themes, just click any themes you like.

1. Click Home tab,  under New, click New E-Mail.
2. In the message body, compose your automated response.
3. Click File, click Save As.
4. Select Save as type, choose Outlook Template (*oft).
5. Type your file name and click Save.
6. Create the rule to use your newly created automated message, click Home tab, click Rules, then click Manage Rules & Alerts.
7. Click New Rule.
8. Under Start from blank rule, click Apply rules on messages I receive and click Next.
9. Select sent only  to me check box or anything else to your preference and click Next.
10. Select reply using a specific template check box,  under Edit the rule description, click specific template.
11. In Look In box, click User Templates in File System and click User Templates in File System.
12. Find your saved template and click Open.
13. Click Next, click Finish.

Mounting ISO images is a great way to view and run the content of the disk image without having to burn it onto a CD/DVD. Windows, regardless which version you are using, doesn’t come with this feature. I will show you how to mount ISO files in Windows for free.

Virtual CloneDrive

Virtual Clone Drive. This utility will let you mount .ISO, .CCD, .DVD, .IMG, .UDF and .BIN files. Download the utility and start the setup process, it works just like putting CD into your CD-ROM

1. Download and install Virtual Clone Drive.You will be prompted to restart your computer.

2. Open My Computer or Computer in windows 7. You should now see a new BD-ROM drive.

3. Right click on the BD-ROM and select Virtual CloneDrive -> Mount

4. Navigate to the directory where you store your ISO file and select it.

5. Virtual CloneDrive will mount the ISO as a CD in the system. Now you’ll be able to run or view the content from the mounted ISO file.

Virtual CloneDrive works With most versions of Windows, including Windows 7.

Alternatives

• Virtual CD-ROM (Microsoft) – Doesn’t work in Windows Vista
• MagicDisk – Free utility with more features, but it’s not simple to use.

Disk2vhd allows you to create a Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) of a physical machine even while the machine is up and running using volume snapshot technology. This small utility doesn’t require installation and you can run it from a flash drive if you want. Just open up the Disk2vhd folder and run the executable.

There are various software available for creating and running virtual machine image. Microsoft’s Virtual PC, VMware, and Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox.

To Create A Virtual Machine Clone of Your Windows Computer

1. Run Disk2vhd select the Operating System drive plus the System Reserved to turn into a VHD. You’ll need to select a location that is large enough to store the VHD.

2. Rename it if you like, click on save –>> create.

3. Once finished verify the that it crated the VHD.

3. I’ll be running it on Microsoft Virtual PC to run the VHD we created.

Setup Windows Virtual PC

1. In Microsoft Virtual PC select Create a virtual machine, click next.

2. Rename your virtual machine to something more relative like Windows 7.

3. Select the proper Operating System from the drop-down. Click next.

4. Use recommended Ram or increase it by adjusting the ram.

5. Select an existing hard disk.

6. Then Browse for the location of the VHD. Selected and click on open. then Click on next.

7. Finish the wizard.

In the Virtual PC Console start the Operating System. That is it!!! enjoy.

Windows 7′s mirroring is only available in Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions

What is RAID 1? What is a ‘mirror’?

Mirroring an Existing Drive

1. You can right click Computer -> Manage-> Disk Management. This is also accessible through Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools -> Create and Formant Hard Disk Partitions.

2. In The Disk Management window Right-click on the existing disk that you want to mirror. Select Add Mirror….

Note: The disk that you will use to mirror the existing disk must be unallocated. If is not, then delete the volume by right-clicking on the disk and “Delete Volume” to make it as unallocated. This will delete any data on that drive.If you have information there make sure to backup before deleting the volume.

3. Right click the disk that you want to mirror and click Add Mirror.

4. You will be warned that this process will change the existing disk from basic to dynamic.Click yes to continue.

5. The new disk will be marked as a mirror, and it will start Syncing the data from the existing drive to the new one

It can take a while to sync depending on how data you have.But in the end any data added to the E: drive will exist on both physical hard drives.

Mirroring Two New Drives

1. Open the Disk Management window by right clicking on Computer -> Manage-> Disk Management. This is also accessible through Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools -> Create and Formant Hard Disk Partitions.

2. Make sure that the drives are unallocated. If they’re not, then delete the volumes by right-clicking on each disk’s volume and selecting “Delete Volume”

3. Right-click on one of the unallocated drives (doesn’t matter which), and select New Mirrored Volume.

4. Click Next to the wizard.

5. Select the drives you want to hold the mirrored data and click Add. Then click Next.

6. Assign a different drive letter if you like, and then click Next.

7. You can change the volume label if you like or enable compression if you want, and then click Next.

8. Click Finish to start formatting the drives.

9. You will be warned that the new drives will be converted to dynamic disks.Yes to continue.

And that’s it!

Note: Do not Mirror Your Drive C: or the drive you are running Windows. this is only for Additional drives or partitions

Click here to Download Double Driver For Windows

1. After installation, launch Double Driver and click on the Scan button to begin detecting the drivers.

2. Once the scan is complete you can choose specific drivers to save or select them all.

3. To back up the drivers just press the Backup button.  Choose a directory to back them up and click OK.

4. You will get a progress screen while the drivers are being backed up.

5. Successful driver backup!

6. All of the drivers are placed into their respective folders automatically for easy management.

To Re-Install The Drivers

1. launch Double Driver and click on the Restore button.

2. Then Click on locate to look for the folder where you backed up the drivers.Click OK Button. then Click on re-store.

That is it.. Enjoy!!

Here’s how to backup and then restore the activation status of Windows 7.

1. Download Advanced Token Manager from here, you can extract the zip file and then run the executable file.

2. Run advanced token manager, to begin backing up your token click on the Backup Activation button.

3. ** “If you get the Hidden Product Key Detected Pop Up”  ** Just click yes to continue.

4. When the Back up finishes. You will see a folder called “Windows Activation Backup” in the same Location that you launched the token manager from, That contains the backup

5. Once you Re-install windows, run the advanced token manager, this time it will say Restore instead of Backup.

7. Once you click Restore you will be prompted to make sure you want to do this, click the next button to start the restoration

8. Once completed a success message will appear.

9. Check your validity in the System Settings, you should have the genuine badge back.

The Backup Compatibility is:

• Office 2010
• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2011
• Windows Server 2008 R2

Extend Or Expand partitions and additional drives in Windows 7

1. Go to Disk management by right clicking Computer then Manage.

2 Right click on the already formatted drive and click on Extend Volume. Next to the Wizard.

3. It will automatically detect all unallocated drives or partitions.

Note: if you want to add a drive that is already formatted you will need to delete the volume. To be unallocated.

4. Add all volumes you wish to add the the Spanned volume. Once selected click on next, then click on finish. To finish the wizard.

5. A warning will come up telling you that all selected disk will be converted to dynamic. Click yes to start the process.

6. Once all disk shows healthy the computer will read all drive as one large drive.

Alternate Method: If all drives are unallocated

1. Right click on any unallocated drive the click on New Spanned Volume

2. Next to the Wizard. Add all volumes you wish to add the the Spanned volume.

3. Once selected click on next, you’ll be prompted to change the drive letter. Change it if you like then click on next.

4. You can also change the Volume label if you like then click on next.

5. Finish the wizard, A warning will come up telling you that all selected disk will be converted to dynamic. Click yes to start the process.

6. Once healthy that means all selected disk are combined.

The computer will read all drives as one large drive.

1. Type Task Scheduler in the Search box in the Start Menu and hit Enter, To open Task Scheduler.

2. When Task Scheduler opens, under Actions click Create Basic Task on the right sidebar.

3. To recognize your task enter a name and a description for your task in the dialog.

4. Choose how often you want to run the task. Click Next to continue.

5. You’ll be asked to add additional settings depending on the previous settings you selected. Enter the Date and time you’d like to start your backup in the box.

6. Then select Start a program from the 3 choices given.

7. In the Program/script box, enter the following including the quotes:

“C:\Program Files\SyncToy 2.1\SyncToyCmd.exe”

8. Then, in the Add arguments box, enter –R to run all of your syncs each time.

9. You’re finally finished.

Now you’ll never have to worry about running it manually again! Download SyncToy

Steps:

1. Download Hiren’s BootDisk.

2. Burn it onto a Disk. (click here for instruction)

3. Boot from Hiren’s BootDisk.(click here for instruction)

4. When you finally boot from the Hiren’s Disk, select Windows Mini XP. Is not going to install it just going to run a mini version of Windows XP.

5. When you get to the Desktop you can browse just like you would in any version of Windows. Go to My Computer.

6. Because we booted from the Disk the letters belonging to the Drives have changed. Try to Identify your drive by the name or size.

7. You can plug in an additional drive and it will be detected just like any Windows would and now you can copy and paste any files you need.

8. Or you can run a backup tool, one of the many tools that Hiren’s brings.

9. From the Desktop Click on HBCD Icon then click on programs then Backup from the drop down menu then FastCopy.

10. From the FastCopy options you can select a folder or a Hard Drive to be the source location.

11.As a Destination Dirctory you can select a Pen Drive or external Hard Drive.

Note: If you are Backing up the entire Hard Drive make sure that the Destination Directory drive is Bigger than the amount of spaced used on you source drive.