The Developer Preview build of Windows 8 was released was just yesterday and we’ve come across quite a few people who actually want to have some of Windows 7’s features on Windows 8.
Here is trick on how to get back Windows 7 style classic menu on Windows 8. Please keep in mind that this is pre-beta release and trick may or may not work on final release of Windows 8.

The registry hack

How to Enable Classic Start Menu on Windows 8

1.  Open Registry Editor and navigate to following registry key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

2. Now change value of RPEnabled from “1″ to “0″

Note that this key change does not only change the Start Menu but also the Windows Explorer and Task Manager as well.

Close regedit and you should see classic aero style start menu back. However above change will disable the Metro UI completely if you want to get back the Metro UI, change the value back to”1″.

Start Menu Switcher Tools are Available

Tool 1. Windows 8 Start Menu Switcher v1.01?

Find back your Windows 8′s classic Start Menu, now you just need one click to do it quickly.

Okay, click ’7′ when you want a classic start menu in Win8, or you can click ’8′ back to the default.

Download

Windows 8 Start Menu Switcher v1.01 is written by C++ WTL, and it is only 79kb, a portable utility. IT works for Windows 8 Developer Preview.

Tool 2. This app brings back the ‘Classic’  Windows 7 Start Menu with the click of a virtual button, by Solo-Dev of DeviantArt.

Allows you to toggle between the Metro Start screen and the Classic start menu in Windows 8 Developer Preview.

Download

WINDOWS 8 ONLY.

RUN AS ADMIN. (Win 8 may require you to download and install the .Net 3.5.1 runtimes)

Tool 3.

Metro UI Tweaker, developed by the Windows Club, is a powerful portable tool that not only toggles Start Menu with/without disabling the Explorer Ribbon but also allows you to add more options to the Power Options in Start Menu.

Metro UI Tweaker, developed by the Windows Club, is a powerful portable tool that not only toggles Start Menu with/without disabling the Explorer Ribbon but also allows you to add more options to the Power Options in Start Menu.

Tool 4. Windows 8 Developer Preview Tweaker –

[new tool added in on Sept. 25, 2011]

Download

If you are looking for a tool that can:

Enable/disable old Windows Start Menu;
Enable/disable Snap feature on low screen resolutions, and
Change Start Screen background pictures.

Disguise Folders is a nice freeware app for Windows which allows you to set your secret folders look like system folders. The app is portable and works with ease. You just need to select the folder to disguise and then select the system folder which you want to be disguised to.

There are two versions of this app, i.e. installer and portable which requires no installation. Just run the downloaded file and a window appears from where you will be asked to select the folder that you want to hide from others.

Once you do this, you can select what icon you want to use on the folder. When this is done, just click on the Disguise Now button and you will find that your folder icon is switched to the system icon of your choosing. What’s even better is that when an anonymous user clicks on the folder, the app will not open the folder but direct the user to the location to which you have set your icon.

Download Disguise folders.

“This can occur if the number of installed network filter drivers exceeds the specified limit. By default, Windows 7 has a limit of 8, with a maximum allowable limit of 14,” Microsoft explained.

If you want to manually fix Windows 7 Service pack 1 installation failed issue then follow below steps,

1. Click Start (or press win+r shortcut key) , click Run , type regedit , and then click OK .

2. Locate following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\

3. In the right pane, right-click on MaxNumFilters, and then select Modify option.

4. Change the value to “14”, and click to select the Decimal option, and then click OK.

Note: Default value is 8 & 14 is the maximum

5. Close the Registry Editor.

“If more than 14 filter drivers are installed, the above registry key will not alleviate the issue. In cases where more than 14 network filter drivers are installed, removing a number of the installed filter drivers should allow the service pack installation to succeed. Network filter drivers can be removed from the properties of the network connection in Ncpa.cpl,” the company explained.

Microsoft released a Fixit solution designed to automatically repair the problem is now available to Windows 7 customers via KB2530477. Alternatively, the manual fix continues to be an option, but since it involves a registry tweak, it’s not exactly recommended to end users.

• Open Notepad and copy the following code.

Dim message, sapi
message=InputBox(“What do you want me to say?”,”COOL TIPS and TRICKS”)
Set sapi=CreateObject(“sapi.spvoice”)
sapi.Speak message

• Save the file with any name with an extension.vbs

• Now, close the notepad and open it again and you are done.

Warnings

Do not edit the code, or it may result any other operation to execute. Doing so, the user is sole responsible for their own work.
Make sure that you save the file as .vbs file.
This is meant for educational purpose only.

Note:- In  my view this works only with windows XP. If it works on any other version of windows, do let me know:)

This uses default Windows Narrator functionalities. (Again in XP).You can activiate this from

“Accessories –> Accessibility –> Narrator”

If you want to change the voice, you can download it from microsoft site and then can change it from

“Control Pannel –> Switch to Classical View –> Speech”.

You can also set frequency from here. Also, you can use this control in your programming and get it read by your computer whatever you want.

A Simple Visual Basic Program Which Will Speak Whatever You Type

Here is what you have to do:

    1. Firstly open notepad.
   2. Now copy and paste the below code there:

do
‘create the voice object
Set VObj = CreateObject(“SAPI.SpVoice”)
‘get what the user wants to say, exit if cancel or return no msg

MSG = InputBox(“Type what you want the PC to say” & VBCRLF & VBCRLF & VBCRLF & “To End enter Nothing or push the Cancel button”, “Voice Box By EverythingInAll”, “”)

If MSG = “” Then WScript.quit: Else

‘use the VObj to speak msg

with VObj

.Volume = 100

.Speak MSG

end with

loop

    3. Now save the file as filename.vbs
    4. Now double click on the file to use it.

Enjoy

Are you wondering how to conserve a bit of your time by installing Windows XP a bit faster? If so then let me tell you that in this post I am going to teach you all how to save your 25 minutes in installing windows xp.

To teach you how to install Windows XP in less than 10 Minutes here is the tutorial –

Step 1:- Boot through Windows XP CD.

Step 2:- After all the files are completely loaded, you get the option to select the partition.

Step 3:- Now Format the partition, whether it is normal or quick with NTFS or FAT

Step 4:- Once the formatting is completed, All the setup files required for installation are copied. Restart your system by pressing Enter.

Now, here begins the Simple trick to save 10-15 minutes.

Step 5:- After rebooting, you get a screen where it takes 40 minutes to complete or finalize the OS installation.

Step 6:- While the Windows XP is setting up and you reach the screen which is shown in the picture Press “Shift + F10”

Step 7 :- As soon as you will press Shift + F10 you will see “command prompt” screen.

Step 8 :- In that screen type “taskmgr” and press enter.

Step 9 :- Now you will see the Task Manger getting opened.

Step 10 :- In the processes tab of task manager find the process named as “setup.exe”

Step 11 :- Now right click on it and select the priority to “Real time”.

Step 12 :- Now just wait and watch your windows XP getting set up in less than 10 Minutes.

CAT requires no installation, just run and choose your options and apply fixes. It also includes a Restore Point Manager, research tools, and links to Microsoft Fix It solution center, etc.

Crisis Aversion Tool (CAT) works under Windows 7, Vista, and XP and is certainly a useful tool to fix various computer issues.

Fixes:

# Fix broken links inside applications

# Fix printer install errors

# Fix USB drives not displaying

# Fix Windows installer

# Flush DNS resolver cache

# Repair Internet Explorer browser

# Reset Windows Explorer shell

# Re-enable Task Manager

# Repair SSL/HTTP/Cryptographic services

# Reset all networking interfaces

# Reset permissions

# Reset default services start states

# Reset Windows updates

Adjustments:

# Decrease menu show delay time

# Enable Windows installer in safe mode

# Fix Flash player

# Fix shutdown

# System restore point manager

Download

If Windows is installed on your PC XP, Vista or Windows 7, we have a great tip, when you use it will be able to easily access and practice the hidden features of these operating systems for this, the tip is an indication of the small software called Manage It.

You might want to disable many features like registry , task manager etc to prevent unauthorized access. Manage It! is a simple freeware app for Windows which lets you to quickly turn off or on Windows features like task manager, registry, command prompt etc. All you need is to run the portable tool and it shows various options, you can uncheck the ones which you want to disable and hit the done button or restart the explorer.

Manage This is an open source application and is designed for users of Windows 7. No need to be installed on your computer. Just download the exe file link below and then double click the file to run the application

For more options go to the tab “Advanced” and “Tools”

In the “Advanced” you set your taste some advanced settings of Windows, among them, to make Windows does not restart after installing the updates coming from the Windows Update or alter the information called PC owner.

In the “Tools” have the possibility to modify some aspects of Windows, there, for example, you can schedule automatic shutdown of the PC, create GodMode with access to various other secret settings in Windows.

Download

Microsoft has made many changes to the Windows OS. Startup folder is the folder which contains the links to programs which are started when Windows is booted. at the same time you can add any installed programs to the start up list so that you do not have to manually start it after Windows boots.
Windows 7 stores all the startup programs in a special folder, Startup. This folder is available in two forms, one that is for all the users and one that is only specific to one user.  If you add a program link into the folder subsequently common to all users, the program will get started and will affect the boot time for all the users but if you add this for a specific users it will only affect boot time for that particular user.

Location of  the Startup Folder in Windows 7

* Go to Start Menu
* Right click on All Programs and select Open for logged in user and Open All Users for all the users in the computer. ( Details Below)
* This will open a folder designated as Start Menu which has a Programs Folder.
* Click the Programs Folder and find another folder which says Startup

For All users :

* and Select Open All Users.

For Specific Users :

* and Select Open

By default it will open for logged in user. The difference here will be in path. For all users the path will be like “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu” and for particular user it will be similar to “C:\Users\techwhatnext\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup” where techwhatnext is the user name.

If you are an admin you can find out the username for other user profile and replace it with their name to reach the startup folder of other users.

Adding Programs to Startup Folder :

* Now select the program which you wish to add in the startup list.
* Right click and create a shortcut in the desktop.
* Select and Copy the shortcut
* Go back to the Startup folder and paste it there.

Once done that, restart windows and you will the program running as soon as you login to Windows 7 machine. In case you want to remove it, delete shortcut from there.

NTFS vs. FAT

NTFS has been around since Microsoft introduced the first version of Windows NT. Its goal was to overcome the limitations of the venerable FAT file system, which had been around since the first version of DOS in 1981. Some of the key benefits of NTFS over FAT include:

• Smaller cluster sizes on drives over 1 GB
• Added security through permissions
• Support for larger drive sizes
• Better fault tolerance through logging and striping

To disable the updating, start the Registry Editor by selecting Run from the Start menu, typing regedit in the Open text box, and clicking OK. When the Registry Editor window opens, navigate through the left pane until you get to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem

In the right pane, look for the value named NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate. If the value exists, it’s probably set to 0. To change the value, double-click it. You’ll then see the Edit DWORD Value screen. Enter 1 in the Value Data field and click OK.

If the value doesn’t exist, you’ll need to add it. Select New | DWORD Value from the Edit menu. The new value will appear in the right pane, prompting you for a value name. Type NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate and press [Enter]. Double-click the new value. You’ll then see the Edit DWORD Value screen. Enter 1 in the Value Data field and click OK. When you’re done, close Regedit. Your registry changes will be saved automatically. Reboot your workstation.

You should go through the list and read the descriptions to decide which services you need depending on what you use your computer for…  You can always turn the service back on if and when you find need for it. Here is the procedure to turn off a service:

1. Navigate to: Start -> Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Services.
Alternatively, you can do START -> Run ->  and type services.msc

2. Left-click on a service and read its’ description carefully. Turning off services disables some particular functionality of the OS, so make sure you want to turn the particular service off.

3. To disable, Right-click -> Properties -> Change the “Startup Type” to “Manual” and Stop the service. Next time you reboot that particular service won’t start.

Some Sample Services that can safely be turned off in most Home PCs:

Automatic Updates
Computer Browser
Error Reporting Service
Help and Support
Indexing Service
Messenger (pop-up spam vulnerability)
NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
Performance Logs and Alerts
Protected storage (stores passwords and enables ato-complete)
Remote Registry (remote access to your registry)
Routing and Remote Access (enables dial-in routing to your computer)
Secondary Logon
Task Scheduler

Notes:
To disable services, just stop them, and set them to “Manual”. Check the Event Log for errors after rebooting.

Recommended Windows XP Home/Pro Services Settings

Automatic Startup

• Automatic Updates
• Cryptographic Services
• Internet Connection Firewall (ICF)
• Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

Manual Startup

• Background Intelligent Transfer Service
• Error Reporting Service
• Intel File Transfer
• Intel PDS
• SSDP Discovery Service
• Universal Plug and Play
• Upload Manager
• WebClient

Disabled

• FTP Publishing Service
• IIS Admin
• Messenger
• Net Logon
• NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
• Remote Registry Service
• Routing and Remote Access
• Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
• Simple TCP/IP Services
• SNMP Service
• SNMP Trap Service
• TCP/IP Printer Service
• Telnet
• World Wide Web Publishing Service

Before you begin, it is important to remember that if a particular service is disabled, any other service/services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. Read the Properties information carefully and make sure you understand what the service does/does not do.

Adjusting services settings incorrectly has the potential to leave your computer in an unbootable condition. It’s important that before you begin making changes to system services, you have fully functional backups of your system/data.

Alerter (Disable)
Programs that use administrative rights will not receive them.

Application Layer Gateway Service (Enable)
If you’re reading this you’re on the Internet and you need this service to enable your firewall. You are running a firewall aren’t you? As well, this service is required for Internet Connection Sharing.

Application Management (Disable)
You won’t be able to install, use, or enumerate IntelliMirror programs.

Automatic Updates (Enable)
Automatic Updates will not function if disabled, which might put your operating system at risk. If you do turn off this service be sure to manually update at Microsoft’s Update site.

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (Enable)
Uses idle network bandwidth to transfer data between clients and servers in the background. Automatic Updates depends on this service.

ClipBook Viewer (Disable)
If the service is stopped, ClipBook Viewer will not be able to share information with remote computers.

COM+ Event System/System Application (Enable)
System Event Notification, which includes logon and logoff notifications, will not function if disabled.

Computer Browser (Enable)
Used by the system in order to view network domains and resources and locate other computers on the network. Since many of us now share files, leave this service enabled.

Cryptographic Services (Enable)
This service is used by Automatic Updates, Task Manager, and several other services.

DHCP Client (Enable)
Without this service being started your system will be unable to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, and will have to be configured manually to a static address.

Distributed Link Tracking Client (Disable)
Link tracking on your computer will not function; users on other computers will be unable to track links on your machine.

Distributed Transaction Coordinator (Disable)
Provides support for transactions that span multiple resource managers, such as databases, message queues, and file systems. Generally not required.

DNS Client (Enable)
Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names for your computer. If this service is stopped, your computer will not be able to resolve DNS names and locate Active Directory domain controllers.

Error Reporting Service (Disable)
Reports unexpected application crashes to Microsoft.

Event Log (Enable)
With this service turned off you will be unable to view your logs; this will make it potentially more difficult to diagnose problems and to detect security breaches.

Fast User Switching Compatibility (Disable)
Fast user switching will not be available.

Help and Support (Enable)
Occasionally you may need this service, so keep it enabled.

HID Input (Enable if Required)
This service allows access to Human Interface Devices which control predefined hot buttons on newer keyboards, remote controls, and so on. If you don’t require this, you can safely turn it off.

IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service (Enable)
Most computers have at least a CD drive and if yours does, then leave this service enabled, otherwise you will be unable to record CDs.

Indexing Service (Disable)
With this service turned off, your computer will be unable to index files. On the plus side, your machine will likely boot faster with this service disabled.

Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) / Internet Connection Sharing (Disable)
Unless you have a home network set-up, there is no need to enable this service.

IPSEC Service (Disable)
TCP/IP security will disabled on your network. This does not refer to the Internet.

Logical Disk Manager (Disable)
Unless you are adding new disks to the system, there is no need to keep this service enabled.

Logical Disk Manager Administrative (Disable)
If you have enabled Logical Disk Manager then this service must be enabled.

Machine Debug Manager (Disable)
Unless you are involved in Visual Studio debugging disable this service.

Messenger (Disable)
Transmits net send and Alerter service messages between clients and servers. This service is not related to Windows Messenger.

Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider (Disable or Manual)
If you use Windows Backup set this at manual; otherwise set at disable.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (Disable)
If you don’t use NetMeeting then disable this service.

Network Connections (Enable)
Services that need network information will not be available if this service is disabled.

Network DDE (Disable)
Dynamic Data Exchange transport and security will be unavailable.

Network Location Awareness (Enable)
Network configuration and location information is handled by this service and must be enabled if you have an Internet connection.

Net Logon (Disable)
This service supports pass-through authentication of account logon events for computers in a domain.

NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing (Disable)
The service enables an authorized user to access your computer remotely by using NetMeeting over a corporate intranet. Unless you specifically require this service, turn it off.

Performance Logs and Alerts (Disable)
Collects performance data from local or remote computers based on preconfigured schedule parameters, then writes the data to a log or triggers an alert. If this service is stopped, performance information will not be collected. Personally, I prefer to enable this service.

Plug and Play (Enable)
You run the risk of the system becoming unstable if you disable this service.

Potable Media Serial Number (Enable)
With the proliferation of these types of devices, enable this service. If however, you do not attach such devices to your machine, you can safely disable this service.

Print Spooler (Enable)
If you disable this service you will be unable to run a printer.

Protected Storage (Enable)
Provides protected storage for sensitive data, such as private keys, to prevent access by unauthorized services, processes, or users.

QoS RSVP (Disable)
Enable this service only if you use QoS programs.

Remote Access Auto Connection Manager (Enable)
Creates a connection to a remote network whenever a program references a remote DNS or NetBIOS name or address.

Remote Access Connection Manager (Enable)
This service creates a network connection.

Remote Desktop Help Session Manager (Disable)
Unless you require this function keep this service disabled.

Remote Procedure Call (Enable)
This service must be enabled or the system will not boot.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator (Enable)
Manages the RPC name service database, which is similar to DNS services for IP.

Remote Registry (Disable)
Enables remote users to modify registry settings on this computer. Be sure to disable this service unless it is absolutely required.

Removable Storage (Enable)
Manages removable media including automated removable media devices.

Secondary Logon (Disable)
Enables starting processes under alternate credentials.

Security Accounts Manager (Enable)
If you don’t use DHCP to obtain an IP address you can disable this service.

Server (Disable)
Unless you share files or local resources be sure to disable this service.

Shell Hardware Detection (Enable)
Unless this service is enabled CD-ROMs and other devices will not function automatically.

Smart Card (Enable)
Allows your machine to read a smart card. On the other hand, if your machine does not have a reader you can disable this service.

Smart Card Helper (Enable)
Provides support for legacy (older) smart cards.

SSDP Discovery (Disable)
This service has long been recognized as a security issue and should be disabled, unless you have a home network, in which case you should enable.

System Event Notification (Disable)
Tracks system events such as Windows logon, network, and power events. Notifies COM+ Event System subscribers of these events. If your system is on a laptop, leave this service enabled so that power notifications are available.

System Restore Service (Enable)
Without this service enable you will be unable to create a restore point, or restore your system to an earlier point.

Task Scheduler (Disable)
Keep disabled unless you run scheduled tasks.

TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper (Disable)
On desktop systems disable this service.

Telephony (Disable)
Enable this service if you have a modem/fax modem.

Telnet (Disable)
Unless you allow remote access to your programs, disable this service.

Terminal Services (Enable) See the disable method below.
Allows multiple users to be connected interactively to a machine as well as the display of desktops and applications to remote computers. Rather than disabling this service, instead clear the check boxes in the remote tab on the System Properties Control panel.

Themes (Disable)
Keep in mind, that if you disable this service you will no longer be able to manage Themes.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (Disable)
Manages an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) connected to the computer. Of course, if you have an uninterruptible power supply this must be enabled.

Universal plug and Play Device Host (Disable)
Not needed on standalone systems.

Upload Manager (Disable)
Manages synchronous and asynchronous file transfers between clients and servers on the network. If you use an FTP application enable this service.

Volume Shadow Copy (Enable)
You can disable this service if you do not use Windows Backup.

Web Client (Enable)
Enables Windows-based programs to create, access, and modify Internet-based files. If you do not require this function, then disable this service.

Windows Audio (Enable)
Manages audio devices for Windows-based programs. If this service is stopped, audio devices and effects will not function properly.

Windows Image Acquisition (Enable)
Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.

Windows Installer (Enable)
Installs, repairs and removes software according to instructions contained in .MSI files.

Windows Management Instrumentation (Enable)
Provides a common interface and object model to access management information about operating system, devices, applications and services. If this service is stopped, most Windows-based software will not function properly.

Windows Management Instrumentation Driver Extensions (Enable)
Provides systems management information to and from drivers.

Windows Time (Disable)
Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers in the network.

Wireless Zero Configuration (Disable)
Enable if you are using a wireless network. Provides automatic configuration for the 802.11 adapters.

WMI Performance Adaptor (Enable)
Provides performance library information from WMI providers.

Workstation (Disable)
Creates and maintains client network connections using the Microsoft Network Services. If this service is disabled, these connections will be unavailable.