Windows 8 (or rather Windows Server 2012) introduced a new file system called ReFS. ReFS stands for Resilient File System. Codenamed "Protogon", it improves on NTFS in some respects, while also removing a number of features. You may read about the advantages of ReFS in the following Wikipedia article. ReFS is intended for file servers only. In Windows 8.1, it is in fact locked for server OS only. If you need to unlock and enable full read and write support for ReFS in Windows 8.1, you can follow these simple instructions in this article.
How to prevent Skype from decreasing the volume of other applications in Windows 8.1
If you use the desktop version of Skype, you have probably noticed that every time you call someone or receive the call, Skype automatically reduces the volume of other apps, e.g. your music player. This can cause inconvenience if you do not plan to answer the call and you're listening to something important. Here's a simple tutorial which will allow you to change this behavior of Skype.
Autumn 2013 theme for Windows 8
Cover your desktop in beautiful Fall foliage with this amazing Autumn 2013 theme for Windows 8. To get this theme, click the download link below, and then click Open. This will apply the theme to your Desktop.
Tip: If you are Windows 7 user, use our Deskthemepack Installer to install and apply this theme.
Size: 34 Mb
Security tip: Protect your Windows product key from being stolen
Did you know that when Windows is installed, it continues to store your product key in the registry. This may be useful, if you don't remember which key you used on your current installation. Also if you lost your product key, this can be useful for recovering your product key with some third party tool or with a simple PowerShell script.
But at the same time, your Windows product key is at risk of being stolen. If you are concerned about your product key being stolen (i.e. with some malicious software), you might want to remove it from the registry permanently. This operation is safe and will not affect your OS activation status. Follow this simple tutorial to learn how you can erase the stored product key in Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Daily Bing #17 theme for Windows 8
Nature HD#11 theme for Windows 8
How to get the Windows product key without using third party software
If you lost, cannot retrieve or forgot where you had stored the product key of your Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7 OS, do not despair. I would like to show you a simple solution to extract your product key from the OS installed on your PC without using any third party software.
How to invert colors in Paint in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Inverting colors in Paint is not something I do frequently. But when you do need this feature occasionally, I have the point of view that Paint is the best tool for such basic image editing. Few days ago, I needed to create a header image for my Youtube channel with a line of inverted colors. I am a Windows power user, yet I was really confused by the user interface of the modern version of MS Paint (I use Windows 8.1).
Starting with Windows 7, the Paint application ships with the Ribbon UI. It looks fancy, but when you need to invert colors of your image, you will not find the appropriate command on any tab of the Ribbon nor in the File menu.
Daily Bing #16 theme for Windows 8
Power user tip: Add global hotkeys to launch your favorite applications in Windows 8.1
Since Windows 95, we have an amazing feature: native global hotkeys for every installed application, yet it seems not many people are aware of it. Have you seen the following text box in the shortcut properties?:
This is where you are able to specify a combination of hotkeys which will be used to launch the shortcut. If you have set those hotkeys for the shortcut in the Start menu folder, then they will be available in every opened window, every application. The secret is the Explorer shell - as long as the Explorer shell is loaded: hotkeys will work globally regardless of the active application. That is very handy!
But Windows 8.1 does not have the Start menu any more, so you can be a bit confused how to assign hotkeys. Today we will learn how to add global hotkeys to launch your favorite applications in Windows 8.1 and use them like a Pro.
