Windows 8 Archives - Page 4 of 11

How to retrieve your Windows 8/8.1 Activation Key/PID from the Registry

Posted on April 4, 2014

If you’re a Microsoft Windows user you probably know that you’ll need the 25 digit Windows Activation Key (also called the PID) if you ever need to re-install Windows on your PC.

The Activation Key / PID was easy to find with Windows 7 and previous versions since it was written either on the CD/DVD packaging or somewhere on the computer itself.

But if you have recently purchased a PC with Windows 8 or 8.1 pre-installed, you’ll likely find that the Windows Activation Key / PID is nowhere to be found. Why Microsoft decided not to provide it to us with the new versions of Windows is beyond me, but there is a very easy way to retrieve it from the Registry. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Step-by-step guide to installing the free Windows 8.1 update on a Windows 8 machine

Posted on March 29, 2014

windows-8-1-update Several of my recent posts have discussed the importance of updating a Windows 8 installation to Windows 8.1.

After receiving a number of requests for instructions for installing the update, I thought it might be a good idea to publish them as a tip. As you’ll soon find out, it really isn’t all that difficult to install the free Windows 8.1 update.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that all available Windows Updates have been applied to your existing Windows 8 installation. Here’s how: [Read more…]

Microsoft will pay you $100 to upgrade from Windows XP to a new Windows 8 machine

Posted on March 23, 2014

The folks at Microsoft have been trying for a long time now to get users to move up to the world of Windows 8, and so far with only limited success.

They’ve tried everything from bragging about the new OS in cheesy commercials to “forcing” Windows XP users onto something new by detailing plans to stop supporting XP early next month. But so far they’re having a hard time overcoming the public’s obvious dislike for the new Windows.

Well, now they have taken their Windows 8 campaign a step further by resorting to, well…good old fashioned bribery. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I make my files open in desktop programs instead of apps in Windows 8.1?

Posted on March 20, 2014

Question from Allison T.: I just upgraded my computer from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 and I’m having a big problem. I’ll be so grateful if you can help me fix it.

When I click on a photo in Windows Explorer it always opens in a Start Screen app instead of one of my desktop photo editors (I have 3 of them). How can I fix that?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]