You can download Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Visual Studio 11 (beta) here . The new Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8 Consumer Preview makes it much easy for developers to use Windows Azure and the Windows Push Notification Services (WNS) for a Windows 8 Metro Style app. If you follow the instructions...

Last week I completed 30 blog posts for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Power User How to Series . Now it is time to focus on application development on and for Windows 8 Consumer Preview. In this How To series, I will share application development tips and tricks with developers and architects from my...

Windows 8 Consumer Preview introduces two new system recovery features, Refresh and Reset, that were previously offered by some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). There is a big difference between these two features that you should be aware of. Refreshing your PC reinstalls Windows and keeps your...

Restoring your Windows operating system to a previous state is nothing new, but this feature can be very handy and time saving. For example, if you installed a new application or driver and your system starts to behave abnormally, or if your computer is infected by a virus from one unintentional mouse...

Restoring File History from a backup is very straightforward. Open File History from the Control Panel. (Read my previous post on how to back up Files using File History.) Select Restore personal files.  You can restore all or selected folders to their original or different locations. To restore...

Prior to Windows 8, you can back up documents and files using the Backup and Restore feature available in Control Panel | Backup and Restore (in Windows 7 for example). Windows 8 Consumer Preview has enhanced the feature and replace it with File History, as shown in the screenshot below. File History...

With Remote Desktop Connection, you can sit at a PC and connect to another PC in a different location (the remote PC). To set up Remote Desktop Connection, open the Control Panel. (Read my previous post on how to access the control panel.) Type “Remote” in the search box and click “Select users who can...

Windows 8 Consumer Preview provides on-screen keyboards for touch enabled tablet or slate users. You can easily choose one of the three layouts available: normal keyboard, split keyboard, and hand writing recognition panel. In the Desktop Mode, click or tap the keyboard icon at the Taskbar to get your...

Windows Defender in Windows 8 Consumer Preview comes with a familiar user interface and includes enhanced features of Windows Security Essentials. You can show and configure the free anti-virus program using the options described below. A bit background on MSE and Windows Defender. Windows Defender was...

While you can find Windows related information from the Internet, you can also find information using Windows Help and Support. One benefit of using Windows Help and Support is that not only you can find the right answer but also you can launch applications or commands directly from within the search...

A feature introduced with Windows 7, HomeGroup is an easy way to share documents, music, pictures, videos, and printers between networked computers at home or in a small business—without a server. You can join computers to a homegroup whether they connect by using wired and wireless networking. From...

Install an App From the Metro UI Select the Windows Store app or tile and click or tap it. Find the app you like, e.g. USA Today, by browsing the apps in the store or searching an app from the Charms Bar. Select the app, buy it if it is not free, and install it. (Note: After users purchase an app, they...

Switching between Metro UI and the desktop is very easy, and you have a couple of options.   <=> Use the Windows key If your device has a hardware keyboard with a Windows key, pressing the logo key toggles between Metro UI and the desktop mode. Use the Desktop Tile and Start Menu When you...

Windows 8 Consumer Preview (aka beta version) has just been released. This prerelease version of Windows 8 focuses on people and apps and gives you powerful new ways to use social technologies to connect with the people who are important to you. It's Windows reimagined . Windows 8 Consumer Preview is...