Windows 8 keyboard combinations

28 May 2012 Guus-Beltman Software

The new version of Windows has some new keyboard combinations for the new features. Of course there are a lot of sites that have complete downloadable cheat sheets for these kind of things. I just create a simple list to start with to keep the learning curve acceptable Smile

 

New key combinations for Windows 8

WinKey = Start screen or previously opened application

WinKey + C = Open charms

WinKey +. = Moves opened application to left or right side

WinKey + Tab = Open application overview on the LHS

WinKey + Q = Search application

WinKey + X = Start screen power menu

WinKey + W = Search in configuration settings

WinKey + Z = Show options in Metro-app and start screen

WinKey + F1 = Windows Help

Most important of the existing combinations are still available in Windows 8:

WinKey + D = Back to desktop

WinKey + E = Open Windows Explorer

WinKey + F = Open search

WinKey + R = Open the Run command

WinKey + P = Open the settings for a Projector or a 2nd monitor

WinKey + L = Lock the PC

 

Have fun,

Installing Windows 8 CP with Virtual Box

28 May 2012 Guus-Beltman Software

Today I took some time to install Windows 8 Consumer Preview and run it within Virtual Box. During installation I wrote down some notes of what I encountered during setup. Here is my simplified list of steps to achieve a working Windows 8.

You can download the Win8 Consumer Preview from the Microsoft site as a ISO image.

1. Install Virtual Box + Extension Pack.
2. Create new virtual machine with OS Windows 8.
3. Choose 2048 MB internal memory for 64 bit version (You can use 1024 for 32 bit).
4. Create Virtual Disk Image with dynamically allocated setting & 20 GB HDD space.
5. After create the disk image, mount the ISO as a virtual CD/DVD station. You can use the 'host' setting when you have burned the image to DVD.
6. Other settings that need to be checked:
- PAE/NX (tab System / Processor)
- IO APIC (tab Motherboard)
- VT-x/AMD-V (tab Acceleration)
- Nested paging (tab Acceleration)
7. Use the Windows 8 consumer preview activation key: DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J
8. Choose 'Custom: install Windows only (advanced)'
9. Proceed installation procedure as you used to do. At the end you can choose to use your Windows Live account or not. I didn't want to use a Microsoft account, I chose to create a local account: admin/admin.
10. After installation it's smart to run VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe for installing the Guest Additions. It's useful for drivers and sharing folder with the host.

Hope this helps,