Windows 8.1 is a significant system update compared to the old service packs that were distributed for previous versions of windows. Who uses a PC with Windows 8.1 has found an improved system, but with some small defects, between tools and missing features that seems strange, they cannot be activated or for some particular configuration that it is not clear how it can be changed. The fact is that Microsoft, with Windows 8.1 wanted to make a universal operating system for traditional PCs and touchscreen tablets by synthesizing all the configurations, but also creating some hindrance in one case or another. Given that few people have a Windows 8 tablet, let's see here what are the most important options that need to be changed in Windows 8.1 to make it work better.
Many of these options are all new in Windows 8.1 or have moved from their position in Windows 8.
In this article we see 9 of these options to be modified, some without any delay, others optionally, to improve Windows 8 .
READ ALSO: The main improvements of Windows 8.1
1) The integration of the desktop
If you use Windows 8.1 on your PC, you probably won't often come across the Start screen of applications which only becomes the quick interface for finding programs or using some particularly useful apps.
The main use and working environment of the computer, despite Microsoft, is always the classic icon and window desktop.
The first option to change absolutely in Windows 8.1 is to start the computer directly on the desktop as explained in the specific guide.
If you don't like the menus that appear by moving the mouse cursor to the corners, you can also disable the corners and the charms bar by removing the cross at the first two options of the exploration tab.
2) Delete old Windows installation files
When upgrading from the old version of Windows, the system keeps a folder called C: \ Windows.old with the old files.
This happens every time you reinstall Windows 7 or Windows 8 over another installation, choosing to keep the files. In addition, Windows also maintains the update installation files. All of this can be eliminated to gain several GB of disk space.
To do this, press the Windows + S keys and look for Disk Cleanup . In the screen that appears, press the " Clean System Files " button, repeat the scan on disk C and then enable, if there are any, the options of the files of previous installations of Windows and of the Windows Updates.
READ ALSO: Clean Windows Update to free up 4 GB of disk space
3) Remove old wireless networks
On laptops with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 there is no way to cancel the wifi networks you have connected to in the past. If you want to remove Wifi networks from Windows memory you can do it using a command in the command prompt. Press the right mouse button on the Start button at the bottom left and open the Command Prompt (administrator).
Run the following command to see the names of the saved wireless networks:
netsh wlan show profiles
While to delete one run the command:
netsh wlan delete profile name = "profile name"
4) Restore the collections
Collections to manage your favorite folders had been introduced in Windows with Windows 7.
In Windows 8.1 the collections are not there because they have been hidden.
You can re-enable them from the File Explorer window: open a folder> press View on the top> Options.
On the General tab, enable the Show collections option.
5) Deactivate the integration of SkyDrive
Microsoft seems to want to force users to use Skydrive.
The problem is not so much this, but rather that the Skydrive files are placed in Windows Explorer occupying visual space and also creating a privacy problem if that PC is used by other people.
In another article, the guide to disable Onedrive or hide it .
6) Activate File History
In Windows 8.1 there is an option that is really worth enabling to avoid losing files if modified or deleted by mistake. In practice it is a backup system that allows you to restore individual files without having to reload an entire installation . To activate it, press the Windows-C keys, open the settings and then press on Change PC settings at the bottom. From the "Update and restore" options activate the File history on a different disk. To work, this option requires a second hard drive on the computer.
7) Disable Bing Search
Maybe in the USA Bing is a good search engine, but in Italy it is really poor and cannot be used. In Windows 8.1 when you search from the Start screen or by pressing the Windows-S keys it also opens the internet search provided by Bing which is worth disabling to search for files, applications and settings faster. To change this option, press Windows-C, go to Settings then to Change PC settings, go to the Search and apps menu and disable Bing.
8) "Access Assigned" in Windows 8.1
As already explained, through the assigned access mode you can create a special user on the computer to have the PC only on the internet browser hiding everything else. This is convenient for letting guests use the internet without risking our own business.
9) See more applications on the Start screen
With the update for Windows 8.1 of April 2014, you can make better use of the screen in height and see more applications in the app's home screen. To do this go to the right with the mouse, click on Settings and then on Squares and choose to see more squares.
READ ALSO: Configure PC Settings in Windows 8.1
