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SP3 Tips/Tricks (locked)

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leeshor

leeshor

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WARNING - this is not supported by Google and could cause problems later on. That said this is an extremely simple hack because the code is already written, it's just not on by default. In fact you could just edit the registry yourself in about 30 seconds.

*Before doing anything you might want to backup your registry. That's just common sense.

Here is the site i followed: Chrome High DPI: How To Enable It In Windows 8, 8.1 (v34+) | Ubergizmo

Double-check to make sure you are running Chrome version 35.x, then scroll down and follow the instructions under Solution (Chrome 35.x). Ignore the rest.

Basically it's just downloading a registry key, running it, allowing it to make changes, then RESTARTING your entire computer. After that Chrome is beautiful.
In addition i also download the "undo" key, just in case a future Chrome update breaks this.

Enjoy
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leeshor

leeshor

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How to take a screenshot on your Surface
Method 1: Press and hold the Windows button, and press down on the lower volume button on the side of your Surface. Your screen will dim a little for a moment when you do this. (this saves to \Pictures\Screenshots)
Method 2: Double-press the pen top button. (this will import it directly to OneNote)
Method 3: On the keyboard, press Fn + Win + SpaceBar. (this also saves to \Pictures\Screenshots)
Method 4: Swipe left to open Charms -> Share. Click the tiny down arrow and tap "Screenshot". (this will further prompt you where you want to share it to, i.e. mail, paint, facebook, etc..)

Close Apps Easily
Drag or swipe down from the very top of the screen right to the very bottom - and if you don't quite swipe all the way, the window just reappears and you have to start again.
If you want to get Windows to close the app without you having to travel quite so far. Here is a link to the steps to do this.

Restarting an App
Need to restart an app you’re running? No problem, you can do that in three simple steps.
1. Drag app down from the top of the screen.
2. Hold app at the bottom until it flips.
3. Drag app back up to the middle the screen.

CTRL-ALT-DEL screen without a keyboard
Press the Windows button + Power
*You can also long-press on the Desktop Windows button (bottom left corner) to get to a menu including Task Manger, if that's what you want.

Teach Windows 8 to learn your handwriting
Control Panel -> Language -> Language Options -> Personalize handwriting recognition
*actually, if you look under the Advanced -> Automatic learning settings windows is set by default to do this. But the above option is a great way to teach Windows 8 specific letters or words that it frequently misinterprets!

Turn your Windows Tablet into an Android Tablet
In case you forgot, Bluestacks is supported on Windows 8. And you now have a fully functioning tablet device. Put the two together!
BlueStacks
Tip: First thing you want to do after running Bluestacks is download a launcher like Nova Launcher or ADW Launcher and set it as default. That way when it opens it really LOOKS like an Android Tablet.
There are TONS of tutorials and help online for this.

Logon using Picture Password
Swipe left to open Charms -> Change PC Settings (at the bottom) -> Accounts -> Sign-in options
*Instead of typing in a password, it shows you a picture and you have to perform 3 "gestures" to unlock it. You get to choose the picture and gestures. If you forget you can still type in a password.

Turn on/off Rotation Lock
If you want to disable the auto-rotate on your screen temporarily, swipe left to open Charms -> Settings -> Screen. Above the slider for brightness is a little screen/arrow picture, touch this and it will lock the screen in whatever orientation it currently is in.

OneNote: Add features like Favorites, Image Cropping, Macros and more
Install Onetastic from Try the Onetastic add-in to bring tons of new features to OneNote | Office Blogs

Add an additional row of Cards in Modern UI
Swipe left to open Charms -> Settings -> Tiles. Click "Show more tiles on the Start screen".

Enable High-Resolution in Google Chrome
Chrome High DPI: How To Enable It In Windows 8, 8.1 (v34+) | Ubergizmo, or download Google Chrome Canary has the newest of the new Chrome features.
Be forewarned: it's designed for developers and early adopters, and can sometimes break down completely


App Drawer Opens by Default
This is when you swipe from the left to cycle through previous Apps you were working in. By default it brings it over full screen, but you can push it back left a bit and then it shows you all the previous Apps in a stack. That's the App Drawer.
Swipe left to open Charms -> Settings -> Change PC Settings -> PC and Devices -> Corners and Edges. Uncheck "When i swipe from the left edge, switch between my recent apps instead of showing a list of them"

Get to Administrator Functions Fast + More
In desktop mode, left-click-hold on the Windows button (bottom left corner)
If using a mouse jut right-click.

Show Every Control Panel Options at Once, aka GodMode
1. Right-click on the desktop and select New Folder.
3. Right-click -> Rename
4. Type in GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} and press enter. FYI: sometimes copy/pasting doesn't work, you have to type it in manually.

Boot Directly to the Desktop (instead of the Start Screen)
Right-click on the Taskbar -> Properties -> Navigation
Check "When i sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start"

Match Your Modern UI Wallpaper to Your Desktop Wallpaper
Method 1: Go into the Modern UI / Start Screen. Swipe left for Charms -> Settings -> Personalize. There will be a group of background images at the top right. In that group, the last one will ALWAYS be your desktop wallpaper.
Method 2: If you want them to ALWAYS be the same: In desktop mode right-click the taskbar -> Properties -> Navigation. Check "Show my desktop background on Start"

Lock the Function Keys
On the Type Cover, the Function keys by default are actually hot keys. If you want to put switch it so they act like a normal keyboard, press FN+CAPS. There's nothing on the keyboard or screen that indicates what mode you're in, so i guess you just have to remember.

Increase/Decrease the Brightness of the Backlit Keyboard
The F1 and F2 keys that show the little brightness icon... those are for the keyboard backlight, NOT the screen, which is weird.
Even weirder, there is still a way to change your SCREEN brightness using the keyboard, it's FN+DEL or FN+BACKSPACE.


Sources:
Tips & Tricks Archives | Surface Blog
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqD1vWlpai9SUvfNfzVvUqA
62 Windows 8 tips, tricks and secrets | News | TechRadar
Microsoft Surface | How to Take a Screenshot
Buying the Surface Pro 3? Here are the apps, games, programs and accessories you need
Try the Onetastic add-in to bring tons of new features to OneNote | Office Blogs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv1...on_id=channel:533bb64f-0-2c99-9931-1a1134950c
Chrome High DPI: How To Enable It In Windows 8, 8.1 (v34+) | Ubergizmo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnQvLStvmswNg2cvAgM8yg/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbzi2PwNDYMb7TigGa-DDZQ/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMkhrrPkmx7xxlolSP9qEsA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMb3lp0IfG6EXVngmYg77ng

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leeshor

leeshor

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How to make a bootable thumb drive

Important
Creating a recovery drive will erase anything that is already stored on your USB drive. Make sure to transfer any important data from your USB drive to another storage device before using it to create a Surface USB recovery drive.
Step 1:Insert your USB drive into the USB port of your Surface or PC.
For Surface RT and Surface 2, your USB drive should be at least 8 GB in size.
For Surface Pro models, your USB drive should be at least 16 GB.
Step 2:From the desktop, open File Explorer.
Step 3:Tap and hold or right-click on the USB drive and choose Format.
Step 4:Select FAT32 as the file system and enter a Volume label to name the USB drive, such as RECOVERY, and then tap or click Start.
Step 5:Tap or click OK to erase the contents of the USB drive.
Step 6:Tap or click OK when the format is complete.
Step 7:On your Surface or PC, unzip (or extract) the recovery image that you downloaded by double-clicking it to open it.
Step 8:Next, drag the files from the compressed folder to the USB drive you formatted.

Credit jnjroach
 
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leeshor

leeshor

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Access custom On-Screen Keyboard for the Surface Pro (has more features than default touch keyboard) Windows 8.1

1) Open Charms Menu

2) Search for 'Control Panel'

3) Open Control Panel and click on the green link for 'Ease of Access'

4) On the next screen click on the green link for 'Ease of Access Center'

5) On the next screen scroll down to the bottom and click on the link for 'Make touch and tablets easier to use'

6) On the drop down menu, change 'Narrator' to 'On-screen keyboard,

7) Click Apply and OK

8) To access the custom keyboard Press and hold the Windows Button on bezel of the Surface Pro, and the Volume Up button at the same time.

9) Press the Options button on the On-Screen keyboard to change settings (Click sound on or off, Show numeric pad, etc.). Press NumLock to switch between Navigation Keys and Number Keys if numeric key pad is enabled.

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leeshor

leeshor

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Another trick for better battery: (if it is waking in a backpack as an example)

You have the problem, that you take your SP3 into your bag/backpack, but the battery drains anyway? Here is the fix:
  1. open Device Manager (right click Start then choose Device Manager)
  2. open keyboard
  3. open Surface Type Cover Filter Device
  4. on Power Management Tab un-check allow this device to wake computer
This prevents the keyboard from waking the device. This does happen fairly often in your bag when you move it.

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leeshor

leeshor

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Disable connected standby using the registry

Disabling Connected Standby

In the registry
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\CsEnabled (1->0)

(change from 1 to 0 and restart)

Credit ctitanic
 
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leeshor

leeshor

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How to start Surface Pro tablets when they won't start.

Hold the power down for about 30 seconds, or until the Capacitive Windows Button on the bezel doesn't vibrate. Hold the volume rocker up and press the power button until the Surface Logo comes up, this will put you into the UEFI Screen, exit and it will reboot and should let you back in....

Credit @jnjroach

Secondary method for a cold boot. Hole the volume up and power at the same time for a cold boot.
 
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