Best of Windows 8, by far, is its innovative design and its dozens of new features and gestures. Recently, we analyze in depth here. The bad: you take a long, long, learn to handle it smoothly without wasting time.

The applications running on traditional desktop mode is almost the same as Windows 7. But Microsoft has included dozens of new tricks, shortcuts and functions in both the Modern UI interface as in the desktop. To take full advantage, there are some features you might not even know.

1. Start menu “secret”

Microsoft has replaced the traditional Windows Start menu with your ModernUI, a page of animated tiles (Live Tiles, the flame) with real-time information and applications. However, there remains a sort of start menu: Clicking the right mouse button in the lower left corner of the screen (in Modern UI), a menu with quick picks to the Control Panel, the Task Manager or file Explorer.

2. automatic backups

A new feature in Windows 8’s file history, which works similar to Apple’s Time Machine: automatically stores old versions of your files you can recover and restore when needed. The function, however, is set by default. You have to open the Control Panel and go to System and Security to activate. You will also need an additional hard drive, either external or internal network, to save the file history. Once you’ve done all this, the files are automatically saved. It could save your life if you damaged your laptop or stolen.

3. Alterna Modern UI interface and desktop

Windows 7 allow you to place windows on the sides of the screen, but Windows 8 goes one step further. The applications of the new Modern UI interface, such as weather, messaging, photos … can be adjusted to the right or left of the screen, so that they are displayed on a smaller window. So conceived Windows 8 multitasking. That is, you can see how it left the Exchange in writing email while on the right, or control what happens on Twitter while making a presentation, all on the same screen. Nothing fancy, but useful. Click the top of any application (until the glove) and drag anywhere on the screen to keep it there, then you can activate the left lateral black bar to return to full-screen mode.

4. Sync your files wherever you are

If you just happen to Windows 8, you’re probably using your old accounts without synchronizing, so you will not benefit from the advantages of Windows ID. If you agree with this ID (the one you use for other Microsoft services such as Hotmail / Outlook, SkyDrive …), you can sync all your photos, emaisl and so on, and transfer your preferences and settings to any Windows 8 since you login (to log out, of course, no one else can access). Puesde make deploying the right sidebar and going to settings> change PC settings> sync your settings. It is a quick and easy way to access your browsing history, emails etc on another computer at home that has Windows 8, or on another computer outside the home.

5. use shortcuts

There are many, for example, press the Windows key + Print Screen to automatically save a screenshot in the Images folder of your library, Win + C to display the sidebar Charms, Win + X to display the menu mentioned in the first point, Win + D to jump to the desktop.

If you’re using an application of Modern full screen UI, clicking the right mouse button will appear below the menu the same, if you do it in the main menu of Modern UI, where the tiles, you will see a link to all applications and system programs. You can also click with the left mouse button in the lower right corner of the home screen tiles to group by columns to your preference.

6. Reinstall Windows.

Reinstall Windows used to be a nightmare: you had to use product licenses, DVDs, backups … you could take half a day. With Windows 8 this process is much easier and takes less than a few minutes.

To do so, go to the sidebar Charm to Settings> Change PC configuration. There, in general use you will see that there are two options: Restore your PC without affecting your files and Remove everything and reinstall Windows. The first option restores Windows to its original factory settings, but keeps your files intact and customization. If something goes wrong with your computer hardware, with a program or if Windows is slow, you can use this option.

The second is more drastic: completely reinstall Windows and deletes all files on the system, so make sure you’ve done before if you want to keep a backup. If you have a serious problem with your computer (a virus or spyware that has crippled) or if you want to sell on eBay and leave it as coming at first, this is the best way to do it.