DVD Playback in Windows 8

My dvd’s wont play. Why? Short answer: It’s cheaper to remove DVD play back to get around the price of the codecs. To get DVD play back you have to purchase Pro Pack or Media Center Pack. Well, that’s fine for people like me that would rather use VLC Player, WinAmp or some other third party software to begin with. I’ve never been a fan of Media Center or Media Player.

Third Party Options

Curently I use VLC Player on my Windows machines. It works good and best of all its free.
VLC’s main site
VLC media player Download link

I have used Corel’s Win DVD in the past with great success, but you have to pay for it.
Corel’s main site
Win DVD trial Download link

You can always use a DVD Converter to turn your DVD into files that the Windows Medial Player will play.

Wondershare

Wondershare Video Converter
Wondershare Video Converter trial download link

Dell Duo Accelerometer driver for Windows 8

   I installed Windows 8 Professional on my Dell Duo and everything worked accept the screen rotation. After many searches and false leads I finally found a solution that worked. Samsung has a support page for their Series 7 slate with 32 bit and 64 bit rotation drivers. I installed the 32 drivers on my DUO and like magic the rotation was back. I also included a link for the 64 bit driver in case anyone needed it.

Rotation Drivers

32 bit driver
64 bit driver

Windows 8 Shortcuts

Here is a list of Windows 8 shortcuts that i have compiled.

Windows key
Windows key Opens Start Screen
Windows key + B Go to the Desktop from the Start Screen
Windows key + C Opens Charms bar
Windows key + D Show Desktop
Windows key + E Locks device orientation
Windows key + F Opens Metro File search
Windows key + G Cycle through desktop gadgets
Windows key + H Opens the Metro Share charm panel
Windows key + I Opens the computer Settings charm panel
Windows key + J Switch focus between snapped ans larger apps
Windows key + K Opens the Connect Devices charm panel
Windows key + L Lock System and show Lock screen.
Windows key + M Minimize all Windows on the desktop
Windows key + O Locks device orientation
Windows key + P Choose between available displays.
Windows key + Q Opens Metro App Quick Search
Windows key + R Opens the Run box
Windows key + T Set focus on taskbar & cycle through running desktop apps
Windows key + U Opens the Ease of Access Center
Windows key + V Cycles through toasts
Windows key + Shift + V Cycles through toasts in reverse order
Windows key + W Opens Metro Settings search
Windows key + X Opens the Start Menu
Windows key + Y Peak at the Desktop
Windows key + Z Opens App Bar
Windows key + Tab Cycles through Metro style apps
Windows key + Shift + Tab Cycles through Metro style apps in reverse order
Windows key + Ctrl + Tab Cycles through Metro style apps and snaps them as they are cycled
Windows key + Spacebar Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows key + Enter Launches Narrator
Windows key + PgUp Moves Metro style apps to the monitor on the left
Windows key + PgDown Moves Metro style apps to the monitor on the right
Windows key + Shift + . (period) Snaps an application Left)
Windows key + . (period) Snaps an application Right)
Windows key + , (comma) Aero Peek at the desktop
Alt key
Alt key + (1-9) Go to application at the number position on the taskbar
Alt key + + (plus) Zoom in
Alt key + – (minus) Zoom out
Alt key + Break System Properties
Alt key + Left Arrow Snap Window to the Left
Alt key + Right Arrow Snap Window to the Right
Alt key + Up Arrow Maximize App
Alt key + Down Arrow Minimize App
Alt key + D Select address bar (Explorer)
Alt key + Enter Properties
Alt key + Spacebar Shortcut Menu
Alt key + Tab Switch between apps
Alt key + Left Arrow Previous folder (Explorer)
Alt key + Up Arrow Go up one level (Explorer)
Alt key + F4 Close active item or application
Ctrl key
Ctrl + A Select all
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + E Select search box (Explorer)
Ctrl + N New Window (Explorer)
Ctrl + R Refresh
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + W Cose current Window (Explorer)
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Esc Start screen
Ctrl + Tab Cycle through metro app history
Ctrl + Ins Copy
Ctrl + Left Arrow Previous word
Ctrl + Right arrow Next word
Ctrl + Up arrow Previous Paragraph
Ctrl + Down arrow Next Paragraph
Ctrl + F4 Close active document
Shift key
Shift + Tab Move backwards through options
Shift + Ins Paste
Ctrl + Shift key
Ctrl + Shift + N New folder (Explorer)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens Task Manager
Left Arrow Select a block of text
Right Arrow Select a block of text
Up Arrow Select a block of text
Down Arrow Select a block of text
Ctrl + Alt key
Ctrl + Alt + D Docked mode (Magnifier)
Ctrl + Alt + I Invert Colors (Magnifier)
Ctrl + Alt + L Lens mode (Magnifier)
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Switch between apps using arrow keys
Alt + Shift key
Alt + Shift + PrtSc High Contrast
Alt + Shift + NumLock Mouse Keys

Windows 8 activation error 0x8007007B

When I tried to activate Windows 8 I got the following error message: “Error 0x8007007B The File name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.”. I was unable to change the Windows key in the Windows Activation GUI. The key was grayed out with no option to edit.

The Fix that worked for me

1. Open a command prompt in administrator mode “Press and hold the Windows button+R”
2. Type slmgr.vbs /ipk (Windows Key) minus the ( ). *** This forces the Windows key to update.
3. Type slmgr.vbs /ato *** This starts the activation
4. If all went well you should be activated at this point.