![Using Gmail in Windows 8 Mail App [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Gmail.png?fit=159%2C159&ssl=1)
Gmail’s use of labels instead of folders typically means that using the service with most mail clients can be tricky. If you know how Gmail archives instead of deletes messages though, you can more easily triage and archive mail from Windows 8.
![Deep Pinning on the Windows 8 Start Screen [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Deep.png?fit=328%2C162&ssl=1)
Your Start screen tiles can link deeper into your apps, providing a one-touch shortcut to the content you care about most. Whether it’s people, email, news, or content from a variety of other apps, you can deep pin it on your Start screen easily.
![Use Quick Access from the Keyboard [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/QuickAccessFileExplorer.png?fit=254%2C148&ssl=1)
Did you know that you can add your own commands to the toolbar at the top of Microsoft Office programs? This also applies to several apps in Windows 7, and has even been expanded to the File Explorer in Windows 8!
Quite a few years ago now, I saw a really awesome wallpaper created by a Mac user. Designed in a blueprint pattern, it labeled all the standard interface elements on the screen, even the Mighty Blue Apple.
![Apply Folder Styles to All Subfolders [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FolderTemplates.png?fit=629%2C479&ssl=1)
Have you ever wondered why different folders have different layouts in Windows, or how to apply your preferred layout to all folders? Windows actually allows you to push a folder view down to all subfolders using Folder Types (templates), but it’s not very discoverable.
![Enable Full File Search in Non-Indexed Folders [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Full-Search.png?fit=488%2C479&ssl=1)
Enable deep searching inside files in all folders, even if the search system hasn’t indexed the location. Searches in these places might take longer because they haven’t been scanned ahead of time, but this will provide consistent search experience everywhere.
![Sync Your Libraries to SkyDrive [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SkyDrive.png?fit=516%2C478&ssl=1)
![Changing the Xbox Keyboard Layout [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Xbox.png?fit=577%2C440&ssl=1)
![Instantly Search Inside More File Types [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FileTypes.png?fit=537%2C471&ssl=1)
Need to find some code, script, or other text in non-standard files? Let Windows Search index and provide instant results for CSS, JavaScript or other file types by setting up content indexing for more file types in Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.
![Automatically Login to Windows [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/cmdrkeene.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/AutoLogin.png?fit=385%2C331&ssl=1)
Have you ever wanted to bypass the Windows login screen? Believe it or not, auto-login has been available in Windows for decades, but the options to enable this feature are hidden with good reason: carelessly enabling automatic login can be risky
If you’re looking for a new PC, you can ask any geek and they’ll tell you to build clean. Their reason is simple: the manufacturer’s cripple their own products before they ever send it to you. Even if you buy direct, original equipment manufacturers make money by pre-installing trials, games, bundles, even spyware on to their computers. Resellers from BestBuy to Walmart are even worse. Make no mistake: you’re being sold out before you even buy.
Many of even the most infrequent of Internet users has experienced instant searches by now, where search suggestions (or even full results) appear live while you type, before you even press Enter. It seems like magic, searching the entire world as fast as you can type. But did you know your Windows PC has the same power?
In this post, I’ll discuss why you should avoid using virtual machines for evaluating the new Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and how you can test drive this new OS the way it (and you) deserve, by fully booting into it.
