Installing Windows 8 and customization

1. Use Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to create a Windows bootable USB drive

2. If you want to create a Windows x64 bootable image, you need to run the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool from a x64 Windows computer.

3. During the Windows 8 installation if you encounter error while installing \ copying files, and it’s at the same point (same percent), then the USB image is corrupted.

4. If doing Android dev. with Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM), you must disable Hyper V in Windows.

disable: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

re-enable (restart): bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

5. For Samsung 840 Pro SSD: Install Samsung Magician

     http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/samsungssd/downloads.html

It will start on each Windows start but it’s annoying it shows UAC. One solution is to remove it from startup

C:\users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

6. There are a number of SSD optimizations to be done

http://www.thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-ultimate-windows-8-edition/

7. Disable Windows Narrator. it’s annoying it starts anytime Windows Key + Enter are pressed.

http://enginecore.blogspot.ro/2013/09/disable-windows-narator.html

8. Make Word to minimize to tray: right click on tray icon and choose “Hide when minimized”

9. Automatically user login

1. run netplwiz 

2. uncheck the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”, click Apply

3. enter username and password

http://www.howtogeek.com/112919/how-to-make-your-windows-8-computer-logon-automatically/

10. Force Visual Studio always run as admin

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12257110/can-you-force-visual-studio-to-always-run-as-an-administrator-in-windows-8

In Windows 8, you have to right-click devenv.exe and select "Troubleshoot compatibility".

1. select "Troubleshoot program"
2. check "The program requires additional permissions"
3. click "Next", click "Test the program..."
4. wait for the program to launch
5. click "Next"
6. select "Yes, save these settings for this program"
7. click "Close"

11. On Windows 8, make sure you get the latest Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM), At this moment, the one from Android SDK manager is buggy on Windows 8. 

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-hardware-accelerated-execution-manager/