Make Windows 8 Not Suck

gistfile1.md

For my own reference, settings that are necessary to make Windows 8/8.1 nice.

Start menu

StartIsBack or Start8. Either work, and this is absolutely essential.

Disable forced auto-update

This inevitably happens during something important. Glad to see MS forces updates -- but... I will restart when I restart.

reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU /v NoAutoRebootWithLoggedOnUsers /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Disable mouse sticking at edge of screen

I can stop the mouse at the edge of the screen myself, if I want to, thankyouverymuch.

http://winaero.com/blog/fix-mouse-pointer-sticks-on-the-edge-when-moving-between-multiple-monitors/

reg add "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /v MouseMonitorEscapeSpeed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\EdgeUI /v MouseMonitorEscapeSpeed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Taskbar "Combine when full"

Because tons of icons are stupid.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/86819e8e-7425-4000-994c-bbc308581bd9/setting-the-option-combine-when-taskbar-is-full?forum=w7itproui

reg add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v TaskbarGlomLevel /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Associate .PDF files to Chrome

The only 'metro' app I ever accidentally encounter.. this prevents that. Plus, bonus points, I don't have to install Adobe programs.

Prevent losing focus on Chrome when using touchpad scroll

Using two-finger scroll on touchpad, Chrome loses keyboard focus.

reg add HKCU\Software\Synaptics\SynTPEnh /v GlobalScrollingConfig /t REG_DWORD /d 9 /f

References:

• https://code.google.com/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=351995#c168
• http://superuser.com/questions/743109/chrome-keyboard-losses-focus-when-using-two-finger-scroll

Disable JRE sponsored offers during updates

Prevents Java updates from installing eg, the Ask toolbar.

http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/39hv2d/ask_toolbar_now_considered_malware_by_microsoft/cs3u8z6

reg add HKLM\Software\JavaSoft /v SPONSORS /t REG_SZ /d "DISABLE" /f
reg add HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\JavaSoft /v SPONSORS /t REG_SZ /d "DISABLE" /f