Win 8.1 - a few questions...

[eddywatson]

Hello

I am new to windows 8.1, For the past 5 or so years ive been using vista. I just have a few questions I hope people can help me with

1. When windows 8.1 starts up I always have to enter my password from my hotmail email address. Can i bypass any login screen and just get it to load my desktop?

2. When I put a dvd into my drive, or i get a message on skype or when a download is completed i get this chyme noise from windows... how do I turn it off ?

3. When i open a video within windows media player it always opens in a small little box, and i have to click to make full screen, with the square/box icon in the top right hand corner, is there anyways to make a video i open within wmp so it always opens to max screen size

thats it for now but im sure il think of more things lol
thank you

 

[steaky360]

Howdy!

I'll try to answer what I can

1. You can use an app (autologin) to loginto your PC. Use AutoLogon.exe and enter your username/password: I've not used it myself admittedly but it seems to be ok from what I've read.

2. Barring Skype, Those are windows sounds, you can disable them through the control panel. If you right click on the start button (hover the mouse at the bottom left and it'll appear) and then open the control panel, make sure you go to classic view for ease. Click Sound and Audio Devices to open a dialog box. Click the Sounds tab. Go down to the Program events list. Click a System event and then click the Sounds menu for the sound that you want to hear with your chosen action. You will need to change each one individually for the ones you want to disable.

For Skype, I think you can do that in the preferences (or similar) menu for Skype (it might be in the sound menu above though)

3. I don't know for sure. A suggestion was made on a different forum for doing this here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Resize-Windows-Media-Player-to-fit-a-video

Hope this helps!

 

[keynes]

I am getting so many issues with windows 8.1. For some silly reason internet explorer doesn't allow me to use Netflix or amazon instant video streaming. Can't get the start button to be visible and keep getting disconnected from the Microsoft store.

 

[ubuysa]

Windows 8.1 is, and always has been, running like a dream here. To answer the OP's questions as best as I'm able, none of which I think are WIndows 8.1 specific, they all seem to be application related....

1. I don't use Hotmail but have you set up Hotmail to sync with your computer? That's probably why you have to enter the Hotmail password, it's trying to sync on start-up. Take a look in the Hotmail settings, if you don;t need it syncing then turn it off, if you don;t want it picking up emails at WIndows start then turn it off.

2. I agree with steaky360, customise the Windows sounds first, then also customise Skype sounds, and probably Media Player sounds too (if it has any - I don't use it).

3. Take a look in the Media Player options, there may be an "open full screen" option.

It's not just Windows 8.1 that's different, many applications have changed their UI when they run on 8.1 from what it would have been on Vista, so it's worth hunting around in the application's Options or Preferences menu for options that let you run the application the way you'd prefer.

Hope that helps some?

 

[steaky360]

1. I don't use Hotmail but have you set up Hotmail to sync with your computer? That's probably why you have to enter the Hotmail password, it's trying to sync on start-up. Take a look in the Hotmail settings, if you don;t need it syncing then turn it off, if you don;t want it picking up emails at WIndows start then turn it off.

I think the OP is referring to the log-on password request when the PC boots up, regardless of whether you sync to outlook or not it requests the password on boot up (mine certainly does anyway) - it also allows you access to the windows store and what not. Unless there's a way to get into the windows store without having to sign into 'some kind' of account?

 

[ubuysa]

I think the OP is referring to the log-on password request when the PC boots up, regardless of whether you sync to outlook or not it requests the password on boot up (mine certainly does anyway) - it also allows you access to the windows store and what not. Unless there's a way to get into the windows store without having to sign into 'some kind' of account?

Ah, understand. I like the password at logon and have always used it, I suspect you're right that 8/8.1 requires a password because of the store.

 

[Androcles]

Ah, understand. I like the password at logon and have always used it, I suspect you're right that 8/8.1 requires a password because of the store.

Another of the many reasons I won't "upgrade" to windows 8/8.1, 99% of the time I turn my PC on and go make a drink or food, I expect to come back to the desktop, being forced to enter passwords isn't making efficient use of my time (I'm a little ocd about that kind of thing).

 

[ubuysa]

Another of the many reasons I won't "upgrade" to windows 8/8.1, 99% of the time I turn my PC on and go make a drink or food, I expect to come back to the desktop, being forced to enter passwords isn't making efficient use of my time (I'm a little ocd about that kind of thing).

Each to his/her own. Although it's far from foolproof I appreciate that nobody else can easily get into my laptop. Security is one of those things that's a real nuisance - until you need it.

 

[mdwh]

Another of the many reasons I won't "upgrade" to windows 8/8.1, 99% of the time I turn my PC on and go make a drink or food, I expect to come back to the desktop, being forced to enter passwords isn't making efficient use of my time (I'm a little ocd about that kind of thing).

If you use a local account (i.e., the same kind that has only ever been available in Windows 7 or earlier, not the new online accounts), you apparently don't need a password ( http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/disable-remove-password ). So one option for the OP is to switch to a local account. Windows 8/8.1 is no worse than 7, as the issue only applies to the new online accounts.

If one wants to use the new online accounts, but not have to enter a password, I found this: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/fl/auto-logon-windows-8.htm (haven't tried it myself though). Or switch to using a PIN which is at least quicker (and could be set to 0000 if you don't care...)