Windows Tips and Tricks: 03/01/12

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Here’s How to Download Windows 8 Beta (Consumer Preview) Right Now

The latest Windows version was just released, and here’s how you can get your hands on the Consumer Preview, otherwise known as the Windows 8 Beta, right now.
Our feature article covering all the changes will be out later, but for now, you might want to install it on a spare PC or into a virtual machine. Just keep in mind that the servers might be hit pretty hard this morning.

Downloading Windows 8 Beta

Windows setup (with tools to create an ISO or thumb drive)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download
ISO image (use Disk Image burner or USB tool)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

Disable Windows 8’s Adaptive Brightness to Fix Dark Screen Problems

If you just installed Windows 8 on your laptop and the screen won’t stay at the brightness level you want, it’s probably because the adaptive brightness feature isn’t working right on your system. Here’s how to disable it.
Naturally, it would be best to have the feature actually work, so you could make sure to update your drivers. If you still want to disable, here’s how to do it.

Adjusting the Brightness in Windows 8

Just so we’re clear, here’s how to change the brightness on your Windows 8 laptop… hit the Win+I shortcut key combination (that’s a capital i), and then you’ll see the brightness control right there.

On my MacBook Air, this setting kept fluxuating up and down.

Disabling Adaptive Brightness in Windows 8

Open up the Windows desktop with Win+D, click the power management icon in the tray, and then choose More power options from the menu.

Note that you could also use the Metro search screen to get to the Power Options panel.
Once here, click the “Change plan settings” link on the selected plan.