OMG Windows 8 Help Me

So just bought a new box and Windows 8 and have a series of questions which I will just keep adding til its all knocked into my brain.
First, I installed my usual program Total Commander and now its coming up and saying Remove the write protection, Windows 7 and Windows 8 are completely different. How to remove write protection?
I know somewhere in the Apps folder on this site there is an app, but can someone tell me how to mod it so I can add the start button please?
Are there other apps I should have to make this easier to use?
Thank you
Answer #1
Okay worked out the write protection by editing the user to full control
Please do not double post, -
#3.7 I It is forbidden to double post on the board. It means that you are not allowed to reply twice in a row in any topic. Use the edit button when altering your reply if you're the last to post in the topic.
Answer #2
For the start button there’s Classic Shell or Start8.
Personally I think the Start Menu/button slow down the whole process though. Windows key + start typing in the program name then press enter is faster than moving your mouse to the start button, click All Programs, Clicking the Folder, clicking the executable.
Answer #3
Okay so will skip that step and try your solution since I am now all new again at this.
On this computer which is Windows 7 I have noticed that the external hard drive when i plug into Windows 8 doesnt recognise it and wants me to format the damn thing, so instead I networked the drive yet even though I can see the folders it wont let me add it as a drive letter just yet because it asks for the network password. This is the bit I am confused since there are no passwords on the network protecting anything. So how does one network an external drive running from the computer on Windows 7 to appear on Windows 8? I can map network drives to the Windows 7 C drive and other folders but cant load files off the external, any ideas please?
Also thank you for replying.
Answer #4
It’ll be asking for the username/password of an account on the machine you’re trying to access the shared drive from so it can get the permissions for you.
So \username and password for Windows of the remote machine. \ is important as it means use the default domain of the remote machine, which in none AD environments will be it’s PC name. Without that, it’ll try using your local machines name.
If you have problems mapping it. Start > Run \\machinelocalip\networksharename and see if you can log in through Windows explorer.
Answer #5
Are there any tweaks that I should know about?
Answer #6
The only ones I can think of off the top of my head is disable auto restart on updates and make sure smart screen is disabled. (Control panel > security)
Then there’s the usual like show hidden files, show file extensions (control panel > folder options)
Answer #7
I’ve come across start orb which allows me to move the start button to any location, yet for windows 8 doesnt seem to work, do you know of any application that allows me to do this?
Answer #8
Not sure about moving it to anywhere, but Objectdock works fine in Windows 8. If you are really struggling you can switch off charms etc with Start8, but once you get used to it its quite straight forward and a much better OS IMO.
Answer #9
a handy little thing i found is to right click where the start button used to be ( goto bottom left and when the little square ” start ” screen is showing right click it ) . win 8 is actually very easy to navigate – i originally had problems networking all machines in my home , but i fixed it the lazy way – i went to all machines and made a common user with the same password for all machines then setup ” everyone ” in sharing for all pc’s and it works but its not very secure