5 Easy Ways to Remove Ribbon from Windows 8 and 8.1 Explorer

If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 operating system in your computer, you might be aware of the new Ribbon UI introduced in Windows Explorer. Actually Microsoft replaced the good ol' Command Bar (toolbar) in Windows 8/8.1 Explorer with Office 2013 style Ribbon.

Many Windows users welcomed this change, on the other hand many users were disappointed by this move. Using Command bar or classic toolbar was easier than using Ribbon in Windows Explorer and they found it a little bit difficult to click in different ribbon tabs to find their desired options.

Microsoft didn't provide any built-in option to disable Ribbon in Windows Explorer. But there are a few ways to get rid of the Ribbon and bring old toolbar back in Windows 8/8.1 Explorer.

We have shared many tutorials in past to remove Ribbon from Windows 8/8.1 Explorer and today in this article we are going to put them together for your convenience.

All these tricks work perfectly in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. We have tested them in many Windows 8/8.1 computers and didn't face any problem.

So if you also want to remove Windows 8/8.1 Explorer Ribbon and want to enable the old Command Bar, follow any of these simple methods:

METHOD 1: Use Windows Explorer in Full Screen Mode

If you don't want to use any 3rd party software and if you don't want to modify any system file, Registry, etc, then this is the easiest method for you to disable Ribbon in Windows 8/8.1 Explorer.

This method will not remove the Ribbon completely but you can use this trick to temporarily disable Ribbon and get old toolbar back in Windows Explorer.

You just need to press "F11" key whenever you want to get rid of Ribbon and it'll show Windows Explorer into Full Screen mode. Now you'll have access to old toolbar and Ribbon will no longer be visible in Windows Explorer.

Check out following tutorial for details:

[Tip] Get Rid of Windows 8 Explorer Ribbon and Get Classic Toolbar Back

METHOD 2: Disable Windows 8/8.1 Explorer Ribbon by Renaming DLL File

This is an easy option to permanently remove Ribbon from Windows 8/8.1 Explorer. You just need to rename a DLL file "UIRibbon.dll" and it'll completely remove Ribbon in Windows Explorer and will also restore Windows 7 style Command bar.

Check out following tutorial to get the details:

How to Disable New Ribbon UI in Windows 8 Explorer?

But this method has one drawback. If you rename the DLL file, you'll not be able to use Paint and Wordpad programs in Windows. Since both these programs use Ribbon UI, they crash as soon as you launch them.

METHOD 3: Remove Windows 8/8.1 Explorer Ribbon by Modifying DLL File

If you use Paint and Wordpad apps and don't want to use above mentioned method, then you can disable Windows 8/8.1 Explorer Ribbon by editing a DLL file ExplorerFrame.dll in Resource Hacker.

You just need to edit the file and remove a key section from it. It'll permanently remove Ribbon from Windows 8/8.1 Explorer and will have no side-effects.

You can learn more about this method at following link:

The Best Method to Remove Ribbon UI from Windows 8 Explorer

METHOD 4: Get Rid of Windows 8/8.1 Explorer Ribbon Using Freeware

If you are not familiar with modifying system files, you can take help of a free software "OldNewExplorer" which can remove Ribbon from Windows 8/8.1 Explorer and can also bring many other Windows 7 style classic features back in Windows Explorer such as classical drive grouping, Details pane at bottom, etc.

You can download the software using following link:

Freeware to Bring Windows 7 Style Classic Features Back in Windows 8 Explorer

METHOD 5: Convert Built-in Quick Access Toolbar into Classic Toolbar

If you don't want to remove Ribbon but want to have a Windows XP style classic toolbar in Windows 8/8.1 Explorer, then you can modify built-in Quick Access Toolbar in Windows Explorer to make it look and work like classic toolbar.

Check out following exclusive tutorial to learn more about this method:

Get Windows XP Style Toolbar in Windows 8 Explorer without Using Any Software

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That's all for now. If you know about any other working method to remove Ribbon from Windows 8/8.1 Explorer, feel free to share it with us. If you face any problem while using any of the above mentioned methods, please post about it in your comment. Also don't forget to share your feedback...

12 Best Bootable USB Creation Tools / Software

Creating and using bootable USB devices for installing new operating system have many advantages over installing from bootable DVD. 
The USB drive is 

• Easy to create, erase and reuse.
• Can install multiple OS on same USB at a time.
• Faster booting and installation speed.
• Portable and easy to handle. 
• Using the bootable USB for testing Live Linux OS, you can install temporary software.
• Preparing the Bootable usb drive is easy and straight forward and any of these 12 software can make your device ready within 5 minus and 2 clicks.

Most of the Linux operating systems can be easily tested by creating a ‘Live’ disk which gives you a complete experience of the full operating system without installing anything on your hard disk.

Windows 7, 8.1 and now Windows 10 technical preview can be easily installed from bootable usb. 

1. Rufus

If you don't want to hunt for separate tool for every operating system to test this is for you. Rufus is a simple and easy to use It automatically detects your drive letter and capacity so you can easily identify which device you are formatting.

• Select the appropriate drive, select file system (For Windows keep it NTFS) and give appropriate name .
• Locate the ISO image of your targeted operating system. 
• ISO image on your hard disk must be a valid bootable image because Rufus scan the image before you load it. 
• If you get any error, just uncheck ‘Create bootable disk’ option. 
• Rufus can be used to create bootable USB drive for All Windows versions and all Linux distros. 
• + fast, easy, run without installation. 
• - Nothing 
• Download Rufus

2. WinToBootic

• Again a basic tool with minimum option. Just drag and drop your .ISO image or click on ‘drop ISO here’ icon. 
• It will auto detect your USB media, you just have to hit the ‘Do It’ button,WinToBootic will do the everything rest. 
• + minimal interface, run without installation. 
• - Does not support Linux

Download WinToBootic 

3. RMPrepUSB

It's all in one tool, but too much difficult with a clutter of options and settings. If you don't know what are you doing, don't use it. This is for advanced userand I personally do not recommend it if you just want to write a bootable USB disk and test a new operating system. But if you tweak that want boot loader, changefilesystem filesystem, then RMPrepUSB is for you. 

• The special feature of RMPrepUSB is you can create a partition in USB drive just like you do on your hard disk making it more useful for saving files plus using the same drive as a separate folder for storing files. 
• This keeps your files separate from the operating system files. 
• + For advanced users. 
• - Difficult to use 
• Support all OS.

Download RMPrepUSB 

4. Universal USB Installer

Universal USB Installer

Though the name is Universal, this is a specialized tool for Linux and have a predefined list of most of the Linux distributions available. When you select the Linux distribution from the drop down menu, it provides a link for homepage of that distribution from where you can directly download the Linux distribution. If you already have on local disk, just browse to the ISO disk and select the appropriate USB flash drive to make it bootable for your favorite Linux distribution.

The extra feature of Universal USB Installer is that you can prepare a Live antivirus rescue disk using it. A special option for this is also given for reuse CD.

+ Specialized menu for Linux, also support Window 7

Download Universal USB Installer

5. YUMI

Yumi (Your Universal Multiboot Installer) is a special tool from the developer of   Universal USB Installer except it has a special feature of installing more than one operating system in one USB drivewithout formatting it.

Download YUMI

6. UNetbootin

•  This tool is an exact clone of Universal USB installer or you can also say Universal USB installer is a clone of UNetbootin. 
• No any difference is found in this software and this is also specialized to create a bootable USB for any Linux distribution. 
• If you are not using Windows as your host operating system, then UNetbootin is an option to go for. UNetbootin is available for Linux, iOS and Windows. 
• So if you are using Linux, most of the software's listed here will not run where UNetbootin will come to help.

Download UNetbootin 

7. Linux Live USB Creator (LiLi)

This is really a great eye candy plus an excellent user interface. Apple style website with everything at right place and well categorized. The software is also excellent. 

• The special feature called built-in Virtualization allow users to run the installed Linux operating system without restarting the Windowswhich are an exclusive feature of LiLi. 
• If you are concerned only about Linux you must go for this.

Download LiLi Creator

8. Koala

The koala is also a tool that will help you to boot new operating system from USB stick. This is not a tool that will allow you to browse an ISO file stored on your hard disk and write it to the USB drive. Koala only scans CD / DVD drive to find.ISO images of Linux OS. Not recommended.

Download Koala 

9. WinSetUp From USB

This is also a tool for those who want to install multiple operating system on one USB device.
WinSetup From USB let you install Windows 7, Windows vista, any Linux distribution using Ubuntu variant and any Linux distribution using SysLinux one single USB device.

• This is an exclusive function of Win Setup From USB and you must download it and give a try. When you prepare the USB drive using ‘WinSetup From USB’ you will be presented with the list of operating systems installed on the thumb drive and select the preferred operating system to boot from. 
• Though the interface is simple, non expert users may find it difficult to use.   
• Download WinSetUp From USB

10. WinUSB Maker

This is more that just a bootable USB creation tool, though you can use it for that also. This is a special tool that will allow you to clone hard disk partition  on your portable memory device like USB thumb drive or portable hard disk.

 WinUSB maker copies exact partition of your local hard disk along with the boot files and file structure. You can also restore the saved partition from the USB device to your hard disk making it useful as a backup tool. This is a must have tool for everyone. We have already discussed about this earlier here.

Download WinUSB Maker

11. XBoot
This is more than just a bootable USB maker. You can create a rescue CD or a disk having multiple operating systems or tools like antivirus rescue CD. It combines multiple tools in ISO image making it more useful than just a USB creating tool. XBoot can create ISO image from files and then write these files to USB drive for booting or installation. 

Download XBoot here

12. Windows Bootable Image Creator 

This is a straight forward and ultra small tool that accomplishes its job as you expect. It has a super simple interface and minimum buttons to avoid confusion of new users. This is a tool from AskVG.

 

There are only basic buttons and only one task to do. Just create a bootable USB drive to install or try new operating systems. I wonder how it is so small and light. It is just 160KB in size.

Download Windows Bootable Image Creator


Other Tools

There are other tools like Novicorp WinToFlash, Passcape ISO Burner, Windows official USB disc creation tool, Ubuntu startup disc creator and Flash Boot.

• Novicorp WinToFlash is also a tool that will help you to recover deleted boot loader apart from creating a bootable flash drive. 
• Passcape ISO burner is also a simple and small utility to create bootable USB drive. 
• Windows official USB creation tool is an official tool to create a bootable USB drive to install downloaded Windows 7 and Windows 8 ISO images without burning it to traditional discs.
• The Ubuntu startup disc is also a tool for Linux fan boys. 
• FlashBoot is a bit tool having around 24 MB is download size. It has more options than any other tool, but is actually a paid tool, but anyone can use it for free. The drive prepared with FlashBoot free version can be used only for 30 days from date of creation and then you have to format it and recreate the drive. It has more options like log-in password recovery of any Windows OS like Windows XP, 7 and 8, extract Windows XP recovery console from Windows disc. It claims that drive prepared with FlashBoot 99.99% of computers, even if your computer BIOS does not have the option to boot from USB drive.
• If you want to try out Google Chromium Operating system, you have to use a recommended open source tool Image Writer for Windows. It is also a small but useful too without any garbage features. A simple and straight tool.

Verdict:

• If you want an all in one, plain and simple tool to boot your Windows or Linux from USB pen drive, go for 'Rufus'.

• If you want a Linux Specialist, 'LiLi' is a good choice.

• 'WinSetup From USB' is for installing multiple OS in one USB drive and'RMPrep USB' is for making partition in USB drive along with Windows.

• If you want to clone a complete partition with OS 'WinUSB Maker' is the best choice.

What you think? I would like to hear from You. Please comment if you want to say anything....

10 Super Cool Notepad Tricks, Hacks & Commands

Notepad is the simplest text editor provided by Microsoft in every version of Windows. It is helpful when we want to create a quick note. The files created by Notepad are saved in.txt format which is supported by every text editor. So, the files created by Notepad are compatible to open, edit and modify everywhere.

People generally consider Notepad simpler than what it is. But readers, Notepad is light-weight text-editor but saying it “simpler” would be wrong because it can open many unknown extensions files and Notepad itself hold many amazing commands, tricks and hacks to make it more productive for you.

Today, I am going to share 10 amazing Notepad Tricks & Hacks that you can use to get most out of Notepad and amaze your friends.

1. Create Diary on Notepad

This Notepad trick will allow you to create Notepad note in such a format that whenever you edit your note, it will get saved with date and timestamp automatically. To do this, follow these steps:

3. Open Notepad
4. Type .LOG in first line.
5. Save the file as Log.txt
6. Now, write something to the file and it will automatically get saved with edited date and time.

2. Create Fake Windows Errors With Notepad

This is another very cool Notepad trick that allows you to create Fake error messages. You can create Fake error message with any message. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad
2. Type X=Msgbox(“Message Here”,0+16,”Title Here”)
3. Replace Message Here and Title Here with your Error Message and Error-Window Title respectively.
4. Save the file with error.vbs.
5. Now, click the file and you’ll get your custom-made Windows error message.

3. Force Shutdown Your Windows

This trick will let you force shutdown your Windows in a single-click. So, if you don’t want to waste three clicks (Start >> Turn Off Computer >> Turn Off), this trick will help you in that. To do this:

1. Open Notepad
2. Paste @echo off in first line.
3. Paste msg * Shutdown computer in second line.
4. Paste shutdown -c “Sleep Tight” -s in third line
5. Save the file with .BAT extension. For example, shutdown.bat
6. Click on your file and it will automatically shutdown your Windows.

You can imagine the disaster that may happen if you’ll put this file at Windows Startup 

4. Create Password-protected Folder using Notepad

Why to use any folder-locking software when your simple text editor, Notepad can lock your folders? To use this Notepad tricks, follow these steps:

• Open Notepad
• Copy the following code:

@ECHO OFF
title Folder Private
if EXIST “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}” goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Private goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure you want to lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p “cho=>”
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Private “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}”
attrib +h +s “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}”
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to unlock folder
set/p “pass=>”
if NOT %pass%== techgyd.com goto FAIL
attrib -h -s “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}”
ren “Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}” Private
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Private
echo Private created successfully
goto End
:End

• techgyd.com written in red is password. Change it to your own password.
• Save the file as private.bat with File Type As All Files (*.*).
• Now, when you click private.bat, it will create a Private folder. Move your private files, documents and folders here.
• Close Private folder.
• Now, no one will be able to open the folder without the password.

5. Make Computer To Speak Your Sentence

This Notepad trick will make computer to speak whatever you type in the provided text-box. To use this trick, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad
2. Copy & paste this command:

Dim message, sapi
message=InputBox(“What do you want me to say?”,”Speak to Me”)
Set sapi=CreateObject(“sapi.spvoice”)
sapi.Speak message 

3.  Save the file as speak.vbs.
4. Double-click the file and it will open a prompt. Enter the sentence you want your computer to speak
5. Click OK and Notepad will speak the sentence for you.

Note - In case, if you encounter error, re-type all the quotes and this notepad trick will work fine.

6. Make CD Drive Open & Close Again and again

This notepad prank will make your CD drive open and close again and again continually. To use this notepad trick, use these following steps:

1. Open Notepad
2. Enter following command:

Set oWMP = CreateObject(“WMPlayer.OCX.7″)
Set colCDROMs = oWMP.cdromCollection
do
if colCDROMs.Count >= 1 then
For i = 0 to colCDROMs.Count – 1
colCDROMs.Item(i).Eject
Next
For i = 0 to colCDROMs.Count – 1
colCDROMs.Item(i).Eject
Next
End If
wscript.sleep 5000
loop

3. Save your notepad file as cdopen.vbs
4. Now, open cdopen.vbs and it will start the process to continuously open and close CD drive.

To stop the process, open Task Manager by pressing Alt+Ctrl+Del and stop cdopen.vbs process.

7. Create Matrix Raining Code Screen

Have you watched the movie, “Matrix”? You might have seen string of green characters appearing at the screen randomly. We are going to do something similar with the help of Notepad. To use this Notepad trick, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type this command:

@echo off
color 02
:start
echo %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random% %random%
goto start

3. Save the file as Matrix.bat
4. Click on Matrix.bat and the show begins.

Alternatively, you can use this code for different effect:

@echo off
:a
color 2
echo 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
ping localhost -n 1 > nul
echo 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 a f h 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0
echo 1 0 0 1 1 0 9 8 1 2 0 1 9 9 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1
ping localhost -n 1 > nul
echo 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 01 0 1 0 0 1 0
ping localhost -n 1 > nul
echo 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 9 1 1 2 1 1 0 9 1 0 5 7 7 8 7 8 1 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 3 4
ping localhost -n 1 > nul
echo 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 1
goto a

Source: Wikihow

8. Make Your Keyboard LED Dance

Your keyboard has three LEDs above numpad of Scroll Lock, Caps Lock and Num Lock. This Notepad trick will make those three LED continually on and off, creating dancing effects. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad
2. Enter following code

Set wshShell =wscript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
do
wscript.sleep 100
wshshell.sendkeys “{CAPSLOCK}”
wshshell.sendkeys “{NUMLOCK}”
wshshell.sendkeys “{SCROLLLOCK}”
loop

3. Save the file as Dance.vbs
4. Click the file and your all three LED lights will start dancing.

To stop, Shut down or Log off your PC.

9. EICAR Test File: Test Your Antivirus

Do you want to check if your Antivirus’ real-time protection is working correctly or not? Then this European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) code will help you in that.

1. Open Notepad
2. Copy this code: X5O!P%@AP[4PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
3. Save the with .COM extension. For example, testantivirus.com

If your antivirus’ real-time protection is working perfectly, it will show you alert and quarantine the file by considering it malware.

10. Bush Hid The Facts

This is very simple but the most popular Notepad trick. To use this notepad trick, follow these steps:

1. Open Notepad
2. Type BUSH HID THE FACTS
3. Save that file
4. Open it again & see. Amazing?

Alternatively, you can use this app can break.

What happens?

You might have seen that reopening the file will get show you some unicode characters instead of what you typed (Bush hid the facts or this app can break).

Why this happens?

Both the patterns have characters string of length 4-3-3-5 which seems to cause bug in Windows PC. So, this trick works