Rufus-Create bootable USB drives the easy way

    

Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, such as USB keys/ pendrives , memory sticks, etc.

It can be especially useful for cases where:

• you need to create USB installation media from bootable ISOs (Windows, Linux, UEFI, etc.)
• you need to work on a system that doesn't have an OS installed
• you need to flash a BIOS or other firmware from DOS
• you want to run a low-level utility

Download Here

Full forms

* VIRUS - Vital Information Resource UnderSeized.
* 3G -3rd Generation.
* GSM - Global System for MobileCommunication.
* CDMA - Code Divison Multiple Access.
* UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunication System.
* SIM - Subscriber Identity Module .
* AVI = Audio Video Interleave
* RTS = Real Time Streaming
* SIS = Symbian OS Installer File
* AMR = Adaptive Multi-Rate Codec
* JAD = Java Application Descriptor
* JAR = Java Archive
* JAD = Java Application Descriptor
* 3GPP = 3rd Generation Partnership Project
* 3GP = 3rd Generation Project
*MPEG - Moving Picture Experts Group
* MP3 = MPEG player lll
* MP4 = MPEG-4 video file
*AAC = Advanced Audio Coding
* GIF= Graphic Interchangeable Format
* JPEG = Joint Photographic Expert Group
* BMP = Bitmap
* SWF = Shock Wave Flash
* WMV = Windows Media Video
* WMA = Windows Media Audio
* WAV = Waveform Audio
* PNG = Portable Network Graphics
* DOC = Document (MicrosoftCorporation)
* PDF = Portable Document Format
* M3G = Mobile 3D Graphics
* M4A = MPEG-4 Audio File
* NTH = Nokia Theme (series 40)
* THM = Themes (Sony Ericsson)
* MMF = Synthetic Music Mobile Application File
* NRT = Nokia Ringtone
* XMF = Extensible Music File
* WBMP = Wireless Bitmap Image
* DVX = DivX Video
* HTML = Hyper Text Markup Language
* WML = Wireless Markup Language
* CD -Compact Disk.
* DVD - Digital Versatile Disk.
*CRT - Cathode Ray Tube.
* DAT - Digital Audio Tape.
* DOS - Disk Operating System.
* GUI -Graphical User Interface.
* HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol.
* IP - Internet Protocol.
* ISP - Internet Service Provider.
* TCP - Transmission Control Protocol.
* UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply.
* HSDPA - High Speed Downlink Packet Access.
* EDGE - Enhanced Data Rate for GSM -GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication] Evolution.
* VHF - Very High Frequency.
* UHF - Ultra High Frequency.
* GPRS - General Packet Radio Service.
* WAP - Wireless ApplicationProtocol.
* TCP - Transmission Control Protocol

icare data recovery professional 5.1

iCare Data Recovery Professional is a program that allows you to recover files from formatted partitions, memory cards, external drives, USB drives and SD cards. The program can restore photos, Office files, ZIP files, RAR files, emails and PDF files. It can also recover files from FAT and NTFS partitions.

 click on below link to download the  full version software:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/bkjobc7bkd59cct/iCare_Data_Recovery_Professional_5.1.tgz

WINDOWS 8 PRO PERMANET ACTIVATOR

Windows 8 pro activator 64 bit  


click the below link to download windows 8  pro activator

http://www.mediafire.com/download/121mu7s82mzbwys/Activator.rar 

Tricks to make windows 7 laptop or PC Genuine windows 7

 By this trick you can make any version of Windows 7 into genuine Windows 7
1. Open cmd as administrator
2. Type " slmgr<space> -rearm
3. Message box will appear saying restart needed.
4. Restart you laptop or computer.
5. Again open cmd as administrator and type slmgr<space> -ato
6. Message box will appear saying activating windows 7 Version. Product activation successful

Nokia Lumia 630/635 launched with windows 8.1 OS

Nokia Lumia 630/635 – Specs, Price, Features and Launch 

Following the success of the highest selling Windows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 520, the Nokia Lumia 630 and 635 are two budget oriented phones that bring the best of Windows Phone 8.1 at an affordable price point. This budget friendly duo is notable for quite a few things. First of all, the Lumia 630 is the first 3G dual SIM Windows Phone, and will introduce Windows Phone 8.1′s dual SIM handling capabilities. It will let you designate separate tiles and colors for calls/messages/emails from each SIM, and even lets you designate which contacts should use which SIM. Secondly, the duo introduces SensorCore, a low power motion sensor that helps in fitness tracking, integrated with the Bing Health and Fitness App. Thirdly, these will be the first two phones to feature onscreen buttons instead of hardware buttons. Other highlights include a ClearBlack screen, expandable storage, changeable covers, and the addition of LTE on the Lumia 635. The only difference between the two is their network capabilities, while the Lumia 630 is 3G only and comes in a dual SIM variant, the Lumia 635 includes 4G LTE connectivity but no dual SIM. These phones are expected to be launched in May, first in emerging markets like India, China, Brazil and the like, and will carry the following pricetags:

• Lumia 630 Single SIM (3G): $159
• Lumia 630 Dual SIM (3G): $169
• Lumia 635 Single SIM (4G LTE): $189

The pricing looks very aggressive, and the duo could very much repeat the success of the Lumia 520. Also, since they’re launching before the Lumia 930, they will be the first Windows Phone 8.1 devices in the market. Full specs follow:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800
• CPU: 1.2 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7
• GPU: Adreno 305
• RAM: 512 MB RAM
• Storage: 8 GB, expandable upto 64 GB via MicroSD
• Screen: 4.5 inch IPS LCD screen with ClearBlack Technology and Gorilla Glass 3, 480 x 800 px (441 PPI)
• Camera: 5 MP rear facing (720P video recording
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G, 4G LTE (Lumia 635 only)
• Battery: 1830 mAh
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

Nokia Lumia 930 Launched with Windows 8.1

Nokia Lumia 930 – Specs, Price, Features and Launch :

First up is the Nokia Lumia 930, successor to the popular Nokia Lumia 920/925, a flagship phone that brings together powerful hardware and latest software. Technically an international version of the Verizon only Nokia Lumia Icon, the Lumia 930 is a great looking device with an aluminum frame, metallic accents and a polycarbonate back. It will come in orange, green, black and white, and is expected to hit stores somewhere in June, starting with Europe and then Asia, for $599. Just like its bigger brother, the Lumia 1520, the Lumia 930 features a 20 MP PureView rear facing camera with OIS, and will also include updated versions of  Nokia’s Storyteller and Creative Studio apps to enhance your photography experience. Wireless charging is built in as well, and 4 high quality microphones, 2 on each side of the phone, ensure the absolute best audio recording capability. Hardware specs are as follows:

• SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974
• CPU: 2.2 GHz quad core Krait 400
• GPU: Adreno 330
• RAM: 2 GB RAM
• Storage: 32 GB, non expandable
• Screen: 5 inch full HD 1080P AMOLED screen with ClearBlack Technology and Gorilla Glass 3 (441 PPI)
• Camera: 20 MP rear facing PureView (1080P video recording), 1.2 MP front facing (720P video recording)
• Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, MicroUSB 2.0 port, 3G, 4G LTE
• Battery: 2420 mAh
• OS: Windows Phone 8.1

WINDOWS 8 AND WINDOWS 8.1 HIDDEN SHORTCUT KEYS

• Press the Windows key to enter the tiled Start screen.
• The Windows key + M minimizes everything that's showing on the desktop.
• The Windows key + E opens Explorer for quick access to folders.
• On the Start screen, press the Windows key + D to instantly get to the desktop.
• The Windows key + Tab opens a list of currently running programs.
• The Windows key + Print Screen takes a screenshot and saves it in a Screenshots folder nested in your Pictures folder. 
• To take a screenshot on a Windows 8 tablet, simultaneously press the Windows button and the volume-down button on the tablet chassis.
• The Windows key + Q opens a global search menu. Type what you're looking for and where you would like to look.
• The Windows key + W opens a search in your system settings to quickly locate and change system properties.
• The Windows key + F opens a file and folder search.
• The Windows key + Pause opens the system properties page to show you a quick rundown of your specs.
• The Windows key + ","  makes all current windows transparent, giving you a peek at the desktop as long as you hold down the Windows key.
• The Windows key + "." snaps a window to the right or left side 
• The Windows key + R prompts the Run command—useful for quickly launching apps and other routines with a command prompt.
• The Windows key + X opens the Quick Access Menu, exposing system functionality such as the Command Prompt, Disk Management, File Explorer, Run, and more. Alternatively, you can right-click on the bottom right corner of the screen to spawn the Quick Access Menu.
• The Windows key + I opens the settings menu, giving you quick access to the Control Panel, Personalization and your Power button, among other features.
• The Windows key + O locks orientation on devices with an accelerometer .

DANCING KEYBOARD LIGHTS

1. Open Notepad
2. Copy the following code:

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

3. Save it as "filename.vbs" (It should contain .vbs in last)
4. Run

You will see that your Num Lock, Caps Lock & Scroll lock lights will keep blinking.

To stop this start Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and kill wscript.exe

Watch Star Wars Movie In CMD

1. Go to start > Run and type in cmd and press enter

2. Now type in telnet and press enter.

3. After that enter o and press enter.

4. Next enter towel.blinkenlights.nl and press enter.

5. Now star wars movie will start playing on your command prompt.

Enjoy!!!!!!

Tips to change the Windows 7 log-on screen

Windows 7 makes it easy changing the Windows log-on screen.
1. Go to start, and click on Run, type Regedit & press enter there.
2. Navigate to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\ LogonUI\Background
3. Double-click the OEMBackground DWORD key
4. Set value of the key to 1.

5. Select a background image for Logon Screen with size less than 256KB in size (Use of Image Resize software like VSO Resizer can help)
6. Copy that image into the C:\Windows\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds folder
7. Rename the image to backgroundDefault.jpg
8. Reboot, and now your logon Image would have changed

Here is my logon  screen 

USE KEYBOARD WITH MOUSE

If you feel that your external keyboard is not working properly or
 some particular key is not functioning then you can use internal keyboard on your desktop screen.
This property of keyboard is found in windows xp , 7 , 8 and 8.1   Just follow these steps
Go to start menu and press “run”
Type  “osk”
Now press enter.
(note. Don’t use commas)
you will see keyboard on your desktop screen. Now use mouse to click on keys for operation.

RECOVER DELETED FILES IN PENDRIVE

By Mistake did you Delete your files from your Pen Drive !
Don't Get Tensed !
To Recover Ur Data Follow these steps...
First open notepad.
Now copy below code paste it in notepad
attrib -r -s -h /D /S
del *.scr
del *.lnk
del *.zAJ
Now save the notepad file in your Pen Drive with name as'recover.bat'file...
Now double click it.
Your deleted data will be recovered instantly.

TIPS TO CHANGE THE IP ADDRESS FROM ISP SERVER

 How to do it in windows:
1. Click Start
2. Click run
3. In the run box type cmd.exe and click OK
4. When the command prompt opens type the following. ENTER after each new line.
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
exit
5. Erase your cookies in whatever browser you are using.
Frequently you will be assigned a new IP address when this happens. 
Sometime you will, sometimes you will not. 
If you are on a fixed IP address, this method will not work. 
If this works for you, you may want to save the above commands into a batch file,
 and just run it when you need it. This works if you have a Mobile Broadband connection or PPPOE

CS6 shortcut keys on keyboard

Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts

Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts

Knowing at least some of the Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts will make your Windows 8 experience much more enjoyable. Try to memorize these top Windows 8 shortcut keys.

• Press the Windows key to open the Start screen or switch to the Desktop (if open).
• Press the Windows key + D opens the Windows Desktop.
• Press the Windows key + . to pin and unpin Windows apps on the side of the screen.
• Press the Windows key + X to open the power user menu, which gives you access to many of the features most power users would want (e.g. Device Manager and Command Prompt).
• Press the Windows key + C to open the Charms.
• Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings, which is the same Settings found in Charms.
• Press and hold the Windows key + Tab to show open apps.
• Press the Windows key + Print screen to create a screen shot, which is automatically saved into your My Pictures folder.

See our Windows shortcuts page for a full listing of all Windows shortcuts.

Know your hot corners

The corners on your screen are hot corners and give you access to different Windows features. Below, is a brief explanation of each of these corners.

Bottom Left-hand corner

The bottom left-hand hot corner of the screen allows you to access the Start screen, if you're in the Start screen and have the Desktop open, this corner opens the Desktop from the Start screen.

Tip: Right-clicking in the left hand corner opens the power user menu.

Top-left corner of the screen

Moving the mouse to the top-left corner and then down displays all the apps running on the computer. Clicking and dragging any of these apps to the left or right-hand side of the screen will snap that app to that side of the screen. Each of these open app icons can also be right-clicked to close or snap.

Right-hand side of the screen

On the full right-hand side of the screen will be given access to the Windows Charms.

Taking advantage of search

The Search in Windows 8 has been significantly improved when compared to all previous versions of Windows. To search for a file or run a program in Windows 8 from the Start screen just start typing what you're trying to find or want to run.

As you begin typing, the results will start appearing on the left-hand side. In addition to being able to search for files and run programs, the Search also supports limiting the search to apps such as Finance, People, Maps, Photos, Mail, Music, Videos, Weather, and much more. If what you are searching for is not a file or program, click on the app you want to use as the search. For example, if you were searching for "New York" and selected the Weather App you would be shown the weather in New York, NY.

By default, Search organizes the available Apps by how frequently they are used and then in alphabetical order. If you want to keep your favorite app at the top of the Search list, right-click the app and choose Pin. Pinning the app will lock it in place regardless of how often it is used. If there is an app you don't want (e.g. Finance) you can turn on and off any of the search apps through the PC settings, which is found under the Settings in the Charms.

Bonus tip: The Search is also found through Charms and can also be opened by pressing Windows key + F.

Running two apps side by side

Any app can be pinned to the left or right-hand side of the screen. For example, open the People app and then press the Windows Key + . (period) to move that app to the right-hand side of the screen, pressing the same keys again will move it to the left-hand side, and pressing the same keys again will make it full screen. While an app is pinned, any other app or program can be opened and loaded into the available space on the screen. For example, in the picture below, we've opened a browser window and have the People app running to monitor our social networks.

.

Any open app can also be pinned using your mouse by clicking at the top of the tile and dragging it to the left or right-hand side of the screen.

Bonus tip: The Desktop can also be pinned to the left or right-hand side of the screen.

Note: In order for snap to work properly your resolution must be at least 1,366 x 768.

Use a picture password to log into your computer

Windows 8 includes a new feature called Picture password, which allows you to authenticate with the computer using a series of gestures that include circles, straight lines, and taps. Enable this feature if you want a new way to access your computer or have a hard time with passwords.

1. Open the Windows Charms.
2. Click Settings and then More PC settings
3. In the PC settings window click Users and then select Create a picture password

Bonus tip: A four digit pin password can also be created and used to access your computer.

Take advantage of Windows 8 apps

Windows 8 comes included with several apps to help you get the most from your computer. Below are just a few of the included apps.

Reader

The Reader app gives you PDF support right out of the box.

SkyDrive

The SkyDrive app gives you access to the Microsoft cloud service SkyDrive, which allows you to store your photos, documents, and other files in the cloud and access or share those files with any computer with Internet access.

Store

Take advantage of the Windows Store and install one or more of the thousands of available apps designed for Windows 8. The Store is found in the Start screen, or use Search to search the Store app for any apps that you are trying to find.

How to rotate screen on laptop or PC: rotate your screen 90° in Windows 7 and 8

Change Screen Orientation of Display with Keyboard Shortcut

   Press the keys below for what screen orientation you want.

CTRL + ALT + Up Arrow = (default setting) Landscape

CTRL + ALT + Down Arrow = Landscape (flipped)

CTRL + ALT + Left Arrow = Portrait

CTRL + ALT + Right Arrow = Portrait (flipped)

Free Solution To Fake Serial Number Problem In IDM (Internet Download Manager).

If We have IDM When We run the application its open a window with
the problem of "fake serial number" then We Should not Rush to reinstall
and idm think That We Can no longer be used. Ensure That
the IDM is already in the update to the latest version and have
installed on your computer.
Here is the method how to solve it:
1. Exit IDM from the taskbar before entering the serial.
2. Disconnect active connections to the internet.
3. Open the C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ drivers \ etc and locate the
file 'hosts'.
4. Then right click and open with notepad. If you can not open with notepad or maybe We
Are not Able to edit it, then There is a little trick to edit it,first cut "host" file ,paste it at any
place e.g on desktop,then right click and select "open with notepad" to edit it,
5. Once open please copy the below text and paste it at bottom of all text below the
"127.0.0.1 local host:",remember do not replace the old text just paste below text their...
127.0.0.1 tonec.com
127.0.0.1 www.tonec.com
127.0.0.1 registeridm.com
127.0.0.1 www.registeridm.com
127.0.0.1 secure.registeridm.com
127.0.0.1 secure.internetdownloadmanager.com
127.0.0.1 mirror.internetdownloadmanager.com
127.0.0.1 mirror2.internetdownloadmanager.com
127.0.0.1 www.internetdownloadmanager.com
6. When finished, do not forget to save (Ctrl+S), then again cut your "host"file and paste it
again ,to its previous location that is(C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ drivers \ etc).
Open IDM, (go to start menu, internet download manager).
7. IDM registration tab will b open just put any below key , to better fill the serial number first
To be content with the serial number is (choose one):
2P4OX-613CB-RDOWV-H1BDE
3J5U-8U66N-D0B9M-54SLM
EC0Q6-QN7UH-5S3JB-YZMEK
GZLJY-X50S3-0S20D-NFRF9.
8. So "fake serial number problem" will be resolve itself and IDM is ready for reuse....

Tips to simply Change XP Start Button Name

First of all just u need to do is download Resource hacker.

Resource HackerTM is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32 bit Windows executable and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems.

ll its just 541 Kb in the size.. Click here to go to the Download Page

http://www.4shared.com/rar/2KlTJcYu/Resource_Hacker_Version_36092_.html

login with your social networking ids and download the software 

Download Resource Hacker

First Step The first step is to make a backup copy of the file explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer. Place it in a folder somewhere on your hard drive where it will be safe. Start Resource Hacker and open explorer.exe located at C:\Windows\explorer.exe
The category we are going to be using is String Table In Resource Hacker. Expand it by clicking the plus sign then navigate down to and expand string 37 followed by highlighting 1033. If you are using the Classic Layout rather than the XP Layout, use number 38. The right hand pane will display the stringtable as shown in Fig. 02. We’re going to modify item 578, currently showing the word “start” just as it displays on the current Start button.

There is no magic here. Just double click on the word “start” so that it’s highlighted, making sure the quotation marks are not part of the highlight. They need to remain in place, surrounding the new text that you’ll type. Go ahead and type your new entry

Second Step – Modify the Registry Now that the modified explorer.exe has been created it’s necessary to modify the registry so the file will be recognized when the user logs on to the system. If you don’t know how to access the registry I’m not sure this article is for you, but just in case it’s a temporary memory lapse, go to Start (soon to be something else) Run and type regedit in the Open: field. Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ Winlogon

the Right pane (Fig. 05), double click the Shell entry to open the Edit String dialog box as shown in Fig. 06. In Value data: line, enter the name that was used to save the modified explorer.exe file. Click OK.

Close Registry Editor and either log off the system and log back in, or reboot the entire system if that’s your preference. If all went as planned you should see your new Start button with the revised text.

Trick to Show Your name after time in taskbar

Try this  trick to add up ur name in place of AM and PM beside time 

Its simple
Step-1:- Navigate to -> Start -> Control Pannel -> Regional and Language Option -> Click on Customize -> Go to TIME Tab -> Change AM symbol and PM symbol
 from AM and PM to ur name -> Apply -> Ok ...
Did It change? If not, follow step-2 below.
Step2:- Now go to time in taskbar and Double Click it to open "Date and time property" ...Look place where time changes in digital form i.e. 02:47:52 AM ,
 click to arrow to cnage the AM or PM by selecting and press arrow. It will Show Ur name or name that was entered by u, Apply -> OK

Enjoy the trick

Microsoft to announce Windows 9 at Build 2014 conference

Windows 9 release date

We expect Windows 9 to launch in PCs, laptops, tablets and phones that you can buy in the spring of 2015. Although it is possible Windows 9 will launch earlier, possibly as early as Christmas 2014. The smart money is on an April 2015 launch, with a possible Christmas 2014 launch to consumers only if everything goes to plan. (Everything never goes to plan with a new Windows launch.)

Expect Microsoft to unveil its vision for Windows 9 at the Build 2014 developer conference in April 2014, with a release planned for a year later. Microsoft partners will be getting a pre-beta version of Windows Developer Preview 9 soon, we understand. Thus those partners will have seen the earliest version of Windows 9 before the Build conference this April.

We expect to see a single beta of Windows 9, which will likely appear in the summer of 2014. If everything goes perfectly it is possible that Microsoft will release a Release Candidate version at the end of August or the beginning of September 2014. That date could easily slip.

Once a RC is released bugs will be collected and fixed for several months before the final code is released to manufacturers. The RTM would have to be shipped before the end of October for Windows 9 devices to be in stores before Christmas, however. So much more likely is an April 2015 consumer release.

Windows 9 price

There's no word on what Windows 9 will cost, but we can make an educated guess. We'll update this piece as we know more.

How to price Windows 9? This is the classic innovator's dilemma: Microsoft has existing products that make it a lot of money, but is building new and better products for which it cannot charge as much. The market has changed. Apple gives away the most recent version of OS X for free, and PC- and laptop makers are feeling the pinch as smartphones and tablets eat into their markets.

So how much will Windows 9 cost? Not a lot.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was free to consumers, although not to OEMs who purchase licences to put on PCs and laptops they sell. Even if customers have to pay to upgrade to Windows 9 they won't have to pay much. Just a few pounds.

Windows 9 features

We expect that Windows 9 will be 64-bit only, although we expected that for Windows 8 and we were wrong. A lot depends - as ever with Microsoft - on what OEMs want to build, and what Intel gives them with which to build.

One thing that Microsoft has to do is allow Windows Phone and Windows RT apps to run on both Windows Phone and Windows. Even Xbox apps should become cross compatible. You may also be able to pin Metro apps to the taskbar. Also expect to see Kinect-based 3D gestures to be enabled for laptops with 3D cameras - basically the ability to control your computer with gestures.

Microsoft's recent pronouncements suggest a full return of the Start menu and that Windows 8-style apps will be able to run on the desktop. Windows 9 will definitely be less traumatic a chance for desktop users.

One key - although less obvious - development is likely to be much improved power management. The rise of mobile devices has made battery life a key battle ground for Windows. Intel has done its part, massively improving power management with its latest generation of mobile processors. But the Windows software needs to keep pace, so expect Microsoft to make great claims for Windows 9's power management capabilities.

Windows 9 is tipped to be the hot topic of conversation at next week's Microsoft Build Developer conference in San Francisco, with industry types flocking to the show to hear details of Redmond's next big operating system launch.

Tickets to Build 2014 sold out in 24 hours when rumours of Windows 9 hit the internet, highlighting - perhaps - just how much appetite there is out there for a Windows 8 successor.

Details on Windows 9, codenamed “Threshold” (a reported Halo reference), are scarce, but we do know Microsoft wants to distance itself from Windows 8, which is widely considered to have been a disaster.

At the moment, various industry sources are touting a possible April 2015 release date for Windows 9, and below is a list of the 10 feature we hope Microsoft includes.

1. Lower price

Microsoft needs a carrot to dangle in front of consumers and businesses to convince them to invest in Windows 9 machines. The firm might even have to go so far as offering users the chance to upgrade to the next-iteration of Windows for free.

Reducing the cost of upgrading will help people finally part with Windows XP - the 10-year-old operating system, which is about to come to the end of its lifecycle.

2. Better Battery Life

Intel’s 2013 Haswell chips provided a big jump in battery life, which can be seen in the latest crop of Ultrabooks. 

Windows machines have long been known to burn through battery power quicker than Mac OS X counterparts.

Ars Technica gave a detailed breakdown of how OS X Mavericks saves power. The system schedules tasks to run in clumps to maximise processor idle time and minimise power consumption. The latest version of Apple’s OS was so efficient, it even added an extra 60 minutes of battery life to older hardware which is upgraded to this operating system. 

Microsoft needs to better implement power saving features into Windows 9 or risk being left further behind next-gen Mac products.

3. Desktop-Only Mode

The Metro UI has alienated many loyal Windows users and the firm is going to have to work hard to appease them. 

Microsoft could earn back trust if it admitted its error and added a desktop-only mode. Windows 8.1 went some way towards this making things better as it allows you to boot straight to desktop. 

But we want Windows 9 to take this a step further. We want the option to switch Metro off. So when you turn on desktop-only mode, this means images should open in Windows Gallery, not the Metro Preview app. 

Desktop-only mode would let users work in peace and placate some of Microsoft’s critics, while allowing the company to keep experimenting with Metro for consumers.

4. Virtual desktops for improved productivity

OS X and Linux have had virtual desktops for years. They allow you to keep multiple sets of windows open on one computer, improving productivity when juggling multiple projects. 

Microsoft should build this feature into the next version of Windows, so you don’t have to install third-party software.

5. Bring back the real Start button

It’s amazing how so many people can miss such a small feature. Microsoft gave into popular demand when it put a Start button in Windows 8.1, but this just brings you back to the Start screen. 

Perhaps the company could add a traditional Start menu for when the user runs desktop-only mode. Something with the old menu, not just another shortcut back into Metro. 

6. Over-the-air system recovery

Microsoft could also make it easier to restore Windows in the event of a malfunction. Mac devices can reinstall OS X by simply downloading files from the internet. 

A similar system would make it easier to recover Windows computers, as it is much simpler than digging through BIOS boot settings and trying to find your recovery USB. 

Keeping so many system-specific files would be difficult, but it’s possible. Microsoft could convince hardware manufacturers to contribute the necessary files so users could recover their systems over-the-air.

7. Better display scaling

Windows has not been able to cope with the high-resolution devices manufacturers have started pumping out. As screen resolutions climb north of 1920 x 1080, programs such as Adobe Premiere and Vegas Pro can be rendered unusable in some cases as icons can appear tiny and pixellated.

Howto geek put up a useful guide explaining how to change the compatibility settings for your troublesome Windows apps in order to make the text readable again, but this shouldn't even be necessary. 

Microsoft needs to add better support for Retina-quality displays to make sure the new version of its OS still looks good on devices like the Surface Pro 2. 

8. Improved anti-virus

Windows is a primary target for viruses, if only by virtue of its dominant market share. Redmond’s OS attracts the lion’s share of malware, while OS X and Linux aren't as vulnerable.

Microsoft releases regular security patches and has built Microsoft Security Essentials into Windows 8 - but this has been critically panned. In the Dennis publishing tests, it missed 39 per cent of malware thrown at it.

We might see things improve with Windows 9 as Intel has rebranded the McAfee software suite and could provide comprehensive protection. But Microsoft has to up its game too.

9. Fix Windows Update

Updating Windows software has driven many people to the brink of insanity. If ignored for too long, Windows may reboot your PC at the worst moment possible and then you can be trapped in what seems like a never-ending cycle of updating and rebooting.

Refreshing drivers is the same. PC users shouldn't have to dig through a manufacturer’s website in 2014, looking for the latest version of a driver for their laptop’s graphics card. 

Surely Microsoft could leverage its Windows Store to deliver updates more efficiently and simultaneously, instead of forcing users to endlessly download more and more patches. 

10. Native DVD playback

One more feature we’d like to see in Windows is native DVD playback. Microsoft decided to remove this feature for Windows 8, to the annoyance of users. If you want your PC to play DVDs, you have to shell out $10 for a Windows Media Center add-on.