From: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/ntdebugging/2013/04/30/interpreting-event-153-errors/

A system administrator who encounters event 153 errors should investigate the health of 
the computer’s disk subsystem.  Although an occasional timeout may be part of the normal 
operation of a system, the frequent need to retry requests indicates a performance issue 
with the storage that should be corrected.

The IO operation at logical block address for Disk 0 (PDO name: \Device\ was retried

From: http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/03/05/windows-8-1-tips-manage-wireless-network-profiles.aspx

    Netsh.exe
    wlan
    show interface
    show profile
    set profileorder name=slcwirelessstu2 interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1
    And finally, if you wanted to change the preferred order for your machine to connect to specific 
    wireless network, you could move a network up in the priority list by using the command:
    set profileorder name=goose interface="Wi-Fi" priority=1

From: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5657-visual-effects-adjust-windows-8-a.html

The visual effect settings below are the most common ones to turn off (uncheck) to help improve performance.

Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
Animations in the taskbar
Fade or slide menus into view
Fade or slide ToolTips into view
Fade out menu items after clicking
Show shadows under windows
Slide open combo boxes

If you like, you can click/tap on a link below for these Visual Effects to see how to quickly change them 
in the Registry Editor instead.
Animate controls and elements inside windows
Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing
Animations in the taskbar
Enable Peek
Save taskbar thumbnail previews
Show thumbnails instead of icons
Show translucent slection rectangle
Show window contents while dragging
Smooth edges of screen fonts
Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop

http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/speeding-up-windows-xp-fine-tuning-visual-effects/

Speeding Up Windows XP – Fine-Tuning Visual Effects By Terry Stockdale

http://www.pcwintech.com/increase-windows-performance-changing-visual-effects-xp-vista

Increase Windows Performance By Changing Visual Effects (XP, Vista & 7)

For some, including myself, don't care about how pretty things are in Windows. And a lot of times the visual effects aren't even noticeable in the first place.

wireless profiles remove wifi connections

From: http://lifehacker.com/delete-wi-fi-networks-in-windows-8-from-the-command-lin-513411677 Also (with examples): http://www.fixedbyvonnie.com/2013/06/how-to-forget-a-wifi-network-in-windows-8/#.UvLDZSg_4fw

  netsh wlan show profiles
  netsh wlan show profiles name=[profile name] key=clear
  netsh wlan delete profile name=[profile name]
  netsh wlan delete profile name=[profile name] interface=[interface name]
  netsh wlan set profileorder name="network_name" interface="interface_name" priority=1
  netsh interface set interface name=OLDName newname="Newname"
  

From: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/list-freeware-releases-from-the-windows-club?8c730d

  WiFi Profile Manager 8 is a simple tool to view your Preferred Wireless Network Profiles in Windows 8.
  This tool tries to replace the functionality of the Wi-Fi Preferred Network dialog box of Windows 7.
  
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WcmSvc
  HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-586769809-3033485659-635397686-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Signatures\Unmanaged
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Nla\Cache 
  
  HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-586769809-3033485659-635397686-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs\.xml
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Network\DataUsage\Wlan\eunoia
  HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WlanSvc\Interfaces\{3EE3DE7F-0192-4096-99FC-1D2ED6257E61}\Profiles\{565A3D08-8F67-4DE2-9C4B-117A58200853}\MetaData
  
  
  Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces to find and delete your profile 
  (it's an xml file).
  
  C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Wlansvc\Profiles\Interfaces\{3EE3DE7F-0192-4096-99FC-1D2ED6257E61}\{565A3D08-8F67-4DE2-9C4B-117A58200853}.xml
  C:\Users\Marcus\Documents\Wi-Fi-eunoia.xml
  C:\Windows\System32\NDF\eventlog.etl

From: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/manage-wireless-network-profiles

  
  Change PC settings ... Network, tap or click Connections    

From: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/change-network-status-public-private-windows

  Change Network Status Using Group Policy Editor
  Command prompt    

From: http://lifehacker.com/5965889/how-to-run-windows-xp-for-free-in-windows-8

  He discovered that within the free WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe file, there's a VirtualXPVHD file containing 
  the Windows XP virtual machine, which you can open in VirtualBox. you'll find a file called VirtualXPVHD.
  Rename it with a VHD extension.

From: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-build-a-desktop-start-menu-replacement-in-windows-8-1/

   Step 1: Boot To Desktop
   Step 2: Make Start Button Open Apps View
   Bonus: Fix Up Your Apps Menu
   shutdown or restart shortcut
   One Last Trick: Right-Click The Start Button

From http://withinwindows.com/2012/06/28/workaround-for-windows-8-freezing-issues/

  Edit: A hotfix has been released. An official workaround, courtesy of Microsoft Senior SDET 
  hero Tripp Parks, is now available for those experiencing Windows 8 freezing issues. Simply 
  open an elevated command prompt, issue the following command, and reboot:
  bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes

From: http://winsupersite.com/article/windows8/windows-8-tip-sign-domain-live-services-143454

There are two methods, which offer varying levels of capability. First, you simply run each of the many connected apps and sign in separately; this would let you utilize the apps, but won’t sync settings from other PCs, through SkyDrive, to this PC. Or, you could connect your Microsoft account to your domain account, which has the added benefit of adding the PC-to-PC sync capability.

From: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-restart-log-off-sleep-and-shutdown-windows-8/

• Can Reset the Hotmail Password form net

• http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/forgot-windows-password
• http://www.geek.com/news/windows-8-password-reset-trick-requires-no-third-party-software-1532242/ - clear or change a user’s Windows 8 password without using anything but the built-in troubleshooting tools.

The trick, as detailed by Jamal Naji, boils down to replacing the Ease of Access center application (utilman.exe)

  with another copy of the command prompt (cmd.exe).
  

From: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/555910/how-to-enable-the-built-in-administrator-account-in-windows-vista

 At the command prompt, type net user administrator /active:yes, and then press Enter.

Type net user administrator <Password>,

  
* Bodusoft
* Possibly slax

From: http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/18934-change-network-location-from-public-to-private-in-windows-8

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232749/Windows_8_cheat_sheet?taxonomyId=125&pageNumber=1

it's not that tough to master Windows 8. In this cheat sheet I'll show you how to get the most out of the new Start screen and its apps, the Desktop, the new Charms bar, Internet Explorer 10 and plenty more.

http://learningspaces.unl.edu/pictures/WIN8.pdf

http://spiffy.sg/general/windows-8-cheat-sheet-get-started-easily/

Keyboard, Mouse, Touch Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows8/keyboard-touch-commands-144848

Print it out as a small card and leave it on the desks of users. You can put your organization's logo on the back if double sided

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/software-and-web-apps/how-to-make-windows-8-look-like-windows-7-50009546/

In this how-to guide, I'll reveal how to water down or ignore some of Windows 8's more controversial features and restore functionality you thought had gone forever.

From: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57496506-292/how-to-get-the-start-menu-back-in-windows-8/

  Several third-party utilities can serve as Start menu replacements for Windows 8 users who aren't as keen 
  on the new Start screen.

From: http://www.maximumpc.com/best_windows_8_start_menu_2014?page=0,1

Perform a simple search for “Windows 8 Start Menu” and you’ll find a smorgasbord of apps with one purpose

  in mind: bringing back the button at any cost.

From: http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

  Classic Shell is a collection of features that were available in older versions of Windows but were 
  later removed. It has a customizable Start menu and Start button for Windows 7 and Windows 8, it adds 
  a toolbar for Windows Explorer and supports a variety of smaller features.

From: http://www.reviversoft.com/start-menu-reviver/

  Start Menu Reviver is the only Start menu that truly combines the familiar navigation structure of previous 
  Start menus with the unique tile design of Micorsoft's new modern Windows direction.

From: http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

  StartMenu8 is specially designed for Windows 8. It offers a perfect solution for users who work with Windows Start 
  Menu all the time and are not accustomed to the new Metro start screen in Windows 8. This smart tool brings back 
  both the start button and Windows Start Menu, and offers the option to skip Metro start page, allowing users who 
  only work on desktop to boot to Windows 8 desktop directly.

From: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/3-ways-to-tweak-windows-8-to-look-more-like-windows-7/

  Additionally, users who want a very close approximation to a Start menu – unused apps and all – can create it. 
  Right-click on the taskbar, go to Taskbars in the context menu, then click New Taskbar. When an open folder 
  window pops up, type the following:

  %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/software-and-web-apps/how-to-make-windows-8-look-like-windows-7-50009546/

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8#TopOfPageTarget

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/buy?ocid=GA8_O_WOL_Hero_ShopHP_FPP_Null