Lifehacker readers offer their best tips for freeing up space in Windows 8, learning how to use a new gadget, and freeing an iOS app that won’t install correctly.
Every day we receive boatloads of great reader tips. From the Tips Box is where we round up some of our favourites. Got a tip of your own to share? Add it in the comments or send it using the contact tab on the right.
Free up Hard Drive Space by Deleting Your Windows.old Folder
Vlady21 frees up space after upgrading to Windows 8:
If you upgrade to Windows 8 there will be a
Windows.olddirectory created and left on C:. Once the install is completed and you verified you have all your data, you don’t need this folder anymore. In my case it was about 20GB. This is especially handy to free up if you have an SSD.
Old versions of Windows did this too, I believe, but it’s a good reminder if you’re running low on space.
Make Notes on Your Gadgets and Do Away with Instruction Manuals
Pojken learns how to use more complicated gadgets:
I don’t sew often and often forget the troubleshooting tips. I decided to make my sewing machine user friendly (albeit a little uglier) by writing important information on the machine itself.
For instance, I did a drawing on the bobbin case and put notes on the tension knob. It makes it easier to sew without problems. Anyone can use it, too.
There are nicer ways of doing this, but I was irritated at having to research once again and wanted to get it done quickly. If anyone knows of a good list of things to check, I’d love a copy that I could attach to the back of the machine.
Fix Stuck iOS Apps by Removing Queued iTunes Downloads
Kellanpan fixes a misbehaving iPhone:
iOS Apps stuck on “Waiting?” I tried everything and nothing worked, until I finally tried this:
- Open the iTunes Store (within iOS)
- Click “Downloads”
- Remove any queued downloads (podcasts, etc.)
Change Internet Explorer’s Default Search Engine on Windows 8 Tablets
Jeff finds a way to replace Bing in Internet Explorer’s tablet app:
New Surface owners: You can’t change the default search engine from the Start screen instance of IE, but you can do so from the Desktop instance, which then applies to the Start screen instance.
Check out the video above to see how to do it, or see Jeff’s blog post for the full instructions.
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