How to create a wireless hotspot on your laptop

Do you have an internet connection on your laptop and would like to share this connection to other devices like your smart phone, tablet pcs, blackberry phones, android devices, Iphones and so many others through wifi?

There are two ways of achieving this:
1. Using the "netsh" command on cmd.exe
2. Using a special 3rd party software called Virtual wifi router.

Lets start with method 1, Using the "netsh" command:

The Network Shell utility was developed to help users configure network devices in both client and server editions of Windows. The support for configuring WLAN using netsh was first introduced in Windows Vista, and it’s now available in Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Using netsh wlan command, one can easily use hosted network (virtualization) feature to create a virtual wireless connection. 
 
Step 1: Run cmd.exe as administrator.

just type cmd on Start Screen, right-click it and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Confirm weather your network interface can support virtualization by typing the following command

 netsh wlan show drivers

 If it  says No, you need to update your network adapter’s driver. If your NIC supports virtualization, you’re are lucky . Now, enter the following commands to configure an ad hoc wireless connection.

Step 3: Create the network by typing in the following:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=<network name> key=<passkey> 

This creates the network "adhocnetwork" and makes "password1" the network password.

Step 4: Then start your hotspot by typing this command:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

You will get the message "The hosted network started". If it says “hosted network couldn’t started”, you need to 
disable current wireless network device and then enable it. You may also need to refresh network adapter list from Device Manger to install a 
virtual network device driver.

You are good to go.

Step 5: Now, you have to share your internet connection, 

To enable ICS feature,Network and Internet –> Network Connections, Open properties . Now, open Sharing tab, enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection, and then choose the newly created ad hoc connection from the list.as shown in the screenshot above .

Once the internet connection is shared, check the IP address assigned to newly created ad hoc connection from TCP/IPv4 Properties. If it doesn’t assign IP address, then run netsh wlan start hostednetwork command in CMD.

Method 2: Using virtual wifi router:
People who use USB dongle modems to connect to the Internet often cannot use the same Internet on their phones. A quick and easy solution to this is creating a Wi-Fi hotspot through your computer.  Virtual router pro is a free, open-source program that does the geek work for you, allowing you to quickly fire up an ad-hoc network whenever you need one.
Download the software and install. At this point, setup is easy. Enter a name for your network, then choose a secure password with at least eight characters. Finally, choose the connection you want to share (there will most likely only be one choice), and click Start.

Also remember that your computer needs to stay awake and running to keep its ad-hoc network alive. So, change your power settings if there is need

To test your wireless network, pick up your phone or tablet and connect to your newly create Wi-Fi hotspot. If it doesn’t show up, stop the connection on your computer, and hit Start again.

Try it out and post your comment. Don't forget to share.

Here is Google Glass

Google Glass (styled "GLΛSS") is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project,with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer.Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.

Google Glass is an attempt to free data from desktop computers and portable devices like phones and tablets, and place it right in front of your eyes.

Essentially, Google Glass is a camera, display, touchpad, battery and microphone built into spectacle frames so that you can perch a display in your field of vision, film, take pictures, search and translate on the go.

The principle is one that has been around for years in science fiction, and more recently it's become a slightly clunky reality. In fact, the "heads-up display" putting data in your field of vision became a reality as early as 1900 when the reflector sight was invented. 

Google Glass uses display technology instead to put data in front (or at least, to the upper right) of your vision courtesy of a prism screen. This is designed to be easily seen without obstructing your view.

Technical specifications

For the developer Explorer units:

• Android 4.0.4 and higher
• 640×360 display
• 5-megapixel camera, capable of 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• Bluetooth
• 16GB storage (12 GB available)
• Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 SoC 1.2Ghz Dual(ARMv7)
• 682MB RAM
• 3 axis gyroscope
• 3 axis accelerometer
• 3 axis magnetometer (compass)
• Ambient light sensing and proximity sensor
• Bone conduction transducer

 

What can Google Glass do?

As well as Google's own list of features, the early apps for Google Glass provide a neat glimpse into the potential of the headset.

As well as photos and film - which require no explanation - you can use the Google hangout software to video conference with your friends and show them what you're looking at.

You'll also be able to use Google Maps to get directions, although with GPS absent from the spec list, you'll need to tether Glass to your phone.

To do that, Google offers the MyGlass app. This pairs your headset with an Android phone. As well as sharing GPS data, this means messages can be received, viewed on the display, and answered using the microphone and Google's voice-to-text functionality. 

 

That functionality will also bring the ability to translate the words being spoken to you into your own language on the display. Obviously you'll need a WiFi connection or a hefty data plan, but it's certainly a neat trick if it works.

Third parties are also already developing some rather cool/scary apps for Google Glass - including one that allows you to identify your friends in a crowd, and another that allows you to dictate an email.

The New York Times app gives an idea how news will be displayed when it's asked for: a headline, byline, appropriate image and number of hours since the article was published are displayed.

This lovely glass is built strong, light and with evolutionary designs.
The glass cost $1,500 so that the only people who will spend the money are those sincerely interested in wearables and mobile technology.

See how to get one.

Your TV might be watching you

Today's high-end televisions are almost all equipped with "smart" PC-like features, including Internet connectivity, apps, microphones and cameras. But a recently discovered security hole in some Samsung Smart TVs shows that many of those bells and whistles aren't ready for prime time. 

The flaws in Samsung Smart TVs, which have now been patched, enabled hackers to remotely turn on the TVs' built-in cameras without leaving any trace of it on the screen. While you're watching TV, a hacker anywhere around the world could have been watching you. Hackers also could have easily rerouted an unsuspecting user to a malicious website to steal bank account information.

Samsung quickly fixed the problem after security researchers at iSEC Partners informed the company about the bugs. Samsung sent a software update to all affected TVs.
But the glitches speak to a larger problem of gadgets that connect to the Internet but have virtually no security to speak of.
Security cameras, lights, heating control systems and even door locks and windows are now increasingly coming with features that allow users to control them remotely. Without proper security controls, there's little to stop hackers from invading users' privacy, stealing personal information or spying on people.

In the case of Samsung Smart TVs, iSEC researchers found that they could tap into the TV's Web browser with ease, according to iSEC security analyst Josh Yavor. That gave hackers access to all the functions controlled by the browser, including the TV's built-in camera.
 
"If there's a vulnerability in any application, there's a vulnerability in the entire TV," said Aaron Grattafiori, also an analyst at iSEC.
Yavor and Grattafiori were also able to hack the browser in such a way that users would be sent to any website of the hacker's choosing. While the hack would have been obvious if the website on the screen didn't match the desired address, Yavor says there could be serious implications if a bad actor sent a user to a lookalike banking page and retrieved a user's credentials.

The research was conducted on different models of 2012 Samsung Smart TVs and was presented this week at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas.

In a statement to CNNMoney, Samsung said it takes user safety very seriously. Addressing the camera flaw, a company spokesperson said, "The camera can be turned into a bezel of the TV so that the lens is covered, or disabled by pushing the camera inside the bezel. The TV owner can also unplug the TV from the home network when the Smart TV features are not in use."
Samsung also recommends that customers use encrypted wireless access points.
The iSEC crew said they remain skeptical that the technology is perfectly secure, even after Samsung patched the bugs.
"We know that the way we were able to do this has been fixed; it doesn't mean that there aren't other ways that could be discovered in the future, " Yavor said.
Companies like Samsung pay hackers when they report security vulnerabilities like the ones iSEC found. The researchers are iSEC confident that there are more undetected flaws in these devices that they are running a fund-raiser off of finding bugs in Smart TVs at technology conference Def Con later this week.
Yavor and Grattafiori say users should run regular updates from vendors like they would for anti-virus definitions or system updates on the smartphone.
And when all else fails, users can always put tape over their cameras.

Feel the almighty Motorola Moto X

The highly anticipated Moto X is Motorola's latest attempt to break into a smartphone market dominated by Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS).

Walter Mossberg wrote in the Wall Street Journal that "Moto X is an innovative phone, not a revolutionary one. But it may point toward a more revolutionary future."
Mossberg highlighted that unlike other phones Moto X is always listening for voice input without the need to activate a command.

Reviewing for the New York Times, David Pogue noted how Moto X detects that the user is in motion while in driving mode.
"It starts reading new text messages aloud, routing calls to the speakerphone," Pogue said. (link.reuters.com/pyb32v)

Hardware


The Moto X in general - in all colours and variants - feels great. It's a high-quality smartphone that offers a sturdy blend of plastics on its sides, cushy surfaces on the back and a Corning Gorilla Glass on the front. There's absolutely no metal to be found though. As the Moto X feels so solid you almost forget this and think there's some sort of aluminium chassis in the mix. It doesn't exactly feel as well crafted as the HTC One, although its construction is leaps and bounds ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S4.
 
Camera
The Moto X has both good and bad things when it comes to its camera offering. The 10-megapixel-rear camera is primarily ideal for shallow depth of field shots. Rick Osterloh, Motorola's senior vice-president, attributed this to "ClearPixel" technology in the camera sensor that allows for "75 per cent more light than a traditional sensor".
This also means the camera should perform well in low-light settings. However, photos - especially ones shot in dark conditions - are a bit too saturated and noisy. It's nothing to be alarmed about, but we can imagine serious photographers scoffing at such quality and processing.
Since photo quality isn't exactly mesmerising, the real winning features of the Moto X's camera boils down to its user-interface and Quick Capture function. Starting with the latter, a repeated flick-of-the-wrist immediately wakes up the handset and brings up the camera in about two seconds. It's awesome - we used this feature to death and loved it every time.

As for the camera user interface, there's no dedicated hardware button for the shutter. You simply tap anywhere on the screen to capture a photo. A long-press will even make the camera enter a burst-like mode. The ability to tap anywhere is super handy when taking selfies. Yes, we'll admit that. On the iPhone, for instance, it's hard to simultaneously aim the front camera and tap the shutter button (either on screen or side toggle), so it's a real treat to just tap anywhere on the Moto X to begin snapping away.
If you'd like to focus your shot, or turn off HDR (high dynamic display) and flash - and even try panorama or slow-mo - just swipe from the left to bring up the power tools. Conversely, once you've taken a picture, swipe from the right and then tap once to bring up a trio-of-rings icon on the bottom left. Select this icon to see photo-editing tools like filters, frames, cropping, exposure, sharpness, curves, and more. There's an option for everything. It's like an Instagram and paired-down version of Photoshop Mobile in one. Very cool.
  
Software
This is stock Android, for the most part. The Moto X ships with Jelly Bean 4.2.2, and it's quite similar to the Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Edition. There is a bit of bloat, though. Our Verizon handset had NFL Mobile, Voicemail, Verizon Tones, VZ Navigator, QuickOffice, My Verizon Mobile, Caller Name ID and Mobile Hotspot. And they couldn't be uninstalled, just disabled.

Battery
The Moto X might not come with all the bells and whistles of other high-handsets, but we found it to be perfectly capable. Project Butter's 60fps effectively eliminates the possibility of performance lag and serves up swift transitions, fast loading and seamless app launching. However, the Moto X's ability to handle power-user consumption and intense graphics is nothing compared to its battery life.
The 2,200mAh battery lasted about 12 hours after a ton of gaming and YouTube-ing. And we mean a ton. With normal use, we could picture most people getting an entire day's worth of life without any battery-saving adjustments.

Motorola says the American customized phones, which will eventually be offered by other carriers as well, will be assembled at its new facility in Texas and shipped to U.S. customers within four days.

Pheew! What a phone! Thinking about having one now. 

Some common windows 7 problems and how to fix it

We like Windows 7, may be because its faster than vista, it has interesting features, good feel and also manages resources well. 

But because it is not perfect, one will experience some problems with it which i picked out 5 problems and there solutions for now. More problems and solutions to will be coming your way soon. So when you have such problems don't dumb your pc, NextComTech is here for you, to bring back your lovely Windows 7 back to life. 
Please don't forget to drop a comment, hit the g+ button and share, because knowledge is power.

 

1. Older programs not compatible

Before upgrading to Windows 7, it is advisable to check which of your programs will be compatible. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor checks the most common programs. Now, if you have already upgraded and if it turns out that a dear program of yours is not compatible, there is a way out: Windows 7 Compatibility Mode.

To install a program in Compatibility Mode, right-click its > installation file and select > Properties. In its > Properties windows switch to the > Compatibility tab, check > ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:‘ and from the > pull-down menu choose the latest version of Windows of which you know that the program was running on.

You may have to repeat this step with the program itself once it is installed. Right-click the > program icon, select > Properties, switch to > Compatibility tab, check > ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:‘, and choose the respective Windows operating system.
Furthermore, you can change the settings for the respective program and you should explore these, depending on the issue you’re facing.

Finally, if you went with Windows 7 Professional or up, you can use Windows 7′s XP Mode. It runs Windows XP as a virtual machine and you can install all programs that worked on Windows XP in this environment.

 2. DVD drive not found
In some cases your DVD drive may not be found by Windows 7, even if it's visible in the BIOS and using the standard driver.
The standard solution here is to run REGEDIT, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}, then delete both UpperFilters and LowerFilters in the right-hand pane (UpperFilters.bak and LowerFilters.bak entries can be ignored).
No change? Resetting the drive letter has worked for some. Click Start, type Disk Management and choose the "Create and format hard disk partitions" link. If your optical drive is visible here then right-click it, select Change Drive Letter and Paths, click Change and choose a new letter. If the drive is now visible in Explorer, then repeat the process to change the drive letter back; if it's still not visible, reboot and it should appear. 


3. Windows 7 themes change your custom icons
Windows 7 has some spectacular new themes - there's a great selection at the Microsoft site - but installing them can have one annoying side-effect. If you've previously changed a system icon like Computer or the Recycle Bin then that could disappear, replaced by the equivalent icon from the theme pack.
To prevent this, right-click an empty part of the desktop, select Personalize > Change Desktop Icons, clear the "Allow themes to change desktop icons" box and click OK. Your icons will now be preserved, and the only way to change them will be manually, from the same Desktop Icons dialogue.
 
4. Hidden extensions
Explorer's default settings in Windows 7 hide file extensions, as well as system files and folders.
To fix this, launch Explorer and click Tools > Folder Options > View.
Clear the "Hide extensions for known file types" to show file extensions, reducing the likelihood that you'll accidentally double-click on virus.txt.exe in future.
And as long as there are no novice users on your system who might go poking around in Explorer, we'd also choose to "Show hidden files and folders" as well as clear the "Hide protected operating system files" box. It's often important to see these files when you're troubleshooting, or following problem-solving instructions from someone else.

5. Windows Live Messenger and the system tray
Close Windows Live Messenger on Windows 7 and it'll display its icon on the taskbar, chewing up useful application space, rather than in the system tray where many believe it belongs.
Fortunately there's a very quick fix: right-click the shortcut to Windows Live Messenger, click Properties > Compatibility, check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and choose "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)" from the list. Close Messenger and its icon should now appear in the system tray, just as you'd expect.

 
You can post more problems you encounter here for more solutions.

The Best Android Apps of 2013

AppGarden Lite Free
The interface looks dated, but AppGarden Lite is a lightweight, backwards-compatible container with dozens of useful utilities, from conversion charts to a barcode scanner to a password generator. You can bookmark your favorite utilities for quick access. My favorites folder includes the QR scanner, stopwatch, tip calculator, currency calculator, Urban Dictionary look-up, and a calorie calculator. 









avast! Mobile Security Free
This completely free app packs in a ton of security features, like remote wipe, remote-lock, app management, safe Web browsing, a battery manager, and as an added bonus, a top-rated anti-virus engine that passed AV-Test's test with flying colors. avast! Mobile Security is also incredibly light. However it lacks a backup feature so make sure you sync it to your computer.  
 


aDownloader Free
There are lots of BitTorrent clients out there, but I like the old favorite aDownloader because it's easy to use and relatively crash-free. It also has a killer feature: the ability to pause and resume downloads. I haven't encountered any file-size limits, either.
 


Auto Memory Manager Free
When a computer needs a performance boost, one of the most obvious ways is to upgrade or at least, manage memory; the same goes for mobile devices. Auto Memory Manager is an ad-supported app that provides detailed memory information, and lets you set memory priority on apps. It's worth downloading when your Android phone begins to feel sluggish.




 Juicedefender Free
Do you love everything about your Android except its crappy battery life? Juicedefender Ultimate is a popular app that conserves battery life by disabling the most draining components, specifically 3G/4G connectivity, when your phone is idle. You can get the free lite version, but I’d invest in the Ultimate version which lets you customize when to disable a signal; for example, if you’re listening to Pandora you wouldn’t want it to go offline simply because your phone went idle.
 



Lookout Premium for Android Free 
Lookout doesn't just promise security, it promises peace of mind on your Android device, which includes recovery solutions in case of loss, theft, or wipeout. The free version offers Find My Phone feature, automatic backup and restore functions. However I'd shell out for the Premium ($2.99/month or $29.99/year, direct) edition which adds safe browsing, remote lock/wipe, app permissions management, and advanced backup. 


Are you still missing them? Rush now, googleapp store is there for you.

The Top 10 Hidden Features of Windows 7

 
 Check out these wonderful hidden features of Windows 7

1. God Mode 
It may be hyperbolically named, but Windows 7's God Mode is indeed omnipresent. It conveniently puts hundreds of settings from all around the operating system all in one place.

To turn on God Mode, create a new folder on your desktop--or anywhere you'd like--and name it: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. Don't include the final period. The resulting folder will contain 270 items, representing virtually every configurable option in Windows 7. 
 


2. Enhanced Calculator 
Windows' built-in calculator hasn't really changed much over the years, but Windows 7's calculator has a few extra tricks up its sleeve, which you'll find under the View menu. It can do myriad kinds of unit conversion (temperature, weight, area, and eight others), interesting date calculations, and even has worksheets to calculate a mortgage payment or a car's fuel mileage. It maintains a history of your previous calculations as long as the program is open.  
 


3. WordPad's File Support 
The built-in WordPad word processor in Vista is of limited usefulness because it only supports RTF (Rich Text Format) and plain text (TXT) files. In Windows 7, on the other hand, WordPad isn't quite as restricted.

Although Windows 7's WordPad still doesn't work with .doc files from Microsoft Word 2003 and earlier versions, it can open and save ODT (OpenDocument Text) files used by the free OpenOffice.org word processor as well as .docx files created in Microsoft Word 2007 or 2010. Although WordPad can't understand all the complex formatting (it will warn you of this upon opening or saving a file), it will still let you read the documents without having the native programs installed.
 

4. Reliability Monitor 
When your system's acting flaky and you're trying to figure out what's going on, the Reliability Monitor may help. Search for "reliability" from the Start menu, and run View reliability history. You'll get a graph of your system's "stability index" over a period of days and weeks (rated on a scale of 1 to 10). It displays which programs, Windows components, or miscellaneous items crashed on a given day, helping you identify problem items.

 

5. Problem Steps Recorder 
When you need outside PC help, it's much better to let them see for themselves what's happening on your system. But if remote access isn't an option, the Problem Steps Recorder may be the next best thing.

Search for and run "psr" from the Start menu. Click Start Record, and the utility will record your activities through a series of screen shots, automatically including captions that show exactly where you clicked. You can also use the Add Comment button to highlight specific areas of the screen and insert custom annotations. When you stop recording, everything will be stitched together and saved as a Web browser-compatible MHTML (MIME HTML) file, conveniently pre-ZIPped and ready for e-mailing to your geek of choice.
 

6. Power Efficiency Report 
If your Windows 7 laptop isn't getting the battery life you expect—or it experiences power-related issues, such as the inability to go into standby or hibernate mode—the problem usually lies with incorrectly configured power management settings.

Windows 7's Power Efficiency Report can help you sniff out potential problems. Type search for CMD from the Start menu, run it as an administrator (right-click cmd.exe on the menu and choose Run as administrator). From the command prompt, type powercfg –energy (include the space) to scan your system, and after about a minute, you'll find a file called energy-report.html in your \windows\system32 folder. Copy the report to another location and open it (you'll get a file not found error if you try to open it from the system32 folder) for detailed information about what system devices or settings are throwing a monkey wrench into your power management.
 

 
7. Pin Folders to the Taskbar 
You already know that you can right-click your favorite programs and pin them to the Windows 7 Taskbar for easy access. Right? Although there's no such option for folders, there is another way to keep them close at hand on the Taskbar. Right-click any folder, drag it to an empty space on the Taskbar (or to the Windows Explorer button), and let go when "Pin to Windows Explorer" appears. Now when you right-click the Windows Explorer button, your folders will be accessible via the Jump List.
 

8. Wipe Free Disk Space08 It's no secret (or at least, it shouldn't be) that when you delete files or folders in Windows, they're not actually erased—the space they took up is simply marked as "available for use," which allows the files to be recoverable (with the right software) until they're overwritten with new data.

There is a utility built-into Windows (even XP Pro and Vista) that will overwrite all the free space on a hard drive, insuring any files you've deleted stay dead. Launch a command prompt and type cipher /w:X where X is the letter of the drive or partition you want to wipe. Be patient—the process can take a long time if you have a lot of free space.
 

9. "Virtual" Wi-Fi 

If you check out the network connections of most Wi-Fi-equipped Windows 7 systems (except those with Starter Edition), you'll notice an adapter called Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport adapter. This virtual adapter can act as a software-based access point; it takes a wired or wireless network connection and makes it available a separate wireless network.

This lets you create your own hotspot from whatever network you're connected to, which can be handy in many different scenarios, including when you want to connect multiple devices to a Wi-Fi network that charges for access. (Note: to take advantage of this feature, you'll need a copy of the free Connectify software.)

  

 

 

10. Hotkey a Window between Monitors 

Want an easy and mouse-free way to move windows around a display or, better yet, between multiple monitors? When you press the Windows key + the left or right arrow key, the active window will move from its original position and anchor itself to the edge of the screen in the direction of the arrow, and it will do so across every monitor you have. Similarly, if you press Windows + SHIFT + left or right arrow, the active window will jump over to the same position on the adjacent monitor (so if you only have two monitors, it doesn't matter which arrow key you use).

 

 

 

Just try them out and feel like a god with a pc. 

What do you think?
  

Dell Project Ophelia Android USB set

Project Ophelia was first shown off at this year's CES. The device -- akin to a USB memory stick -- can be plugged into any monitor or display through the HDMI port to transform it into a smart device. Dell's Project Ophelia will then give both consumers and businesses access to data remotely, providing a virtual window without the need for a PC, tablet or smartphone.
Supporting both private and corporate content, the USB-enabled gadget connects to virtualization platforms from Citrix, Microsoft and VMware, increasing security required by those who have to tote information around. IT managers concerned with security have the power to manage and secure individual devices, and so data can be wiped from Ophelia in the case of theft or loss. Administrators can also use the "cloud client manager" to keep tabs on how and where Ophelia is being used.
In addition, Ophelia is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, can connect to peripherals including keyboards and mice, and will run Android 4.0.
Consumers may also find the gadget useful, as it can transform any display in to a console in which to download apps, play Android games, watch movies or use services such as Hulu and Netflix; Jeff McNaught, executive director of cloud client computing at Dell. 
Ophelia also comes with Wyse's PocketCloud, which allows users to access files stored on PCs, servers or mobile devices including tablets and smartphones.
The gadget will cost $100 (N15,600), although Android developers will have the first chance to get their hands on Ophelia. 

Lets go there!

How to Restore Your Windows 8 PC

How to Restore Your Windows 8 PC

Sometimes you just want to go back in time. While in life, that's not usually possible, Windows is a different story: System Restore lets you take your PC back to an earlier point in time, letting you restore your PC to an earlier state, in which programs and settings revert to the way they were in the past. Of course, the main reason for doing this is that you installed something that deteriorated the smooth functioning of the PC, and your aim is to restore the PC to a condition in which it runs well.
If your goal is more drastic: You want to clean out or restore the computer to mint condition, Windows 8 has built in tools for this. Just one update to that article is that in Windows 8.1, to get to these options, you go to Settings, and then choose in Settings | Update & recovery, and choose Recovery. From there, you use the Refresh and Reset tools as described in the earlier article.
But if you do indeed want to restore to an earlier state, the most important thing to know about restoring any Windows PC is that you need something to restore it to—a restore point. By default, Windows' System Protection feature automatically creates restore points a system updates and program installations. To make sure of this, got to Control Panel and navigate to System Properties | System Protection, and click the Configure… button. The top choice in the resulting dialog shows whether System Protection is on and lets you disable or enable it.
One important thing to know is that System Restore doesn't affect any of your documents, photos, or other personal data files.
So, assuming you've got a restore point to work with, here's how you restore your PC to an earlier state:

1. From the Windows 8 Start screen, type "Restore." The top result in the right-side Search panel should be "Create a restore point." Even though that's not what we're doing today, that's the choice you want to make. It opens the Control Panel to the Systems Properties dialog's System Protection tab, shown below:

2. Tap the first button on that property sheet: System Restore. This opens a wizard-like dialog, the first page of which says "Restore system files and settings" as shown below:

Here you get another chance to see which programs will be lost and gained. Tap "Next."

3. Next, you'll see a dialog with a choice of system restore points, like the one below.

You'll probably want to choose the most recent one, so that you don't lose too much in the way of new updates, programs, and settings. If the PC isn't fixed after this restore operation, you can always restore back to an earlier one. Another helpful feature is the "Scan for affected programs" button. This will show you everything you'll lose by reverting the PC to the earlier state. It also displays the informative message "Any programs that were added since the last restore point will be deleted and any that were removed will be restored." You might want to make a note of the software in this list, in case you want to do some re-install and uninstalling of wanted and unwanted programs.

4. Hit Next. Now you'll see the "Confirm your restore point" dialog," which lets you do exactly what it says. Note you can tick the "Show more restore points" box to do just that. You're also prompted to save any open files and make sure your Windows Password works.

5. Click Finish. You'll then see a final warning dialog telling you that once started, the System Restore cannot be interrupted, with another confirmation button for continuing the process. Click Yes.

6. Next you'll see a progress timer saying Restoring System, after which a full-screen Windows Update-like screen will display, saying "Please wait while your Windows files and settings are being restored." The process will run through initializing, restoring the registry, and then it will restart.

For my test PC, which didn't have much installation and update history, the whole process only took a couple of minutes, but of course if you have installed a lot of software between the present and the date of the restore point, you can expect the process to take longer. Fortunately, despite the password warnings, I could still log into my test PC with my four-digit PIN. Note: this may not work if you've upgraded to the Windows 8.1 Preview; it didn't for me.

After the procedure, on the desktop you'll either see a message saying that the restore operation was a success or one saying that it failed. In either case, but especially in the latter, you can undo the restore operation—you see, Windows creates another Restore Point right before the operation. You undo the restore operation the same way you start a restore, using the steps above.