Windows 8 secure boot is designed to make the OS more resilient to malicious code created especially to compromise computers even before Windows loads, such as rootkits.

“Secured boot stops malware in its tracks and makes Windows 8 significantly more resistant to low-level attacks. Even when a virus has made it onto your PC, Windows will authenticate boot components to prevent any attempt to start malware before the operating system is up and running,” the Redmond company explained.

“If the component isn’t correctly signed by Microsoft, Windows will begin remediation and start the Windows Recovery Environment, which will automatically try to fix your operating system.”

But there are additional enhancements to the Windows 8 startup process, security-wise. According to the software giant the platform’s resilience to malware has been improved through the trusted boot-up process, set up to repair drivers and reinforce policies automatically.

And there’s even more. Windows 8 allows antimalware programs to load early on during boot so they can offer protection to users even before the operating system will complete the startup process.

“Measured boot Windows can further validate the boot process beyond Secured Boot. The startup processes are now signed, protected, and measured. They’re then stored in the TPM chip to prevent rootkit or malware infection,” Microsoft explained.

“For TPM-based systems, Windows 8 will perform a comprehensive chain of measurements during the boot process, called measured boot, which can be used to validate the boot process to prevent rootkits and other malware.”

“Windows Drive-By Attack” will prompt users when a file or website they are browsing, even if the website isn’t blacklisted or picked up by the browser, that the site is trying to download and install malware, preventing the machine from being infected.

Microsoft will cross reference suspicious files with their database and alert users if the file they are attempting to download through Internet Explorer 10 is infected. To help make sure users are aware that the website or download is infected, Windows 8 will show a full screen green bar across the users screen that a potential threat has been detected.

Infected USB Protection:

Windows 8 will include a safe guard against infected USB sticks from launching attacks against the machine by warning the user that the stick is infected and preventing it from loading or executing any commands. Users will then have the opportunity to remove the device or clean it.

Windows also safe guards against USB attacks on startup, which will prompt a boot screen to either clean the device or remove it and continue with Windows 8. This is just one of the many new security measures that is being built into Windows.

“Windows To Go is a new feature in Windows 8 that enables enterprise administrators to create USB drives containing complete, managed Windows images that users can use to boot and run Windows on any Windows 7 or Windows 8 capable computer. Windows To Go makes it possible for employees to use a managed device whether they work from home, a client office or in a free seating environment.

To get back the old start menu, open regedit, goto

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer

change value of RPEnabled from "1" to "0"

close regedit, you get your old start menu......the catch is, no more metro UI because you just disabled it. To get back the Metro UI, change the value back to "1"

To get back the old start menu, open regedit, goto

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer

change value of RPEnabled from "1" to "0"

close regedit, you get your old start menu......the catch is, no more metro UI because you just disabled it. To get back the Metro UI, change the value back to "1"