New and changed features[edit]

New and changed features[edit]
Main article: Features new to Windows 8

New features and functionality in Windows 8 include a faster startup through UEFI integration and the new "Hybrid Boot" mode (which hibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the subsequent boot),[57] a new lock screen with a clock and notifications,[58] and the ability for enterprise users to create live USB versions of Windows (known as Windows To Go).[59][60] Windows 8 also adds native support for USB 3.0 devices, which allow for faster data transfers and improved power management with compatible devices,[61][62] and hard disk 4Kn Advanced Format support,[63] as well as support for near field communication to facilitate sharing and communication between devices.[64]

Windows Explorer, which has been renamed File Explorer, now includes a ribbon in place of the command bar. File operation dialog boxes have been updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files.[65] A new "File History" function allows incremental revisions of files to be backed up to and restored from a secondary storage device,[66] while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on a folder-by-folder basis.[67]

Task Manager has been redesigned, including a new processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running applications and background processes, a heat map using different colors indicating the level of resource usage, network and disk counters, grouping by process type (e.g. applications, background processes and Windows processes), friendly names for processes and a new option which allows users to search the web to find information about obscure processes.[68] Additionally, the Blue Screen of Death has been updated with a simpler and modern design with less technical information displayed.[69][70]