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    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks
    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks
    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks
    Ebook165 pages2 hours

    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks

    By Jonathan Moeller

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    About this ebook

    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks gives users an overview of Windows 8.1, from using the Start Screen and Desktop to more advanced troubleshooting techniques.

    In this book, you'll learn how to:

    -Master the Start Screen.

    -Get the most out of the Desktop.

    -Use the power of File Explorer.

    -Connect Windows 8.1 to networks.

    -Create and eliminate user accounts.

    -Store files securely in OneDrive.

    -Install powerful apps from the Windows Store.

    -Employ Task Manager to tame your PC.

    -And many other tips.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJonathan Moeller
    Release dateFeb 15, 2014
    ISBN9781310275289
    Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks
    Author

    Jonathan Moeller

    Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.He has written the "Demonsouled" trilogy of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write the "Ghosts" sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the "$0.99 Beginner's Guide" series of computer books, and numerous other works.Visit his website at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.comVisit his technology blog at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/screed

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      Book preview

      Windows 8.1 - Jonathan Moeller

      Introduction

      Welcome to Windows 8.1: 101 Tips & Tricks. If you've never used Windows 8.1 before, you've come to the right place. Windows 8.1 is radically different from previous versions of Windows. Nevertheless, Windows 8.1 is just as capable and powerful as its predecessors. You can use Windows 8.1 to perform a variety of computing tasks, such as office work, Internet browsing, listening to music, and playing games. In this book, we'll show you how to use the new Windows 8.1 interface and get the most out of your Windows 8.1 PC.

      WHAT IS WINDOWS 8.1?

      Windows 8.1 is a massive change from previous versions of Windows. For years, the family of Windows operating systems has been the dominant desktop operating system on personal computers. A desktop operating system is an operating system that relies upon a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse. The user of the computer employs the mouse to click on icons representing programs and files. For years the desktop operating system was the dominant paradigm for personal computers.

      All this began to change in 2010 with the release of Apple's iPad tablet computer. The iPad took a radically different approach to the user interface. Instead of using a mouse, the iPad came equipped with a touchscreen and large, finger-friendly icons. Users controlled the iPad with touchscreen gestures and tapping, rather than with a mouse. The iPad was the first successful mass-market tablet computer, and remains the dominant tablet at the time of this writing.

      Microsoft had for years attempted to design a tablet of its own. It produced Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and both Windows Vista and Windows 7 came with built-in tablet and touchscreen capabilities. However, this attempts had a fatal weakness. These versions of Windows attempted to graft the desktop experience onto the tablet, using a stylus in lieu of a mouse. This invariably proved quite difficult - a stylus is not as precise an instrument as a mouse pointer, and numerous sections of Windows require precise clicking to get anything done. Windows-based tablet PCs never really caught on, and certainly never experienced anything like the iPad's exponential growth.

      To combat the competitive threat from the iPad, Microsoft developed Windows 8. Windows 8 is a new paradigm - an operating system that attempts to combine both a desktop interface and a tablet interface. The idea is that when using Windows 8 on a touchscreen device, you make use of Windows 8's tablet interface, called the Modern UI Style. But when using Windows 8 on a traditional desktop or laptop computer, you can instead use the Desktop interface, which has not changed a great deal from Windows 7.

      Windows 8.1 is an updated version of Windows 8, with many improvements and enhancements to smooth over the rough spots of its predecessor.

      THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK

      I wrote this book because Windows 8.1 is a massive departure from previous versions of Windows. The user interface is very different, and many common tasks are performed differently than in previous versions of Windows. (I have seen seasoned IT professionals get frustrated when attempting to use Windows 8.1 for the first time.) Hopefully this book will provide a handy and useful guide to Windows 8.1. It's not intended as an all-encompassing overview of Windows 8.1, but as an introduction to the operating system. It is my hope that this book will familiarize you with Windows 8.1 and help you to enjoy using the operating system - or at least keep you from tearing your hair out in frustration every time you need to use Windows 8.1.

      A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

      Microsoft refers to the new user interface and style of applications in Windows 8.1 as the Modern UI Style. There is some confusion on the terminology. Previously, Microsoft referred to the new user interface as the Metro interface, but a German company claimed the term Metro as a trademark and sued Microsoft. Consequently, Microsoft abandoned the term Metro, and now uses Modern UI Style to refer to Windows 8.1's new interface, though it is possible Microsoft might change the terminology again.

      For the purpose of this book, we will refer to the new interface as the Modern UI Style.

      Additionally, when we use the word Desktop with a capital D, we are referring to the Desktop interface within Windows 8.1.

      WINDOWS 8.1 VERSIONS

      There are two versions of Windows 8.1 that most people will encounter.

      Windows 8.1 is the successor to Windows 7 Home Premium edition. It offers the full Windows 8.1 experience, with both the Desktop and the Modern UI Style. If an application worked on Windows 7 or Windows 8, it will probably work on Windows 8.1.

      Windows 8.1 Pro includes all the features of standard Windows 8.1. However, Windows 8.1 Pro is intended for business use, and includes many components designed to that end. Windows 8.1 Pro includes Domain Join, which allows the computer to join a Microsoft Active Directory domain. Windows 8.1 Pro also includes BitLocker, which allows you to encrypt your hard disks for security purposes, and can also act as a Remote Desktop host.

      If you don't care about these features (or don't even know what they are) you probably don't need Windows 8.1 Pro, and can stick to Windows 8.1.

      A NOTE ON REPETITION

      As you read this book, you might notice that I repeat some sets of instructions. I wanted each Tip to have its own complete set of instructions, so I don’t have to say next, launch File Explorer like we discussed on page 453, which means you don’t have to scroll back and forth to refresh your memory. I personally hate it when technical writers do that, so I’m not going to do it here. Besides, this is an ebook, so it’s not as if repeating some directions will drive up the printing costs!

      ERRATA

      I have done my best to make sure all the information in this book is accurate and timely, and tested every procedure described in the following chapters. However, I am only mortal, and undoubtedly I have made mistakes. If you notice any errors, you can email me at jmcontact @ jonathanmoeller.com to let me know. The advantage of ebooks over paper books is that ebooks are vastly easier to update and revise, and I can quickly introduce a revised and updated edition to correct any mistakes. (Another advantage of an ebook is that you can have it open on your computer screen as you work, rather than having to look down at a paper book on your desk.)

      ***

      Part I - The Start Screen

      In this section, we'll explain the new Start Screen, successor to the old Start Menu. We'll show you how to get the most out of your Windows 8.1 system’s Start Screen. Additionally, we’ll show you how to customize the Start Screen to match your individual preferences.

      ***

      Tip #1 - Summon The Start Screen

      One of the primary features of the Windows 8.1 interface is the Start Screen, a successor to the old Start Menu in older versions of Windows. Using the Start Menu, you can launch applications, find documents, and search for system settings and personal files.

      Of course, to do all that, you have to first get to the Start Screen. When you launch a Modern UI or desktop application, it’s not always immediately obvious how to get back to the Start Screen. Fortunately, there are four ways to get back to the Start Screen at any time.

      -If you are using a Windows 8.1 tablet device that has a Windows button, pressing that button will take you to the Start Screen.

      -If you are using Windows 8.1 on a computer with a physical keyboard (such as a desktop PC or a laptop), almost certainly that computer has a Windows key on its keyboard. Usually the Windows key will be located between the right CTRL and the right ALT keys. Pressing the Windows key will take you immediately to the Start Screen.

      -You can also use the Switcher, Windows 8.1’s built in task-switching utility, to switch to the Start Screen. Move the mouse to the lower left hand corner of your display and then move the pointer up, or swipe up from the lower left-hand corner of your tablet. The Switcher menu will appear, showing all your open Modern UI applications, and you can click on the Start button.

      -Finally, while in the Desktop, the Start button will remain at the far-left side of your Taskbar (the bar running along the bottom of the screen). Click on it to activate the Start Screen.

      By whatever method you use to reach the Start Screen, you can always return to your previous application by tapping the Windows key or button again.

      ***

      Tip #2 - How To Log Out Of Windows 8.1

      With previous generations of Windows, logging out of the system was relatively easy – you went to the Start menu, clicked on the Log Out button, and Windows logged you out of the computer. With Windows 8.1’s radically redesigned interface,

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