Windows 10: Up To Speed

Copyright & License Notes

Windows 10: Up to Speed

By R.M. Hyttinen

Copyright © 2016 by R.M. Hyttinen.  All rights reserved.

Published by PCM Courseware, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

http://pcmcourseware.com

ISBN: 978-0-9915186-6-1

Examples used in this book are fictional.  Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, incidents, organization or events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Publisher.  Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors and omissions.  Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained within.

If you found this book helpful, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased this book.  Also consider telling your friends about it to help me spread the word about my book.

Thank you so much for supporting my work!

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold, given away to other people or used in any type of training classes. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Trademark Acknowledgements

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.  All other known trademarks have been appropriately capitalized and are the property of their respective owners.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Copyright & License Notes

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Windows Basics

Operating System Basics

Signing in to Windows

A Look at the Desktop

Elements of the Windows 10 Desktop

Using the Mouse

Using the Keyboard

Keyboard Shortcuts

Opening and Closing Windows

Minimizing and Maximizing Windows

Moving a Window

Resizing a Window

Switching Between Windows

Using the Ribbon

Using Shortcut Menus

Navigating the Start Menu

Using Help

Shutting Down Your Computer

Chapter 2 - Working with Folders and Disks

A Look at Windows Disk Organization

Working with Navigation Pane

Using the Folder Tree

Working with the Quick Access Area

Navigating using the Address Bar

Changing Window View

Sorting and Filtering the Contents of a Folder

Grouping the Contents of a Folder

Changing Explorer Layout

Setting Folder Options

Creating a New Folder

Creating a Shortcut to a Folder

Chapter 3 - File and Folder Management

Renaming Files and Folders

Copying Files and Folders

Moving Files and Folders

Copying and Moving Files to OneDrive

Deleting Files and Folders

Restoring a Deleted File

Emptying the Recycle Bin

Changing Recycle Bin Size

Searching for a File or Folder

Selecting Multiple Files and Folders

Working with File Properties

Compressing Files and Folders

Chapter 4 - Working with Applications

Opening Applications from the Start Menu

Installing Apps from the App Store

Installing Apps from a Download

The Bundled Apps

Switching Between Programs

Opening and Closing a Document

Entering and Editing Text in WordPad

Selecting Text

To Select Text with Your Mouse:

Cutting, Copying and Pasting Text

Inserting Special Characters

Formatting Text

Aligning Paragraphs

Setting Paragraph Tabs

Saving a Document

Creating Sticky Notes

Performing Calculations with Calculator

Snipping the Screen

Organizing Your Schedule using the Calendar App

Organizing Contacts with the People App

View and Search for Contacts

Forcing an Application to Close

Accessing an App’s Menus

Accessing an App’s Settings Pane

Working with the Photos App

Chapter 5 - Working with Music and Video

Playing a CD with Windows Media Player

Ripping CD’s

Playing Music with Groove Music

Creating a Playlist

Purchasing Music from the Store

Choosing a Default Music Player

Streaming Music

Playing Video

Purchase Movies and TV Shows

Chapter 6 - Customizing the Start Screen and Desktop

Moving the Taskbar

Working with Taskbar Toolbars

Setting Taskbar Properties

Adding Applications to the Taskbar

Setting Which Items Appear on the Taskbar

Adding Items to the Start Screen

Customizing the Start Screen

Changing the Desktop Background

Changing the Desktop Theme

Changing the Theme Color

Working with Task View

Switching to Tablet Mode

Chapter 7 -  Adjusting Computer Settings

About the Settings App

Modifying Date and Time Properties

Adding a Screen Saver

Setting Power Management Options

Customizing Your Display

Display Settings for Multiple Monitors

Using an External Monitor with a Laptop

Changing Device Settings

Adding a Printer

Adjusting Your Computer’s Volume

Setting the Default Speaker

Modifying Notification & Action Options

Setting File Explorer Options

Uninstalling Applications

Changing Default Programs

Changing the File Type Associated with a Program

Modifying Account Settings

Chapter 8 - User Accounts and Security

Family Settings

User Accounts

Switching User Accounts

Changing a User Account’s Picture

Changing Your Password

Locking your Computer

Setting Security Options

Using Windows Defender

Chapter 9 - Using Internet Tools

Setting up an Internet Connection

Starting Microsoft Edge

Browsing a Web Page

Browsing Using the History List

Creating Favorites

Deleting Favorites

Browsing InPrivate

Using Tabbed Browsing

Microsoft Edge Settings

Searching for Text on a Web Page

Searching the Internet

Downloading Files

Searching using Cortana

Using the Mail App

Chapter 10 - PC Maintenance

Disk Defragmenter

Verify Hard Drive Free Space

Cleaning Up Your Drive

Checking your Hard Drive for Errors

Creating a Restore Point

Applying a Restore Point

Resetting Your Computer

Backing Up Your Files

To Restore a File from a Backup

Introduction

As the author and founder of PCM Courseware, I am delighted to bring you the next in our Up To Speed series of guides:  Windows 10 - Up To Speed.  Since 2003, PCM Courseware has been publishing innovative Print-On-Demand electronic courseware for both the PC and the Macintosh and beginning with the Up to Speed series, we are now creating software guides for everyone, not just for software trainers.

My mission is to create guides to make learning technology concepts easy, no matter what kind of learner you are. The guides are simple to use yet comprehensive in their effectiveness. Many students find the step-by-step approach of our manuals to be a valuable self-study resource.

You do not need to read the book sequentially, although this can certainly be helpful if you are just starting out with Windows.  I’ve written the book from scratch, starting with basic Windows topics and moving on to more advanced features of the operating system, designed to help you to become more productive more quickly. 

If you are looking to accomplish a specific task, be sure to take advantage of the handy Table of Contents.

So let’s get started with Windows 10 – Up to Speed.

Chapter 1 - Windows Basics

Operating System Basics

Welcome to Windows 10!  Windows 10 is the latest and most stable Operating System by the Microsoft Corporation and is widely used on computers all over the world.  Before we begin working with Windows 10, it helps to understand what exactly Windows is and what it does. 

First of all, Windows 10 is an Operating System.  An Operating System is a software program that controls just about everything your computer does.  For example, it:

Controls the applications that run on your computer

Controls the computer’s hardware and manages communication between the computer’s hardware and the user

Implements User Management utilities and features

Organizes the files and folders on your computer

Windows is a Graphical User Interface or GUI (pronounced gooey) which allows the user to direct the computer’s operating system by clicking icons (or graphics) rather than typing in commands manually, such as is the case when working with the UNIX operating system.  The GUI makeup of the Operating System allows you to customize the appearance of your computer screen to fit your own individual taste.

If you have worked with previous versions of Windows, you will notice many changes –  new windows management features, easier searching and improved file and folder management, not to mention a newer and slicker interface.

If you are new to computers or to the Windows Operating System, you are about to embark on an exciting new journey – the discovery of Windows 10.

So let’s get started!

Signing in to Windows

Windows allows you to share your computer with others yet keep your work, applications and settings separate.  To do so, you’ll need to create an account, consisting of a username and password.  What this allows you to do, is to customize and personalize your computer any way you want so that even if others are logging in with their own accounts, your settings remain unchanged.

The first time you start Windows 10, the system will prompt you to create an account if you don’t already have one.  There are two types accounts: a local account and a Microsoft account.  In order to get the most out of Windows, you may wish to set up and use a Microsoft account.  This gives you access to features you wouldn’t otherwise have with a local account, such as access to e-mail and other apps only available to Microsoft accounts, access to OneDrive (Microsoft’s cloud storage service which allows you to access your files from any computer), the ability to purchase and install apps from the Microsoft App Store and much more. 

To create a Microsoft account, follow these steps:

1. Click or Tab the Start button

Or

Press the Windows key on your keyboard.

2. Click Settings.

3. Click Accounts

4. Click Manage My Microsoft Account.

5. Click Create Account.

6. Enter in the requested information.  You’ll need to create a new email address such as user@outlook.com and establish a password.

Once you’ve created your Microsoft Account, use it whenever you wish to log into your computer.  Note that you can switch back and forth between a local account and your Microsoft account, if you so choose.

A Look at the Desktop

If you’re coming to Windows 10 from the Windows 8, the first thing that you’ll notice is that the Start screen no longer appears after login but rather, the first screen you see is the Desktop, much like we saw in pre-Windows 8 versions of the operating system.

Users of previous versions of Windows will be happy to see the return of the Start button, the doorway to all of your applications and settings.

Windows 10 makes working on your computer effortless because everything is accessible from one place – your Desktop.  The Desktop is the background area of your computer and contains icons that represent applications, folders or individual files.

One of icons you will find on your Desktop by default is the Recycle Bin.  The Recycle Bin allows you to recover deleted files or folders.  The Start menu provides quick access to your applications, links to favorite locations, allows you to search for files and folders as well as modify your computer’s settings.  Microsoft has incorporated the Windows 8 Start screen into the Start menu so you can also arrange and group your favorite into tiles.  We’ll look at the Start screen in much greater detail in a later lesson. 

Don’t worry if the Windows screen appears confusing at first.  Each of the Desktop’s elements will be discussed in subsequent lessons.  This lesson is just to introduce you to the major parts of the Desktop.

Below is a summary of the default elements of the Desktop:

Elements of the Windows 10 Desktop

Desktop

This is the background area of the Windows 10 screen.  The Desktop is where you’ll find and add shortcuts to your favorite folders, documents and applications.

Icons

The pictorial representation of applications, files or folders.

Recycle Bin

A receptacle for all deleted files and folders on your computer.  You can retrieve deleted items from the Recycle Bin or remove them permanently by emptying the Recycle Bin.

Search Box

Allows you to search your computer or the Internet using Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant.

Start Menu

Allows you to quickly launch your applications, search for files or folders and modify your computer’s settings.

Start Screen

Displays rectangular Tiles, which provide one-click access to applications as well as folders and other items. 

System Tray

Displays System icons.

Taskbar

Provides immediate access to your favorite applications, files, folders or Web Sites.  You can add additional items to the taskbar by dragging them to the Taskbar or right-clicking the item and choosing Pin to Taskbar.  Also displays any currently open windows or running programs.

Using the Mouse

The mouse is a small device connected to your computer that lets you select and move objects on the screen.  The mouse is