Chapter 2. Meet the Windows 8.1 interface
In this section:
The first thing you’ll notice when you power on your Windows 8.1-based computer is its new interface. You’ll immediately see a lock screen and then a Start screen, both features now included as part of all Windows 8-based devices. The lock screen offers up-to-date information about new email, the time and date, and even your network status, and protects your computer from unauthorized access. When you bypass the lock screen, you’ll see the Start screen, a brand-new look and approach to using your computer. The Start screen is simple and clean in appearance and offers tiles that represent the various apps installed on your computer.
In addition to the Start screen, there is also the traditional Windows desktop. The desktop provides the familiar computing experience, and opens when you need to run desktop apps including Paint, WordPad, Control Panel, Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and so on. As with any other version of Windows, you can create shortcuts to files or applications on the desktop; use the taskbar to manage open windows and applications; install applications; and access the Recycle Bin. You can use File Explorer to manage your data and access your network too. And yes, there is a Start button, although it’s a little different than what you might be used to. You’ll learn about all of this and more here.
Starting Windows 8.1
When you first turn on your computer (or laptop or tablet) or when your computer has gone to sleep after an interval of inactivity and you wake it up, you will see the lock screen. The lock screen displays a picture as well as other information such as date and time. You must bypass the lock screen and enter a password or PIN to get to the Start screen.
Start your computer and log on to Windows 8
Press the power button to start your computer.
Click once with the mouse, tap a key on the keyboard, or drag the bottom of the lock screen upward.
If multiple user accounts exist, click the user you want to log on as.
Enter your password or PIN.
Exploring the Start screen
The Start screen offers tiles you click to open apps. These apps let you do things like check the weather, read email, and get directions to a place. Beyond that, there is a scroll bar that appears along the bottom of the screen (when you position your cursor there) to let you access tiles that run off the screen on the right. There is a down-facing arrow there too; click this arrow to access all of the apps on your computer. There is an account settings button in the upper-right corner for changing users or your account picture and for signing out or locking the device.
In addition, and hidden by default, are charms that you can display whenever you need them. One way to show the charms is to use the keyboard combination Windows key + C. Charms offer access to various settings and options. You’ll learn a lot about charms in a few moments.
Accessing Apps view
The Start screen holds certain tiles by default. You’ll see Mail, Maps, SkyDrive, Games, Finance, and so on, and these apps come with Windows 8.1. You can personalize what is shown here and add and delete tiles, as you’ll learn in Chapter 4. For now what’s important is to understand that not every tile you have access to is shown on the Start screen. They just won’t all fit there. To access the rest of the tiles and to see all of the apps installed on your computer, you need to access the Apps view.
Access all of your app tiles
If you are not on the Start screen, press the Windows key on your device or keyboard.
Move the cursor on the screen to invoke the down arrow.
Click the down arrow that appears.
Use the scroll bar to see all of the available tiles.
Click the up arrow to return to the Start screen.
Understanding tiles
Tiles make apps available in a graphical way so that opening an app is intuitive. You don’t have to locate an app in any kind of menu or list; you need only to find the tile and click it. If you own a touchscreen device, tiles are even more convenient because you can simply tap a tile to open an app.
Beyond convenience, some tiles offer up-to-date information that you might find helpful. These are called Live tiles. The News app can show breaking news, the Mail app can show the number of unread emails in your Inbox, and the Sports app can show the latest scores and news.
Using charms
Charms allow you to access features that let you search, share, access the Start screen, view devices that are installed on your computer, and configure settings, among other things. Charms are hidden and can be accessed in a number of ways. For the most part, when you click a charm, you are taken to a subpanel on which you can access commonly used settings that are relevant to the current view or open app. Here you’ll explore the Settings charm. This charm always offers access to network settings, sound, brightness, the option to turn off notifications temporarily, options to power down your device, and to access an on-screen keyboard no matter from where you access it.
Display and use charms
Press Windows logo key+C to display the charms.
Click Settings.
Click the sound icon.
Move the slider to increase or decrease the volume.
Click Power to see the options.
Overview of the desktop
The Windows 8.1 desktop opens automatically when you opt to use desktop apps such as Paint, WordPad, Control Panel, Task Manager, the Command Prompt, and third-party applications you’ve installed from CDs, DVDs, and the Internet. Although you can open these types of apps from the Start screen, they open on the desktop because they are desktop apps. You can also open the desktop from the Desktop tile that is available on the Start screen.
The Windows 8.1 desktop has many features you will be familiar with if you’ve used previous versions of Windows, such as the desktop background, desktop shortcuts, the Recycle Bin, and the taskbar. You can also access the new Start button, the Notification area, and File Explorer.
Using the Start button
The desktop offers a Start button that, when clicked, takes you back to the Start screen. This behavior is different than what you might be used to. You don’t click the Start button to access a list of programs anymore. However, you can right-click the Start button to gain access to areas of your computer that you might need, including the option to shut down your computer, access Control Panel, to open Device Manager, and so on.
Use the Start button
Press Windows logo key+D to open the desktop.
Right-click the Start button to view Shut Down or Sign Out and other options.
Click outside the menu to close it.
Click the Start button once to return to the Start screen.
Overview of File Explorer
File Explorer opens on the desktop. It will look familiar if you’ve used another version of Windows. File Explorer gives you access to all the drives of your computer, including your hard drive, DVD drive, and external and USB drives. File Explorer is also the best way to manage the data you store on these drives, and makes it easy to create folders and subfolders, copy and move data, access data on a network, and manage files you keep online, in SkyDrive. You can even “map” a network drive so that you can access the data on it as if it were actually stored on your own PC. To access File Explorer, press Windows logo key+E. You can also click the file folder icon on the desktop’s taskbar. (See Chapter 18, for more about using File Explorer.)
Booting to the Apps view
By default, when you power on your computer, unlock it, or wake it from sleep, the Start screen appears. This might be fine with you, or you might want to go directly to the Apps view instead. The Apps view offers access to all of the tiles available on your computer, which might be preferable.
Set up to show Apps view instead of the Start screen
Press Windows logo key+D to open the desktop.
Right-click the taskbar and click Properties.
Click the Navigation tab.
Select Show The Apps View Automatically When I Go to Start.
Click OK.
Booting to the desktop
By default, when you power on your computer, unlock it, or wake it from sleep, the Start screen appears. This might be fine with you, or you might want to go directly to the traditional desktop instead. This is fine and won’t cause any problems; you can always access the Start screen by clicking the Start button that appears on the desktop.
Set up to boot directly to the desktop
Press Windows logo key+D to open the desktop.
Right-click the taskbar and click Properties.
Click the Navigation tab.
Select When I Sign In or Close All Apps on a Screen, Go to the Desktop Instead of Start.
Click OK.
Switching from a local to a Microsoft Live account
There are two common ways to log on to a Windows 8.1 device. You can use a local account or a Microsoft account. A Microsoft account is preferred. When you use a Microsoft account, certain information about you and your preferences is stored on the Internet, and when you log on to any Windows 8-based computer with that account, your settings and relevant data are synced, meaning that the look and feel of your computer follows you everywhere. A Microsoft account also enables you to store data in the cloud, on SkyDrive, and use apps like Calendar and the Windows Store, among others. You can’t do any of these things with a local account. If you use a local account, switch now to a Microsoft account.
Set up to log on by using Microsoft Live
Press Windows logo key+I.
Click Change PC Settings.
Click Accounts (not shown).
Click Your Account.
Click Connect To A Microsoft Account.
Type your current password, and click Next (not shown).
Enter your username and password.
Click Next and enter any final configuration options as prompted.
