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Windows 8.1 Plain & Simple
Dedication
Acknowledgments
1. About this book
A quick overview
A few assumptions
What’s new in Windows 8.1?
The final word
2. Meet the Windows 8.1 interface
Starting Windows 8.1
Start your computer and log on to Windows 8
Exploring the Start screen
Accessing Apps view
Access all of your app tiles
Understanding tiles
Using charms
Display and use charms
Overview of the desktop
Using the Start button
Use the Start button
Overview of File Explorer
Booting to the Apps view
Set up to show Apps view instead of the Start screen
Booting to the desktop
Set up to boot directly to the desktop
Switching from a local to a Microsoft Live account
Set up to log on by using Microsoft Live
3. Providing input
Understanding input options
Explore the three most common input methods
Overview of touchscreen gestures
Use touch to get things done
Swiping edges
Swipe the screen
Zooming in and out of the display
Zooming in or out
Snapping apps
Snap an app
Using a touchscreen keyboard
Use the touch keyboard
Displaying charms
Display charms
Using keystroke shortcuts
Examples of keystroke shortcuts
Right-clicking and the long tap
Use right-click
Finding recently viewed apps
View, open, and manage recent apps
4. Managing a computing session
Exploring the Settings charm
Explore the Settings charm
Controlling volume
Adjust system volume
Adjusting brightness
Set brightness
Changing the time and date
Change the time zone
Managing power
Put to sleep, shut down, or restart your computer
Displaying a touch keyboard
Display the keyboard and handwriting panel
Connecting to a network
Connect or disconnect from a network
5. Customizing the appearance of Windows
Customizing the Start screen
Pin an app
Unpin an app
Modifying tiles on the Start screen
Change a tile’s size
Reposition tiles on the Start screen
Changing the Start screen background
Apply a new Start screen background
Personalizing the lock screen background
Choose a lock screen image
Setting up lock screen apps
Choose lock screen apps
Modifying the account picture
Select an account picture
Putting shortcuts on the desktop
Create a desktop shortcut
Choosing a desktop theme
Change the desktop’s theme
Changing the desktop background
Select a desktop background
Adjusting screen resolution
Change the screen resolution
6. Searching for anything
Searching from the Start screen
Search from the Start screen
Searching for files
Search for files
Searching for web images
Search for web images
Using the Search charm
Open the Search charm
Locating Windows settings using Search
Searching for Windows settings
Customizing Search
Customize how Search works
Searching inside an app
Search only inside an app
7. Using the Maps app
Opening and navigating the Maps app
Open and move around maps
Choosing a map style
Change map style
Searching for locations
Search for a location
Displaying information about a location
Display location information
Showing traffic on maps
Display traffic
Getting directions
Get directions
Adding a pin
Add a pin
Marking a favorite
Mark a favorite
8. Going online with Internet Explorer 11
Exploring the Internet Explorer 11 app
Open Internet Explorer 11
Use the address bar
Navigating among websites
Move among websites
Follow links
Searching on a page
Search for content on a page
Searching with Suggestions
Search from Suggestions
Creating tabs
Create new tabs
Clearing your history
Clear your history
Marking and accessing a favorite
Mark and access a favorite
Pinning a site to the Start screen
Pin a site
Starting a new InPrivate session
Start a new InPrivate session
Switching to the Internet Explorer desktop app
Switch to Internet Explorer on the desktop
Overview of the Internet Explorer desktop app
Explore the Internet Explorer desktop app
9. Using Calendar and People
Displaying calendar views
Choose a calendar view
Adding a calendar event
Create an event
Using reminders
Set up a reminder
Inviting people to an event
Send an invite
Editing an existing event
Edit event details
Deleting an event
Delete an event
Adding additional calendars
Add additional calendars
Working with additional calendars
Work with additional calendars
Exploring the People app
Explore the People app
Incorporating online accounts
Set up accounts
Adding a new contact
Add a contact
Communicating with a contact
Communicate with a contact
Culling and sorting contacts
Cull and sort contacts
Viewing What’s New
View What’s New
10. Using Mail and Skype
Setting up an email account
Set up an email account
Opening your email inbox(es)
Open your email inbox(es)
Reading and replying to messages
Read a message
Reply to a message
Forwarding a message
Forward a message
Formatting text in a message
Format text in a message
Opening attachments
View and save a photo attachment
Creating and sending a new message
Create and send a message
Adding attachments
Add an attachment to a message
Moving messages to folders
Move a message to a folder you create
Setting up Skype
Set up Skype
Adding a contact
Add a contact
Saving a phone number
Save a phone number
Messaging with Skype
Send a message with Skype
Making a phone call with Skype
Make a phone call to another Skype user
Initiating a Skype video call
Initiate a Skype video call
11. Buying apps at the Windows Store
Searching for apps
Find an app
Exploring search options
Explore search options
Reading app reviews
Read reviews
Installing free apps
Get a free app
Viewing your apps in the Windows Store
View your apps in the Windows Store
Buying an app
Buy apps
Rating and reviewing an app
Rate and review an app
Configuring Windows Store preferences
Access Windows Store options and sync app licenses
12. Playing music
Navigating the Music app
Navigate the Music app
Listening to music
Play music
Searching for music
Search for music
Creating a playlist in the Music app
Creating a playlist in the Music app
Listening to radio
Play music
Finding music to purchase by browsing
Find music to purchase by browsing
Finding music to purchase by searching
Find music to purchase by searching
Buying music
Buy a selection
Configuring music in the cloud
Configure music in the cloud
Playing music with Windows Media Player
Play music
Sorting and viewing music
Sort and view music
Creating playlists
Create a playlist
Ripping music you own
Rip music you own
Burning music to a CD
Burn music to a CD
13. Viewing pictures and video
Displaying pictures
Display a picture
Searching for pictures
Search for photos
Creating folders for your pictures
Create folders
Moving pictures to new folders
Move pictures
Setting a picture on the Photos tile or lock screen
Set a picture on the Photos tile or lock screen
Cropping a picture
Crop a picture
Editing a picture
Edit a picture
Playing a slide show
Play a slide show
Exploring the Video app
Explore the Video app
Playing a personal video
Play a video
Buying or renting a video
Buy or rent videos
Using the camera
Use the camera
14. Working with desktop apps
Opening and closing desktop apps
Open and close desktop apps
Using menus
Use the File menu in Notepad
Using ribbons
Explore the ribbon in Paint
Formatting text
Format text in WordPad
Using the Clipboard
Use Notepad with the Clipboard
Inserting objects
Insert a picture in WordPad
Printing a document
Print a file from the Internet Explorer desktop app
Saving a file
Save a file with Paint
Exploring other desktop apps
Explore other desktop apps
15. Working with devices and networks
Adding a device
Add a device
Troubleshooting device installations
Troubleshoot device installations
Connecting to a Bluetooth device
Make your computer discoverable
Connect to Bluetooth devices
Connecting to a private network
Connect to a private network
Sharing with a homegroup
Create a homegroup
Troubleshooting network connectivity
Troubleshoot network connectivity
Connecting to a public network
Connect to a public network
Changing network settings
Change network settings
Using Airplane Mode
Use Airplane Mode
16. Working with users and privacy
Enabling Windows Firewall
Enable Windows Firewall
Allowing apps to access your personal information or location
Allow access to your personal information or location
Using Windows Defender
Use Window Defender
Creating new users
Create a new user
Creating a picture password
Create a picture password
Creating a PIN
Create a PIN
Switching among user accounts
Log in as a different user
Managing User Account Control settings
Change User Account Control settings
Turning on Family Safety
Turn on Family Safety
Working with Family Safety settings
Work with Family Safety settings (set a time allowance)
17. Sharing settings and files in the cloud
Choosing settings to sync to SkyDrive
Choose settings to sync
Choosing files to save to SkyDrive
Choose files to save to SkyDrive
Saving files to SkyDrive
Save to SkyDrive from WordPad
Save to SkyDrive from Mail
Creating a new folder in SkyDrive
Create a new folder using File Explorer
Adding files to a folder
Add files to SkyDrive with Internet Explorer
Sharing a folder
Share a folder
Managing SkyDrive storage
Manage SkyDrive storage
Creating a folder and adding data to it from the SkyDrive app
Create a folder and add data to it from the SkyDrive app
18. Managing data
Using the File Explorer ribbon
Navigating File Explorer
Navigate File Explorer
Locating files with File Explorer
Search for a file
Changing views in File Explorer
Use View tab tools
Creating folders
Create a new folder
Renaming files and folders
Rename a file or folder
Moving and copying files
Move or copy a file to another folder
Creating and extracting compressed files
Create a compressed file
Sharing content
Share content
Using File History
Enable File History
Configure File History
Backing up data manually
Save to a network or external drive
Deleting files and folders
Delete files
Working with the Recycle Bin
Restore a file or folder from the Recycle Bin
Change how much space the Recycle Bin uses to hold deleted files
19. Working with Accessibility settings
Switching from a right-handed to left-handed mouse
Switch from right-hand to left-hand clicking
Adjusting double-click speed and indicator motion
Change double-click speed and motion settings
Adjusting keyboard settings
Adjust keyboard settings
Enabling High Contrast
Enable High Contrast
Letting Windows suggest Ease of Access settings
Let Windows suggest Ease of Access settings
Using Magnifier
Use Magnifier
Using Narrator
Start Narrator and configure settings
Working with speech recognition
Start Speech Recognition and configure your microphone
Work through the speech tutorial
Use Speech Recognition
20. Maintaining and troubleshooting your computer
Creating a recovery drive
Create a recovery drive
Using ReadyBoost
Use ReadyBoost
Configuring Windows Update
Update Windows automatically
Exploring the Action Center
Explore the Action Center
Running Disk Cleanup
Run Disk Cleanup
Restarting your computer
Restart your computer
Using troubleshooting wizards
Select and start a troubleshooting wizard
Using Microsoft Fix It
Use Microsoft Fix It
Asking for Windows Remote Assistance
Get remote help
Troubleshooting with Windows Task Manager
Use Windows Task Manager to close an application
Using Advanced Startup
Access Advanced Startup
Refreshing your PC
Refresh your PC
Resetting your PC
Reset your PC
21. Upgrading to Windows 8.1
Upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
View basic information about your computer
View basic information about your computer
Using the Upgrade Assistant
Use the Upgrade Assistant
Using the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Run the Windows Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Updating drivers
Update device drivers manually
22. Getting help
Using the Help + Tips app
Use the Help + Tips app
Getting support at the Microsoft Support website
Get support at the Microsoft Support website
Using desktop help
Use general desktop help
Accessing specific desktop help
Access specific desktop help
A. Windows 8.1 keyboard shortcuts
Editing shortcuts
File Explorer shortcuts
Accessibility shortcuts
Desktop shortcuts
Dialog box keyboard commands
Glossary
Index
About the Authors
Copyright
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