Windows 8.1 Bible by Boyce, Jim -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction

Whom This Book Is For How to Use This Book

Part I: Getting Started, Getting Secure

Chapter 1: What's New in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

New Platforms The Windows 8.1 Interface The Start screen The Lock Screen The Charms Bar The Windows Store Cloud Synchronization Integrated Messaging Social Networking Integration File Explorer Search Spell Check and AutoCorrect Enterprise Features

Windows to Go DirectAccess BranchCache AppLocker VDI enhancements Windows 8 app deployment

Internet Explorer 11 Client Hyper-V BitLocker Smart Cards Task Management Proximity and Wi-Fi Direct Refresh/Reset Changes and Updates Specific to Windows 8.1 Wrap-Up

Chapter 2: Navigating the Windows 8.1 Interface

Introducing the Windows 8 Interface Gestures and Mouse Actions Using the Start Screen Using the Charms Working with Windows 8.1 Apps

Opening and using a Windows 8.1 app Snapping apps on the screen Switching between apps Closing a Windows 8.1 app

Getting to the Desktop Using the Taskbar Wrap-Up

Chapter 3: Getting Around the Windows Desktop

Terminology for Things You Do

Mouse terminology Keyboard terminology

Logging In Windows Start Screen Using the Windows Desktop

What's on the desktop About desktop icons Arranging desktop icons

Using Jump Lists Running Programs and Apps

The active window Switching among open programs Arranging program windows Sizing program windows Moving a program window Moving and sizing from the keyboard

Closing a Program Using the Notification Area

Showing/hiding notification icons Responding to notification messages Using scroll bars Using Back and Forward buttons

Logging Off, Shutting Down Wrap-Up

Chapter 4: Sharing and Securing with User Accounts

Logging In and Out of User Accounts

Where am I now? Switching accounts

Sign-in Options Creating Strong Passwords

Remembering passwords Devising a password hint

Picture Passwords

Creating a picture password Testing your picture password

Types of User Accounts

Microsoft accounts Local accounts The built-in administrator account Administrative user accounts Standard accounts Guest account

Creating and Managing User Accounts

Creating a Microsoft user account Creating a new e-mail address for a new user account Creating a local account Changing user accounts Changing a user account type Password-protecting an account Changing the account picture Enabling or disabling the Guest account Navigating through user account pages Cracking into standard user accounts

Deleting User Accounts Using User Accounts

Understanding User Account Control Privilege escalation in administrative accounts Turning UAC on and off

Creating and Using Password Reset Disks

Choosing a memory device for the password reset Creating the password reset disk Using the password reset disk

Running Programs as Administrator Add the Built-in Administrator Account to the Login Screen Stop Entering Password on Lockout Advanced Security Tools Using Credential Manager Managing Profile Properties and Environment Variables Wrap-Up

Chapter 5: Using Windows 8.1 Family Safety

Before You Get Started Setting Up Windows 8.1 Family Safety

Getting to the Family Safety page Setting Web Filtering Setting time limits Controlling Windows Store and game play Balocking and allowing Apps Viewing Family Safety Activity Reports Viewing Family Safety Online Reports

Other Online Safety Resources Wrap-Up

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Startup Problems

The Computer Won't Start

Non-system disk or disk error message Computer starts but mouse and keyboard don't work Screen turns blue during startup and then stops

Computer Takes Too Long to Start

Restore system files to an earlier time Windows 8.1 Automatic Repair Mode Repair Windows 8 Install Advanced startup Start in Safe Mode The instruction manual that came with your computer Resources in this book Resources in Windows Help Online resources

Programs Won't Start Wrap-Up

Part II: Personalizing Windows 8.1

Chapter 7: Protecting Yourself with Windows Firewall

How Firewalls Work Introducing Action Center

How you know Windows Firewall is on Turning Windows Firewall on or off

Making Exceptions to Firewall Protection

Manually configuring firewall exceptions (allowed apps and programs) Adding an app exception Disabling, changing, and deleting exceptions

Advanced Firewall Configuration

Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Changing firewall profile properties Inbound and outbound rules

Wrap-Up

Chapter 8: Automatic Updates as Security

Understanding Automatic Updates

Updates versus upgrades Why updates are important

Enabling Automatic Updates Managing Updates

Managing optional updates Changing how updates work Reviewing and removing updates

Thwarting Exploits with Data Execution Prevention Wrap-Up

Chapter 9: Personalizing the Windows 8.1 Interface

Customizing the Start Screen

Rearranging tiles Adding and removing tiles Resizing tiles Working with live tiles Working with groups Creating groups Rearranging groups Clearing live data Allocating storage for Tile updates Adding administrative tools to the Start screen Changing the Start Screen Background and Color

Customizing the Lock Screen Changing Your Account Picture Wrap-Up

Chapter 10: Personalizing the Desktop

Using the Personalization Page

Choosing a theme Personalizing your desktop background Personalizing your color scheme Making text sharper with ClearType Personalizing sound effects Personalizing your screen saver Personalizing desktop icons Choosing a screen resolution Using multiple monitors Reducing monitor flicker Adjusting the font size (dpi) Personalizing your mouse Adjusting the double-click speed

Personalizing the Keyboard Customizing the Taskbar

Locking and unlocking the taskbar Moving and sizing the taskbar Showing toolbars on the taskbar Sizing and positioning taskbar toolbars Using the Links toolbar (Favorites Bar)

Customizing the Notification Area

Getting rid of notification area icons Tweaking the clock

Wrap-Up

Chapter 11: Customizing Startup Options

First Things First Starting Programs Automatically

Using the Startup folder Using the Task Manager Startup tab Stopping auto start applications

Using the System Configuration Tool to Control Startup Services Snap-In Bypassing the Login Page Troubleshooting Startup

Get rid of disabled devices When Windows won't start at all

Start Screen versus the Desktop Wrap-Up

Part III: Beyond the Desktop

Chapter 12: Windows 8.1 and Windows Live

Windows Live Creating a Windows Live Account Using Windows Live Saving Files in SkyDrive Using Office Web Apps Wrap-Up

Chapter 13: Social Networking with Windows 8.1

Using the People App

Setting up a social media account Viewing social media activity Navigating the People app All Contacts

Wrap-Up

Chapter 14: Using Computers Remotely

Using Remote Assistance

Setting up Remote Assistance Requesting Remote Assistance

Using the Remote Desktop App

Allowing remote connections on a home network Connecting from a remote home network PC

Using Classic Remote Desktop

Display Local Resources Programs Experience Advanced

Wrap-Up

Chapter 15: Managing Names and Addresses

Opening Contacts

Changing how you view contacts Making shortcuts to contacts Creating a contact Opening and editing contacts Create a “Me” contact

Creating Contact Groups Printing Contacts Importing and Exporting Contacts

Importing people to your contacts folder Exporting contacts to vCards Exporting to a CSV file

Searching for Contacts Sharing Contacts on a Network Wrap-Up

Chapter 16: Working in the Cloud

Understanding the Cloud Setting Up a SkyDrive Account Accessing SkyDrive Files Using SkyDrive Using SkyDrive

Adding files to SkyDrive Sharing files using SkyDrive Configuring SkyDrive

Wrap-Up

Part IV: Pictures, Music, and Movies

Chapter 17: Working with Pictures

Getting Pictures into Your Computer

Getting pictures from a digital camera Getting pictures from a memory card Getting pictures from a CD or DVD Getting pictures from a scanner Using pictures you get by e-mail Copying pictures from websites Copy and paste pictures Taking screenshots

Using Your Pictures Folder

Pictures folder quick tips Why some pictures show icons Videos in your Pictures folder Renaming pictures and videos

Using Photo Gallery

Choosing what to view and how Photo Gallery quick tips Selecting thumbnails in the Gallery Dating, rating, tagging, and captioning Filtering pictures Changing tags Use a picture as your desktop background Adding pictures to Photo Gallery Use your Photo Gallery as a screen saver Fixing photos Using people tags Choosing Photo Gallery options Making movies from Photo Gallery

Printing Pictures

Printing from Photo Gallery Printing pictures from a folder

Pixels and Megapixels

File extension, size, and dimensions Changing a picture type or size

Pictures, Tags, and Virtual Folders Wrap-Up

Chapter 18: Making Music with Media Player

Controlling Sound Volume Starting Windows Media Player

Media Player program window The toolbar Media Player menus Play controls Closing/minimizing Windows Media Player

Listening to a CD Now Playing, Visualizations, and Enhancements

Using the playlist in Now Playing view Using Enhancements Stopping a CD Play CDs automatically with Media Player

Ripping (Copying) Music CDs

Options for ripping CDs Copying songs

Getting Music Online Using the Media Player Library

Navigating the library Choosing columns for Media Library Getting missing media information automatically Choosing what files to include in your library Sharing (streaming) your media library Automatically renaming songs Selecting in Media Library Changing a song title Changing genre, artist, and so on Changing incorrect media information Rating songs

Making Custom Playlists

Managing songs in a playlist Saving a playlist Viewing, playing, and changing playlists Using and creating Auto Playlists

Creating Your Own Music CDs

Types of music CDs Choosing music disk options Choosing songs to put on the CD Creating the disk Saving a Burn list

Copying Music to Portable Devices

Manual syncing Managing songs on a device Auto syncing devices Choosing between manual and auto sync Setting player options

Fun with Skins Extending Media Player with Plug-ins Converting File Types Music, Metadata, and Searches Wrap-Up

Chapter 19: Working with Videos and Photos

Watching Video Files

Using your Videos library Recorded TV Playing videos using the Video App Playing videos using Media Player Adding videos to your Media Library Playing videos from your library

Managing Photos with Media Player More on Playlists

Limiting playlist size Limiting playlists to favorite items Skipping playlist items

Wrap-Up

Part V: Managing Your Content

Chapter 20: Understanding Drives, Folders, and Files

Understanding Disks and Drives

Your computer's hard disk Removable media Viewing your computer's drives Sizes and capacities How much room is there?

About Folders

Viewing the contents of a folder Folders within folders (subfolders) Parent folders

About Files

Opening and closing files File paths

Using File Explorer

Opening File Explorer File Explorer components Show or hide ribbon bar Navigating with the Address bar Navigating with the Navigation pane Navigating from the contents pane Navigating to a disk drive Choosing an icon view Using columns in the Details view Sorting icons Filtering a folder Using the Preview pane Using the Details pane

To Click or Double-Click?

Personalizing folder behavior Options on the View tab

Saving Things in Folders

What folder should I use? How to save in folders Opening the saved file

Creating Your Own Folders

Creating folders on the fly while saving Personalizing your folder

Wrap-Up

Chapter 21: Managing Files and Folders

Selecting Icons

Selecting one icon Selecting all icons Selecting a range of icons Selecting and unselecting one at a time Selecting with a touchscreen Selecting with the keyboard Selecting by filtering Selecting by lassoing Selecting most icons in a folder Selecting from multiple folders Unselecting all icons

Moving and Copying Files

Moving files to a subfolder Copying to/from external disks Moving and copying by dragging Moving or copying by using two open folders Using cut-and-paste to move or copy files Making a copy in the same folder Undoing a move or copy This location already contains …

Renaming Files

Undoing a rename Renaming multiple files

Deleting Files Using the Recycle Bin

Recovering accidentally deleted files Permanently deleting Recycle Bin files

Creating and Deleting Shortcuts Managing Files with DOS Commands

Getting to a command prompt Using the command prompt Copy and paste in the Command Prompt window Navigating from the command prompt Using wildcards Printing a list of filenames

Wrap-Up

Chapter 22: Searching for Files and Messages on Your Computer

Basics of Searching

You're not asking it questions Be specific Spelling counts Where you start the search matters

How Searching Works Quick Charms Bar Searches

Customizing Windows Search Extending a Start menu search

Searching Folders and Views

Specifying search criteria Search by filename or subject Search by kind Search by tags, authors, title, and others Saving a search Using saved searches

Wrap-Up

Chapter 23: Metadata and Power Searches

Working with File Properties

Viewing properties sheets Viewing properties in columns Editing properties

Setting Properties When You Save Personalizing Searches Managing the Search Index

Adding indexed locations Remove a location from the index Choosing file types to index More advanced options

Power Searches

Searching specific properties Greater than and less than AND, OR, and NOT searches Date and number searches

Wrap-Up

Chapter 24: Protecting Your Files

Simple File Backups Using File History Starting File History Backing up to a network location Excluding folders during backups Setting the File History advanced option Restoring files from a backup Using System Protection

Turning System Protection on or off Creating a restore point Returning to a previous restore point Undoing a System Restore

Using BitLocker Drive Encryption

BitLocker hardware requirements Encrypting the volume When the computer won't start Turning off BitLocker More info on BitLocker

Performing a System Backup Wrap-Up

Part VI: Printing and Managing Printers

Chapter 25: Installing and Managing Printers

Printer Properties Versus Printing Properties Add a Printer with the Devices Tool Opening the Devices and Printers Folder

Setting the default printer Testing a printer

Installing a New Printer

Installing printers with USB and infrared connections Installing printers with parallel and serial port connections Installing a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer

Managing Printer Drivers Setting Default Printing Preferences

Portrait versus landscape printing Printing on both sides Making pages print in the correct order Saving time and money

Setting Printer Properties

Configuring shared printers Configuring printer ports Setting up printer pooling Configuring printer availability Setting other advanced options

Wrap-Up

Chapter 26: Managing Print Jobs

How Printing Works Managing Print Jobs

Managing a single document Managing several documents Managing all documents Changing the print queue order

Solving Common Printer Problems Printing Offline Creating XPS Documents Printing from Windows 8.1 Apps Wrap-Up

Part VII: Installing and Removing Programs

Chapter 27: Adding and Managing Windows 8.1 Applications

Using the Windows Store

Reviewing Windows 8.1 apps Navigating the Windows Store Windows Store categories Costs of apps Searching for apps Installing Windows 8.1 apps

Updating Apps Removing Apps Wrap-Up

Chapter 28: Installing and Upgrading Legacy Programs

Playing It Safe with Program Installations Updates Versus Upgrades Installing and Upgrading from a Disk Common Installation Prompts

The initial CD or DVD prompt Entering an administrator password The product key or serial number Compliance check User information prompt

The End User License Agreement

Type of installation Installation summary Setup completed Using the installed program

Wrap-Up

Chapter 29: Getting Older Programs to Run

Understanding Program Types

DOS programs Old programs to avoid altogether

Installing Incompatible Programs Using the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter Quick-and-Dirty Program Compatibility Using DOS Commands in Windows 8.1 Wrap-Up

Chapter 30: Repairing and Removing Programs

Changing and Repairing Programs Uninstalling Programs Unpinning from the Start screen Dealing with stuck programs Turning Windows Features On and Off Wrap-Up

Chapter 31: Setting Default Programs

Setting Default Programs for Files Using the Default Programs Page

Setting your default programs Associating a file type or protocol with a specific program Changing AutoPlay settings Setting program access and computer defaults

Wrap-Up

Chapter 32: Managing Programs and Processes

Getting to Know Task Manager

Viewing more and less detail Choosing Task Manager views

Not Responding? Task Manager to the Rescue

Closing frozen programs Switching and starting tasks Restarting a hung computer

Monitoring Performance with Task Manager Managing Processes with Task Manager

Showing other columns Common processes Choosing columns on the Details tab App History tab Startup tab Users tab Services tab

Wrap-Up

Chapter 33: Troubleshooting Software Problems

Troubleshooting Installations Troubleshooting Programs Researching Application Errors Editing the Registry

How Registry data is organized Backing up the Registry Making the Registry change

Troubleshooting Tips Wrap Up

Part VIII: Hardware and Performance Tuning

Chapter 34: Installing and Removing Hardware

Hardware, Firmware, and Software Demystified A Few Words About Device Drivers Using Hot-Pluggable Devices

Connecting USB devices Connecting IEEE 1394 devices PC cards Using memory cards Memory cards and USB mass storage Disconnecting hot-pluggable devices

Not-So-Hot-Pluggable Devices

Installing expansion cards Installing more memory (RAM) Installing a second hard drive Primary and extended partitions Partitioning and formatting the disk Other hard drive operations The exFAT file system

Removing Hardware Updating Drivers Dealing with Devices That Prevent Windows 8.1 from Starting Wrap-Up

Chapter 35: Using Wireless Bluetooth Devices

The World of Bluetooth Configuring Your Bluetooth Adapter Adding Bluetooth-Enabled Devices

Connecting a smartphone Creating a Bluetooth personal area network

Wrap-Up

Chapter 36: Performance-Tuning Your System

Getting to Know Your System

Knowing your CPU and RAM Getting more detailed information about your PC

Maximizing CPU and Memory Resources

Conserving memory Managing virtual memory Priorities, foreground, and background Controlling CPU priorities

Monitoring and Adjusting Performance

Performance Monitor Reliability Monitor Using Windows ReadyBoost

Trading pretty for performance Maintaining Your Hard Drive

Recovering wasted hard drive space Deleting system restore files and unwanted features Defragmenting and optimizing your hard drive

The Power Settings

Create a power plan System settings

Wrap-Up

Chapter 37: Troubleshooting Hardware and Performance

First Aid for Troubleshooting Hardware Dealing with Error Messages Performing a Clean Boot Using the System Recovery Options Troubleshooting Performance Problems Wrap-Up

Part IX: Networking and Sharing

Chapter 38: Creating a Home Network

What Is a LAN? Planning a LAN Creating a Wired LAN

Traditional Ethernet speeds The slowest component rules

Creating a Wireless Network

Wireless broadband router Other useful wireless goodies

Acquiring and Installing Network Hardware After the Hardware Setup Setting Up a Wired Network Setting Up a Wireless Network

The 802.11 standard Access point, SSID, WEP, and WPA Installing the wireless networking hardware Connecting to available networks The Notification icon

Wrap-Up

Chapter 39: Sharing Resources on a Network

Some Networking Buzzwords Methods for Sharing in Windows 8.1

Homegroups Workgroup Domain How to choose

Turn on Sharing and Discovery Windows 8.1 Homegroups

Finding or changing the homegroup password Joining a homegroup Sharing items with the homegroup Excluding items from sharing Sharing with individual users

Using Public Folders Advanced Sharing Identifying Shared Folders Sharing a Printer Wrap-Up

Chapter 40: Using Shared Resources

UNC Paths Accessing Remote Resources Opening Remote Documents

Opening a read-only copy Creating network locations

Saving to a Remote Computer Downloading Programs to a Network Share Transferring Files Between Computers Mapping Drive Letters to Shared Folders Using a Shared Printer Using Shared Media Wrap-Up

Part X: Appendixes

APPENDIX A: Upgrading to Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 System Requirements Pre-Installation Housekeeping Installing Windows 8.1

Installation options Reenabling old startup programs

APPENDIX B: Installing Windows 8.1 on a New System

Gearing Up for a Clean Install

Back up all your data Make sure that you can boot from your DVD Installing a new C: drive

Doing the Clean Install The Rest of the Installation

APPENDIX C: Universal Shortcut Keys APPENDIX D: Windows 8.1 Touch Gestures

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