Windows 8.1 Plain & Simple

Windows 8.1 Plain & Simple

by Joli Ballew and Nancy Muir
Released November 2013
Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
ISBN: 9780735683327

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Book description

Learn the simplest ways to get things done with Windows 8.1

Get the full-color, visual guide that makes learning Windows 8.1 plain and simple! Follow the book’s easy steps and screenshots and clear, concise language to learn the most expedient way to perform tasks and solve problems in Windows 8.1.

Here’s WHAT You’ll Learn:

  • Personalize your Start screen in cool new ways

  • Use apps such as Mail, People, Calendar, Skype, and Paint

  • Surf the web, and send and receive email and messages

  • Explore redesigned apps for Music, Video, and Windows Store

  • Search your files, media, and the web—all at once

  • Access your files from the cloud with Microsoft SkyDrive

    • Here’s HOW You’ll Learn It

  • Jump in wherever you need answers

  • Follow easy steps and screenshots to see exactly what to do

  • Get handy tips for new techniques and shortcuts

  • Use Try This! exercises to apply what you learn right away

    •

    Table of contents

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

    Product information

    • Title: Windows 8.1 Plain & Simple
    • Author(s): Joli Ballew and Nancy Muir
    • Release date: November 2013
    • Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
    • ISBN: 9780735683327