Windows 8.1

Book description

The smart way to learn Windows 8.1—one step at a time!

Experience learning made easy—and quickly teach yourself how to navigate and use Windows 8.1. With Step by Step, you set the pace—building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them!

  • Navigate with ease using the new Start screen

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

  • Store, access, and manage data in the cloud with SkyDrive

  • Explore improvements in Internet Explorer 11

  • Stay in touch using Mail, Calendar, People, and Skype

  • Customize your computing experience with PC settings

  • Table of contents

    1. Windows 8.1
    2. Introduction
      1. Let’s get started
        1. Who this book is for
        2. What this book is about
        3. Acknowledgments
    3. Conventions and features in this book
        1. Downloading and using the practice files
        2. Getting support and giving feedback
        3. Errata
        4. We want to hear from you
        5. Stay in touch
    4. 1. Introducing Windows 8.1
      1. Getting started with Windows 8.1
      2. Setting up Windows 8.1
      3. Identifying your edition of Windows 8.1
        1. Minimum system requirements
        2. Windows RT
      4. Using the lock screen
      5. Exploring the Start screen
      6. Moving around on the Start screen
      7. Moving tiles on the Start screen
      8. Customizing the Start screen with Live tiles
      9. Using charms
      10. Searching for data, apps, files, and settings
      11. Access the traditional desktop
      12. Using the taskbar and Start button
      13. Working with multiple windows and apps
      14. Customizing File Explorer
        1. Dynamic ribbon elements
        2. Changing the width of the ribbon
      15. Exploring PC Settings and Control Panel
      16. Ending a computing session
      17. Key points
    5. 2. Personalize your Windows 8.1 device
      1. Personalizing the Start screen
      2. Personalizing the lock screen
      3. Changing your user account type
      4. Customizing your user account settings
      5. Personalizing the desktop
      6. Changing how the taskbar looks
      7. Booting directly to the desktop or Apps view
      8. Accessing and exploring advanced settings
      9. Switching to a different power plan
      10. Key points
    6. 3. Using apps on the Start screen
      1. Using the Photos app
        1. Viewing and managing picture files and folders
        2. Importing photos by using the Photos app
        3. Editing photos by using the Photos app
      2. Using the Music app
      3. Using the Video app
      4. Using the Maps app
      5. Exploring the other apps
      6. Managing apps for the long term
      7. Exploring accessories and tools
      8. Key points
    7. 4. Organizing files and folders
      1. Understanding the Windows 8.1 file system
      2. Explaining the most common file types
      3. Acquiring and saving files effectively
      4. Copy photos from an external drive
      5. Navigating the File Explorer ribbon interface
      6. Organizing files and folders
      7. Renaming files
      8. Sharing files by using the Share tab
      9. Customizing File Explorer by using the View tab
      10. Searching in File Explorer
      11. Working with deleted files and the Recycle Bin
      12. Key points
    8. 5. Using Internet Explorer 11
      1. What is new about Internet Explorer 11
      2. Starting Internet Explorer 11
      3. Using the Internet Explorer app
      4. Using the Internet Explorer desktop app
      5. Adding favorites in Internet Explorer
      6. Pinning websites to the Start screen
      7. Browsing the web by using the InPrivate mode
      8. Downloading files from the Internet and managing them
      9. Understanding the SmartScreen filter in Internet Explorer
      10. Setting the default Internet Explorer version
      11. Key points
    9. 6. Using SkyDrive
      1. Using SkyDrive
      2. Browsing SkyDrive from the SkyDrive app
      3. Uploading a file by using the SkyDrive app
      4. Downloading a file by using the SkyDrive app
      5. Accessing SkyDrive from a web browser
      6. Accessing SkyDrive from File Explorer
      7. Sharing a SkyDrive folder
      8. Accessing SkyDrive’s settings
      9. Synchronizing your Windows settings
      10. Key points
    10. 7. Using the social apps
      1. Using the Mail app
      2. Adding a Microsoft email account to the Mail app
      3. Sending an email with a SkyDrive attachment
      4. Using the People app
      5. Connecting to your Facebook account by using the People app
      6. Adding a new contact to the People app
      7. Using the Calendar app
      8. Adding an event to your Calendar
      9. Using the Camera app to take pictures or record videos
      10. Using the Skype app
      11. Key points
    11. 8. Shopping in the Windows Store
      1. Exploring the landing page and categories
      2. Searching the Windows Store
      3. Exploring an App’s listing page
      4. Obtaining and installing an app
      5. Using apps
      6. Updating apps
      7. Reacquiring apps
      8. Write a review
      9. Understanding subscriptions and in-app purchases
      10. Key points
    12. 9. Having fun with multimedia
      1. Exploring the Windows Media Player interface
      2. Ripping your CD collection
      3. Creating and burning playlists
      4. Sharing media across a network
      5. Obtaining Windows Media Center
      6. Exploring Windows Media Center features
      7. Key points
    13. 10. Playing games
      1. How to find games in the Windows Store
      2. What’s required for playing games
      3. Using the Games app
      4. Connecting Windows 8.1 to your Xbox
      5. Key points
    14. 11. Connecting to a network and the Internet
      1. Understanding the jargon: router, ISP, network adapter, and other terminology
      2. Using the Networking And Sharing Center
      3. Connecting to a wireless network
      4. Connecting to a hidden wireless network
      5. Compatibility with older routers and networking equipment
      6. Connecting to the Internet through a mobile modem
      7. Managing network connections using PC Settings
      8. Changing the network profile of a network
      9. Key points
    15. 12. Allowing others to use the computer
      1. What is a user account and how many do I need?
      2. Introducing the Microsoft account
      3. Accessing the user accounts settings
      4. Adding a new user account
      5. Adding a local user account
      6. Switching between user accounts
      7. Changing the password for your user account
      8. Creating a picture password for your user account
      9. Creating a PIN for your user account
      10. Changing a user account picture
      11. Changing a user account name
      12. Changing a user account type
      13. Deleting a user account
      14. Key points
    16. 13. Sharing files and folders with my network
      1. Turning on the Sharing Wizard
      2. Understanding the default network sharing settings
      3. Setting up a homegroup
      4. Joining a homegroup
      5. Finding your homegroup password
      6. Changing the password of a homegroup
      7. Accessing homegroup computers and devices
      8. Leaving a homegroup
      9. Using the Sharing Wizard to share with the homegroup
      10. Using the Sharing Wizard to share with specific people
      11. Sharing a printer with computers on your network
      12. Sharing a printer with your homegroup
      13. Key points
    17. 14. Keeping Windows 8.1 safe and secure
      1. Understanding the UAC
      2. Changing the UAC level
      3. Using the Windows Firewall
      4. Turning Windows Firewall off or on
      5. Customizing the list of allowed apps
      6. Adding new apps to the allowed list
      7. Removing apps from the allowed list
      8. Restoring the Windows Firewall default settings
      9. Using Windows Defender
      10. Removing quarantined files
      11. Improving your password habits
      12. Reasons to consider commercial security solutions
      13. Key points
    18. 15. Preventing problems
      1. Keeping your system up to date by using Windows Update
      2. Checking for and installing available updates
      3. Using File History in Windows 8.1
      4. Turning File History on or off
      5. Restoring files by using File History
      6. Using System Restore
      7. Starting System Restore
      8. Restoring to a previous state by using System Restore
      9. Using the Action Center
      10. Configuring the messages Action Center shows
      11. Key points
    19. 16. Supervising a child’s computer use
      1. Turning on Family Safety for your child
      2. Setting time limits and app restrictions
      3. Setting restrictions for games and Windows Store apps
      4. Setting restrictions for websites and downloads
      5. Understanding the messages shown by Family Safety
      6. Managing Family Safety settings and viewing activity reports
      7. Key points
    20. 17. Making my computer accessible
      1. Locating the Ease of Access options
      2. Letting Windows suggest Ease of Access settings
      3. Using the Magnifier
      4. Using Narrator
      5. Using the On-Screen Keyboard
      6. Set up and use Windows Speech Recognition
      7. Log on to Windows 8.1 without a password
      8. Key points
    21. 18. Using Windows 8.1 at work
      1. Using the Windows Mobility Center
      2. Turning on Presentation mode
      3. Using BitLocker to encrypt drives
      4. Encrypting the operating system drive by using BitLocker
      5. Encrypting removable storage devices by using BitLocker
      6. Accessing an encrypted removable storage device
      7. Decrypting a BitLocker-protected drive
      8. Setting up a VPN connection
      9. Other enterprise-friendly features
      10. Key points
    22. 19. Using touch-compatible devices
      1. Setting up touch hardware
      2. Learning general touch gestures
      3. Using multitouch gestures
      4. Changing touch-input settings
      5. Access touch settings from PC Settings
      6. Key points
    23. 20. Tips for improving your computing experience
      1. Adding Shut Down, Restart, Sign Out, and other shortcuts to the Start screen
      2. Adding a Control Panel shortcut to the Start screen
      3. Naming groups of shortcuts on the Start screen
      4. Booting to the desktop in Windows 8.1
      5. Transforming the Start screen into a full screen Start menu
      6. Using the WinX system menu
      7. Running a desktop app as Administrator
      8. Printing documents from Windows Store apps
      9. Turning off notifications for Windows Store apps
      10. Adding or removing Windows features
      11. Six ways to start the Task Manager
      12. Optimizing startup items by using the Task Manager
      13. Adding clocks and time zones to the Windows taskbar
      14. Changing the location of the Downloads folder and other user folders
      15. Burning a disc with File Explorer
      16. Freeing up disk space by using Disk Cleanup
      17. Changing the defaults for apps, file extensions, and AutoPlay dialog boxes
      18. Logging on to Windows automatically, without entering your password each time
      19. Using shortened URLs when you want to share files from SkyDrive
      20. Changing the default SkyDrive folder
      21. Key points
    24. 21. Troubleshooting problems
      1. Apply common solutions
      2. Resolve display problems
      3. Letting Windows fix problems for you
      4. Using the Microsoft Fix It Solution Center
      5. Getting help and support
      6. Asking for Remote Assistance
      7. Exploring advanced troubleshooting tools
      8. Refreshing your PC
      9. Resetting your PC
      10. Key points
    25. A. Using keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures
      1. Learning keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.1
      2. Exploring touch keyboard shortcuts
      3. Using touch gestures in Windows 8.1
      4. Key points
    26. B. Enhancements for using multiple displays
      1. Using Windows 8.1 with a dual-monitor setup
      2. Key points
    27. C. Installing and upgrading to Windows 8.1
      1. Installing Windows 8.1
      2. Dual-booting Windows 8.1 and other Windows versions
      3. Upgrading to Windows 8.1 from earlier versions of Windows
      4. Upgrading to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8 by using the Windows Store
      5. Key points
    28. D. Moving your data and settings to Windows 8.1
      1. Transferring your data to Windows 8.1 by using Windows Easy Transfer
      2. Key points
    29. E. Glossary
    30. F. About the authors
    31. Index
    32. About the Authors
    33. Copyright

    Product information

    • Title: Windows 8.1
    • Author(s): Ciprian Adrian Rusen and Joli Ballew
    • Release date: November 2013
    • Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
    • ISBN: 9780735683273