My Windows 8.1

After writing about technology for more than 25 years, Katherine Murray believes there’s never been a better time to be a tech enthusiast. She has seen personal computing change from big, slow, cryptic desktop-hogging machines to small, sleek smart devices we can tap our way through easily. She has worked with every version of Microsoft Windows there’s been, loving some versions (such as Windows 7) and loathing others (remember Windows Vista?). But now with Windows 8.1, she feels Microsoft is in sync with the times, offering a fast, fluid, and secure option for connecting with others, enjoying media, saving to the cloud, and integrating our work across multiple devices. She started writing about technology 25 years ago and still enjoys it, specializing in Microsoft technologies and the fascinating ways in which we stay in touch with each other. In addition to writing books, she writes regularly for Windows Secrets magazine.

Introduction

Chapter 1 First Look at Windows 8.1

Introducing Windows 8.1

A First Look!

Touring the Start Screen

Using Touch in Windows 8.1

Using Single Tap

Swiping Left

Swiping Right

Swiping Up and Down

Using Pinch Zoom

Getting Around with the Mouse and Keyboard

Using the Mouse

Hands-Free Mode

Using the (Real) Keyboard

Using a Touch Keyboard

Choosing a Keyboard

Finding the Help You Need

Using Windows 8.1 Help + Tips

Get Help + Tips

Displaying Windows Help and Support

Printing Help

Shutting Down or Putting Windows 8.1 to Sleep

Goodnight, Windows 8.1

Shutting Down Windows 8

Chapter 2 Preparing Your PC and Setting Up Devices

Adding Devices in Windows 8.1

Viewing Installed Devices

Connecting a Device

Removing a Device

Troubleshooting Hardware Devices

Connecting to Wireless Networks

Connecting to an Available Network

Managing Your PC Power

Choosing a Power Management Plan

Changing Power Settings

Transferring Files

Using Windows Easy Transfer

Recovering Your Windows 8.1

Refreshing Your PC

Chapter 3 Using and Tweaking the Start Screen

Beginning with the Start Screen

Viewing All Your Apps at Once

Reordering Apps in Apps View

Tweaking the Start Screen

Showing More Tiles

Checking Out the Charms

Displaying the Charms Bar

Choosing Your Charm

Changing the Way Tiles Look and Behave

Making Big Tiles Small (and Vice Versa)

Turning Off Live Updates

Choosing New App Tile Sizes

Getting a Rest from Notifications

Hiding Personal Information on Your Tiles

Moving, Grouping, and Removing Apps

Moving Apps on the Start Screen

Creating an App Group

Naming App Groups

Removing an App from the Start Screen

Searching in Windows 8.1

Finding Something Fast

Searching and Finding with Bing

Searching Within an App

Chapter 4 Working with the Desktop

Moving Between the Desktop and the Start Screen

Displaying the Windows 8.1 Desktop

Using the Windows 8.1 Start Button

Launching to the Windows 8.1 Desktop

Launching Windows 8.1 to the Desktop

Getting Ready to Work with Programs

Adding Shortcuts

Launching File Explorer

Tailoring the Taskbar

Adding Apps to the Taskbar on the Desktop

Pinning Apps from the Start Screen

Using Jump Lists

Working with Windows on the Windows Desktop

Window Basics

Moving a Window

Resizing a Window

Arranging Windows

Chapter 5 Making It Your Windows 8.1

Personalizing Your Lock Screen

Choosing a New Lock Screen Picture

Adding a New Lock Screen Picture On-the-Fly

Creating a Slide Show for the Lock Screen

Changing Your Account Picture

Adding Lock Screen Apps

Adjusting the Look of Windows 8.1

Tweaking Start

Contrast Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Magnifying Your Display

Changing the Time

Changing Your Windows 8.1 Desktop

Selecting a New Desktop Background

Chapter 6 Securing Your Computer

Customizing Your Login

Changing a Password

Creating a Picture Password

Creating a PIN Logon

Working with the Action Center

Reviewing Your System Status

Changing Action Center Alerts

Deciding What to Do with Unrecognized Apps

Using Windows Defender

Scanning Your PC with Windows Defender

Turning on Your Windows Firewall

Activating the Firewall

Changing Firewall Settings

Working with User Accounts

Add a User

Changing User Account Settings

Switching Users

Maintaining Your Privacy

Setting Location Privacy

Chapter 7 Diving In with Apps

Getting Started with Apps  

Checking Out Your Apps  

Pinning Apps to the Start Menu  

Finding and Starting Apps  

Finding an App  

Locating an App  

Launching an App from the Start Screen  

Launching an App on the Desktop  

Working with Apps  

Exploring a Program “Window”  

Checking Out a Windows 8.1 App  

Moving Among Open Apps  

Closing Apps  

Closing Selected Apps  

Using the Task Manager  

Getting Apps from the Revamped Windows Store  

Introducing the Windows Store  

Searching for an App  

Installing an App  

Managing Your Apps  

Starting and Stopping an App from the Desktop  

Starting a Program from the Desktop  

Exiting the Program  

Repairing and Uninstalling Programs  

Repairing Installations  

Uninstalling Programs  

Uninstalling Apps  

Chapter 8 Organizing Files with File Explorer

Getting Started with File Explorer  

Starting File Explorer  

Touring the File Explorer Screen  

Checking Out This PC  

Using the Ribbon  

Learning the Ribbon Layout  

Showing and Hiding the File Explorer Ribbon  

Managing Your Files and Folders  

Finding Files and Folders  

Selecting Files and Folders  

Viewing File Information  

Tagging Files

Arranging Folder Display  

Copying, Moving, and Sharing Files and Folders  

Copying Files  

Solving Copy Conflicts  

Sharing Files  

Compressing and Extracting Your Files  

Chapter 9 Browsing with Internet Explorer 11

What’s New in IE 11?  

Introducing Internet Explorer 11  

Starting Internet Explorer  

A Look Around the Internet Explorer Window(s)  

Browsing and Searching the Web  

Using the Address Bar

Navigating the Web  

Saving Your Favorites  

Adding a Favorite  

Using Navigation Tiles  

Searching for Information  

Searching in IE 11 from the Start Screen  

Searching in IE 11 Desktop  

Selecting Your Home Page  

Working with Tabs  

Using Tabs in IE 11  

Displaying Tabs Side by Side  

Opening a New Tab in Desktop IE 11  

Securing Your Browsing Experience  

Deleting Cookies  

Chapter 10 Connect and Communicate with Windows 8.1

Calling and Messaging with Skype  

Launching Skype  

Adding Skype Contacts  

Making a Call with Skype  

Answering a Call with Skype  

Sending Messages  

Getting Social with the People App  

Getting Started with the People App  

Connecting Your Social Media Accounts  

Viewing Status Updates  

Adding a New Contact  

Searching for a Contact  

Staying in Touch Through Email  

Adding an Email Account  

Checking Out the Mail Window  

Composing an Email Message

Organizing Your Email  

Keeping Your Dates Straight with the Calendar App  

Checking Today’s Appointments  

Adding a New Appointment  

Chapter 11 Media and More

Organizing and Editing Your Photos  

Launching the Photos App  

Viewing Your Photos  

Adding a Photo Folder  

Organizing Photos  

Editing Photos  

Setting Photo Options  

Displaying a Slideshow  

Your Music, Your Way  

Getting Started with the Music App  

Playing Your Own Music  

Finding Music You Like  

Creating a Radio Station  

Finding and Watching Your Favorite Shows  

Exploring Video  

Don’t Forget Your Favorite Shows  

Playing Games with Windows 8.1

Finding and Playing Your Favorite Games

Buying a Game  

Chapter 12 Working in the Cloud

Working with SkyDrive  

Launching SkyDrive  

Accessing Files in the Cloud  

Saving Files to SkyDrive  

Managing Files in SkyDrive  

Getting Started with a HomeGroup  

Setting Up a HomeGroup  

Joining a HomeGroup  

Using Your HomeGroup  

Viewing Your HomeGroup  

Accessing Files on Shared Computers  

Chapter 13 Feeding and Troubleshooting Your PC

Getting Windows Updates  

Turning On Automatic Updates  

Choosing a Time for Automatic Updates  

Checking for Updates Manually  

Backing Up and Restoring Your Files  

Backing Up Your Files  

Restoring Files  

Optimizing Your Computer  

Optimizing Your Hard Disk  

Checking Windows Compatibility  

Using the Windows Compatibility Center  

Appendix Windows 8.1 App Gallery

Exploring Your Apps  

Checking Out the Bing Apps  

Finance App  

Weather App  

Maps App  

News App  

Sports App  

Travel App  

The Windows Store Revisited  

Using App Categories  

Browsing Apps  

Getting App Info  

Reading App Reviews  

Installing Apps  

Viewing Your Apps  

Adding Your Own Review

Purchasing an App  

 

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