Windows 8.1 on Demand

Steve Johnson has written more than 90 books on a variety of computer software, including Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe InDesign CC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Dreamweaver CS6, Adobe Edge Animate, Adobe Flash Professional CS5, Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Office 2013 and 2010, Microsoft SharePoint 2013, Microsoft Office 2008 for the Macintosh, and Apple OS X Mavericks. In 1991, after working for Apple Computer and Microsoft, Steve founded Perspection, Inc., which writes and produces software training. When he is not staying up late writing, he enjoys coaching baseball, playing golf, gardening, and spending time with his wife, Holly, and three children, JP, Brett, and Hannah. Steve and his family live in Northern California, but can also be found visiting family all over the western United States.

Introduction xvii

1  Getting Started with Windows 8.1 1

Introducing Windows 8.1 2  New!

Starting Windows 8.1 3

Using the Mouse or Gestures 4

Exploring the Start Screen 6  New!

Using the Start Bar 8  New!

Using the Charms Bar 9

Exploring the Windows Desktop 10  New!

Using the Desktop Taskbar 12  New!

Managing Desktop Windows 14

Using Tabs, Menus, and Toolbars 16

Choosing Dialog Box Options 17

Using Windows Help and Support 18

Switching Users 20  New!

Powering Down 22  New!

2  Working with Windows Metro Apps 23

Displaying All Your Apps 24  New!

Searching for Apps 26  New!

Using Different Apps 28  New!

Starting and Closing Apps 29  New!

Using the App Bar 30  New!

Changing Apps Settings 31

Working with Multiple Apps 32

Working with Apps Side by Side 33  New!

Sharing Between Apps 34

Installing Apps from the Store 36  New!

Updating Apps 38

Uninstalling Apps 39

Customizing Apps on the Start Screen 40  New!

Grouping Apps on the Start Screen 42  New!

Setting Notification Options for Apps 44  New!

Setting Search Options for Apps 45  New!

Setting Privacy Options for Apps 46  New!

3  Managing Files and Folders in the Desktop 47

Using the Explorer Window 48  New!

Changing the Explorer Window View 49

Using the Ribbon 50

Choosing Commands 51

Opening and Viewing This PC 52  New!

Viewing and Opening Documents 54

Working with Libraries 56  New!

Working with Personal Folders    58  New!

Navigating Between Folders 59

Viewing the Folders List 60  New!

Changing the Explorer Layout 61  New!

Customizing the Navigation Pane 62

Organizing Files by Headings 63

Sorting and Grouping Files 64

Searching for Files and Folders 66

Saving a Search 68

Changing Search Options 69

Modifying the Index to Improve Searches 70

Adding Properties and Tags to Files 72

Creating and Renaming Files and Folders 74

Copying and Moving Files and Folders 76

Deleting and Restoring Files and Folders 78

Changing File and Folder List Views 80

Hiding Files and Folders 81

Changing Folder Options 82

Customizing Library Folders 84

Customizing Personal Folders 85

Sharing Folders or Files with Others 86  New!

Compressing Files and Folders 88

Managing Files Using a CD or DVD 90

Creating a Shortcut to a File or Folder 92

4  Exploring the Internet 93

Starting the Internet Explorer App 94  New!

Viewing the Internet Explorer App Window 95

Navigating the Web with the IE App 96  New!

Navigating Using Tabs with the IE App 98  New!

Searching the Web with the IE App & Bing 100  New!

Changing IE App Settings 102  New!

Starting Internet Explorer from the Desktop 103

Viewing the Internet Explorer Window 104

Changing Your Home Page 105

Browsing the Web 106

Browsing with Tabs 108

Navigating Basics 110

Browsing Privately 111

Using Compatibility View 112

Zooming the View In and Out 113

Using and Managing Accelerators 114

Getting Suggestions for Web Sites 115

Adding a Web Page to the Favorites List 116

Viewing and Maintaining a History List 118

Reading and Subscribing to Feeds 120

Searching the Web 122

Previewing and Printing a Web Page 124

Saving Pictures or Text from a Web Page 126

Saving a Web Page 128

Sending a Page or Link by E-mail 129

Downloading Files from the Web 130

Connecting to the Internet 132

Creating an Internet Connection 133

Setting Up Windows Firewall 134

5  Working with Contacts and Calendars 135

Starting the People App 136  New!

Viewing the People App Window 137

Adding Contacts from Online Accounts 138  New!

Viewing Contacts 140  New!

Sorting or Filtering Contacts 142

Creating Favorite Contacts 143  New!

Adding or Editing Contacts 144

Deleting Contacts 146  New!

Linking Contacts 147

Starting the Calendar App    148

Changing the Calendar View 149  New!

Scheduling Events 150

Scheduling Recurring Events 152

Scheduling Events with a Reminder 153

Editing or Deleting Events 154

Changing Calendar Options 156  New!

6  Exchanging Mail 157

Starting the Mail App 158

Getting Around the Mail Window 159  New!

Adding Mail Accounts 160

Modifying Account Settings 162  New!

Composing and Sending Email 164  New!

Formatting Email Messages 166  New!

Creating Email Signatures 167

Reading and Replying to Email 168  New!

Sending and Retrieving a File 170  New!

Managing Email 172  New!

Removing Unwanted Email 174  New!

Searching for Email 175

Using Windows Live Essentials 176

7  Exchanging Calls and Instant Messages 177

Starting the Skype App 178  New!

Viewing the Skype App Window 179  New!

Modifying Skype Profile Settings 180  New!

Changing Skype Options 182  New!

Adding Skype Contacts 184  New!

Making Phone Calls 186  New!

Sending and Receiving Instant Messages 188  New!

Working with Contacts 190  New!

8  Working with Photos and Pictures 191

Starting and Viewing the Photos App 192

Navigating in the Photos App 193  New!

Importing Photos 194

Deleting Photos 195

Editing Photos 196  New!

Displaying a Slide Show 198

Setting a Photo as the Lock or Start Screen Tile 199

Drawing a Picture 200

Editing a Picture 202

Viewing Pictures 204

Formatting and Printing Photos 206

Ordering Photo Prints from the Web 207

Emailing a Picture 208

Installing a Digital Camera or Scanner 209  New!

Downloading Digital Camera Pictures 210

Using Pictures as a Screen Saver 212

Using a Picture as a Desktop Background 213

Understanding Picture File Formats 214

9  Working with Windows Media 215

Starting and Updating Windows Media Player 216

Viewing the Media Player Window 217

Playing Music from CDs 218

Playing a DVD or VCD Movie 219

Controlling the Volume 220

Playing Media Files 222

Playing Media Using a Playlist 224

Ripping CD Music 226

Copying Media Files to a CD or Portable Device 228

Streaming Media 230

Enhancing the Media Player Display 232

Viewing and Playing Music Files 233

Recording a Sound File 234

Associating a Sound with an Event 236

Starting and Navigating Windows Media Center    237

Changing Windows Media Center Settings 238

10  Working with Online Media 239

Getting News Information 240  New!

Getting Financial Updates 242  New!

Getting Travel Information 243

Getting the Latest Sports News 244  New!

Getting the Latest Weather 246  New!

Getting Food & Drink Information 248  New!

Getting Health & Fitness Information 249  New!

Viewing Maps and Directions 250  New!

Creating Reading Lists 252  New!

Reading Documents 253

Managing Files with SkyDrive 254

Sharing Files with SkyDrive 256  New!

Changing SkyDrive Settings 258  New!

Setting Alarms 259  New!

Capturing a Photo or Video 260

Watching Videos 262

Playing Games 263

Listening to Music 264  New!

Using Devices with Apps 266

11  Working with Windows Accessories 267

Starting and Exiting for Windows Accessories 268  New!

Changing the Way Programs Start 270

Using Windows Accessories 271

Creating a Document 272

Editing Text 274

Formatting Text 276

Setting Paragraph Tabs 277

Setting Paragraph Indents 278

Previewing and Printing a Document 279

Saving and Closing a Document 280

Inserting Special Characters 281

Inserting and Editing Information 282

Linking and Updating Information 284

Calculating Numbers 286  New!

Running Commands 288

Snipping the Screen 290

Recording Steps 291

Creating Sticky Notes 292

Handwriting Journal Entries 293

Using the Math Input Panel 294

Running Older Programs 295

Quitting a Program Not Responding 296

12  Customizing Windows 297

Viewing Windows Settings 298  New!

Personalizing the Lock Screen 299  New!

Personalizing the Start Screen 300  New!

Syncing Options on Other Devices 301  New!

Changing General Settings 302  New!

Viewing the Control Panel 304

Changing the Desktop Background 305

Changing the Desktop Appearance 306  New!

Starting with the Desktop 307  New!

Customizing the Desktop 308

Using a Screen Saver 310

Changing the Text Size on the Screen 311  New!

Changing the Screen Display 312

Setting the Date and Time 314

Changing Language Options 316

Changing Regional Options 318

Working with Fonts 319

Displaying and Arranging Toolbars 320

Customizing the Taskbar    322

Setting Default Programs 324

Changing the Way a Disc or Device Starts 326  New!

Using Ease of Access Tools 327

Using the Ease of Access Center 328

Listening to Your System 330

Recognizing Your Speech 332

Setting Ease of Access Options 334  New!

13  Setting Up User Accounts and Maintaining Security 335

Exploring Windows Security 336  New!

Changing User Account Settings 338  New!

Adding User Accounts 340  New!

Deleting User Accounts 342

Creating a Guest Account 344

Changing a User Account Type 345

Changing the Start Up Screen 346

Changing an Account Picture 347  New!

Changing a Password 348

Resetting a Password 350

Locking the Screen 351  New!

Managing Security in One Place 352

Defending Against Malicious Software 354

Setting Family Safety Controls 356  New!

Encrypting Files for Safety 358

Encrypting Files Using BitLocker 359

Avoiding Viruses and Other Harmful Attacks 360

Understanding Security on the Internet 362

Creating Security Zones 364

Cleaning Up Internet Files and Information 366

Protecting Internet Privacy 367

Protecting an Internet Identity 368

Blocking Pop-Up Ads 369

Protecting Against Phishing 370  New!

Blocking Content with Tracking Protection 372

Managing Add-Ons 373

Protecting Privacy with IE App 374  New!

14  Managing Files Using a Network 375

Understanding Network Services 376

Viewing a Network 378

Viewing the Network and Sharing Center 380

Viewing Network Connections 381

Viewing Network Properties 382

Viewing Network Connection Properties 383

Joining a Workgroup Network 384

Joining a Domain Network 386

Connecting to a Network Using a Modem 388

Connecting to a Network over the Internet 390  New!

Connecting to a Wireless Network 392

Setting Up a Wireless Network 394

Disabling or Enabling a Wireless Network 395

Managing a Wireless Connection 396  New!

Disconnecting a Network 398

Mapping and Disconnecting a Network Drive 399

Creating a Shortcut to a Network 400

Sharing an Internet Connection 402

Setting Network Sharing Options 403

Setting Homegroup Sharing Options 404

Sharing with a Homegroup 406

Keeping Files in Sync 408

Working with Offline Files 410

Controlling a Remote Desktop 412

Syncing Files at a Workplace Network 414  New!

Connecting Devices to a Workplace Network 416  New!

15  Printing, Faxing, and Scanning 417

Understanding Printers 418  New!

Viewing Printers 419

Installing a Printer 420  New!

Specifying a Default Printer 422

Renaming or Deleting a Printer 423

Printing Documents 424  New!

Managing Printers and Print Jobs 426

Changing Printer Properties 428

Changing Printer Preferences 429

Sharing a Printer 430

Creating an XPS Document 431

Understanding Faxes 432

Setting Up a Fax 433

Creating a Fax Cover Page 434

Sending a Fax 436

Managing Outgoing Faxes 438

Receiving a Fax 439

Reviewing a Fax 440

Changing Fax Properties 441

Scanning a Document 442  New!

16  Maintaining Your Computer 443

Understanding Disk File Systems 444

Formatting a Disk 446

Displaying Disk and Folder Information 448

Setting Disk Quotas for Users 449

Detecting and Repairing Disk Errors 450

Encrypting a Disk 451

Optimizing a Disk 452

Cleaning Up a Disk 453

Boosting Speed with a Removable Disk 454

Adding or Removing Windows Components 455

Installing and Uninstalling a Program 456

Updating Windows 458  New!

Updating and Refreshing Windows 460  New!

Keeping a File History 462  New!

Restoring a File History 464

Creating a System Image 465

Restoring System Settings 466

Creating a System Recovery Drive 468

Setting Startup and Recovery Options 469

Starting Windows When Problems Occur 470

17  Managing Hardware 471

Understanding Plug and Play Hardware 472

Viewing Hardware Devices 474

Installing Hardware Devices 476

Viewing System Hardware Settings 477

Changing Windows Update Driver Settings 478

Changing Keyboard Settings 479

Changing Mouse Settings 480  New!

Changing Phone and Modem Options 482

Managing Storage Spaces 483

Managing Color 484

Using the Windows Mobility Center 485

Adding a Secondary Monitor 486

Controlling Power Options 488

Removing Hardware Devices 490

Removing Plug and Play Hardware 491

Troubleshooting Problems 492

18  Administering Your Computer 493

Exploring Windows Administrative Tools 494  New!

Scheduling Tasks 496

Monitoring Activity with Event Viewer 497

Managing an Event Log 498

Managing All Printers 500

Checking Memory for Problems 501

Viewing and Creating Performance Charts 502

Monitoring Local Security Settings 504

Viewing Computer Management Tools 506

Managing Disks 507

Managing Local Users and Groups 508

Viewing and Saving System Information 509

Setting System Configuration Options 510

A  Appendix: Installing Windows 8.1 511

Preparing to Install Windows 8.1 512  New!

Installing Windows 8.1 514  New!

Updating Windows 8.1 516  New!

Reinstalling Windows 8.1 518

Using Windows To Go 519

Transferring Files and Settings from Another PC 520

Getting Help+Tips for Windows 8.1 522  New!

New Features 523  New!

Index 529