Windows 10 Absolute Beginner's Guide

Alan Wright has worked professionally in and around IT for more than 10 years. He has provided enterprise-level support in the Detroit, Michigan, area and now focuses on developing training materials for computer users while continuing to provide software and hardware support for small business and residential users. He holds several certifications from CompTIA and Microsoft and enjoys working with technology and teaching others how they can make technology work for them as computers and tablets continue to evolve. Alan has been the technical editor on other books from Que Publishing, including Using Windows 8, and co-authored Windows 8.1 Absolute Beginner’s Guide.

Introduction ......................................................................................................................1



What Is an Absolute Beginner? ............................................................................... 3



How This Book Is Organized .................................................................................... 3



Special Bonus Content Online ................................................................................. 4



Conventions Used in This Book ............................................................................... 4



     Selects and Selecting ........................................................................................... 4



     Special Elements .................................................................................................. 5



Let Me Know What You Think ................................................................................. 5












I Getting Started










1 Meet Windows 10 ....................................................................................................7



What’s New in Windows 10 ..................................................................................... 8



Starting Up Windows .............................................................................................10



     Signing In with an Existing Microsoft or Local Account .................................11



     Signing In to a New Windows 10 Device ........................................................15



Introducing the Start Menu ....................................................................................19



     Displaying All Apps ............................................................................................21



     Pinning an Application to the Start Menu .......................................................23



     Seeing Tiles That Are Offscreen .......................................................................23



Using the Getting Started App ..............................................................................24



Exiting Windows ......................................................................................................24



     Signing Out of Windows 10 ..............................................................................25



     Locking Windows 10 ..........................................................................................26



     Putting Windows 10 to Sleep ...........................................................................26



     Shutting Down Your Windows 10 Computer ..................................................27

 



2 Interacting with Windows ....................................................................................29



Getting to Know the Windows 10 Interfaces .......................................................30



     Working with Continuum and Tablet Mode ....................................................30



     Using the Mouse in Windows 10 ......................................................................32



     Using the Keyboard in Windows 10 .................................................................33



     Using Touch in Windows 10..............................................................................35



     Using the Touch Keyboard................................................................................37



Using Controls .........................................................................................................40



     Window ...............................................................................................................40



     Button ..................................................................................................................41

     Text Box ..............................................................................................................42



     Check Box ...........................................................................................................42



     Switch ..................................................................................................................43



     Drop-Down List ...................................................................................................43



     Combo Drop-Down List ....................................................................................44



     Hamburger Menus .............................................................................................44

 



3 Optimizing the Start Menu ..................................................................................47



Organizing All Those Tiles......................................................................................48



     Accessing the Context Menu of a Tile .............................................................48



     Making a Tile Bigger or Smaller .......................................................................49



     Controlling Live Tiles .........................................................................................50



     Moving a Tile ......................................................................................................51



     Show More Tiles .................................................................................................52



Personalizing Tile Groups .......................................................................................53



     Creating a Tile Group ........................................................................................53



     Moving Tile Groups ...........................................................................................55



     Naming a Tile Group .........................................................................................55



Organizing the Navigation Menu of the Start Menu ...........................................56

 



4 Introducing Windows Apps ..................................................................................61



Learning About Windows Apps .............................................................................62



Shopping at the Windows Store ............................................................................66



     Purchasing an App .............................................................................................69



     Managing Your Windows Store Purchases ......................................................71



Uninstalling Apps .....................................................................................................74

 



5 Working with Windows Apps ..............................................................................77



Running Windows Store Apps ...............................................................................78



     Starting a Windows Store App .........................................................................78



     Stopping a Windows 10 App ............................................................................80



     Using Common Windows App Menu Tools ...................................................80



Managing Windows Apps ......................................................................................82



     Choosing Default Apps .....................................................................................83



     Managing Storage Options for Windows Apps ..............................................84

 



6 Finding Your Way Around the Windows Desktop ..........................................89



Introducing the Desktop .........................................................................................90



     Using the Desktop in Desktop Mode ..............................................................91



     Using the Desktop in Tablet Mode .................................................................93



Using Task View .......................................................................................................94

Working with the Taskbar .......................................................................................97



     Using the Action Center ....................................................................................98



     Customizing the Taskbar .................................................................................100



     Working with Applications from the Taskbar ................................................103



Keeping the Desktop Organized .........................................................................105



     Arranging the Desktop ...................................................................................105

 



7 Working with Windows Desktop Applications .............................................. 109



Introducing Desktop Applications .......................................................................110



Working with Desktop Applications ....................................................................111



     Starting Desktop Applications ........................................................................113



     Using Run as Administrator .............................................................................115



     Pinning Desktop Applications to the Taskbar ...............................................116



     Saving Shortcuts for Desktop Applications to the Desktop ........................116



     Exiting Desktop Programs ...............................................................................118



Working with Windows .........................................................................................118



Installing and Removing Programs ......................................................................120



     Installing Programs ...........................................................................................120



     Removing Windows Programs ........................................................................121












II Customizing Your Windows 10 Computer










8 Tweaking Windows to Reflect Your Personality ........................................... 125



Personalize Windows.............................................................................................126



     Personalizing the Desktop Background .........................................................127



     Changing the Color Scheme ...........................................................................130



     Customizing the Lock Screen ..........................................................................131



     Modifying the Theme ......................................................................................139



     Personalizing Your Account Picture ................................................................143



     Syncing Your Account Settings .......................................................................145

 



9 Using Search and Cortana ................................................................................. 149



Using Windows Search .........................................................................................150



     Configuring Search...........................................................................................154



Getting to Know Cortana .....................................................................................156



     Setting Up Cortana ..........................................................................................157



     Using Cortana ...................................................................................................159



     Managing Cortana ...........................................................................................163

 

10 Configuring Input Device Settings .................................................................. 169



The Control Panel or PC Settings? ......................................................................170



Setting Up Your Mouse or Touchpad .................................................................171



     Mouse Settings .................................................................................................171



     Touchpad Settings ...........................................................................................175



Setting Up Your Keyboard ...................................................................................176



     Changing Keyboard Settings ..........................................................................176



     Personalize Language, Keyboard, and Date Formats ..................................178

 



11 Configuring Display and Sound Settings ....................................................... 183



Setting Up Your Display........................................................................................184



     Understanding Resolution ..............................................................................184



     Setting Up Multiple Monitors .........................................................................187



     Make Things Bigger on Your Display .............................................................190



     Adjusting Brightness ........................................................................................192



Setting Up Sound ..................................................................................................195



     Setting Up Your Speakers ...............................................................................195



     Managing Sound for Windows Events ...........................................................197

 



12 Configuring Notifications and Advanced Settings ....................................... 201



Managing Notifications You Receive ..................................................................202



Ease of Access .......................................................................................................207



Managing Power Options .....................................................................................210



     A Simple Approach to Using Power Plans ....................................................210



     Common Options Related to Power ..............................................................212



     The Manual Method to Manage Power Options ..........................................213

 



13 Connecting to Networks and the Internet ..................................................... 215



Reviewing Important Internet Connection Basics ..............................................216



     Learning About Internet Service Providers ....................................................216



     Checking the Hardware Required to Connect ..............................................217



Learning the Internet Connection Services Typically Available .......................217



     Understanding Routers for Internet Connection Sharing ............................220



     Understanding the Network Adapter.............................................................220



Connecting to the Internet ...................................................................................221



     Connecting to a Wireless Network ................................................................222



     Connecting Where Free Wi-Fi Is Advertised .................................................225



     Connecting to Pay-as-You-Go Wi-Fi ..............................................................227



     Connecting to a LAN/Wired Network ...........................................................228



     Connecting After Upgrading to Windows 10 ...............................................229



     Connecting After You Restart Your Device ...................................................229

 



III Being Productive










14 Browsing the Web .............................................................................................. 231



Introducing Microsoft Edge .................................................................................232



     Surfing the Web with Cortana ........................................................................233



     Using Reading View .........................................................................................236



     Making Web Notes ..........................................................................................237



     Using the New Tab ..........................................................................................239



Browsing the Web with Microsoft Edge .............................................................241



     Entering the URL of a Site You Want to Visit ................................................241



     Searching the Web ...........................................................................................242



     Following a Hyperlink ......................................................................................243



     Working with Favorites ...................................................................................244



     Using the Hub Pane .........................................................................................246



     Working with Tabs ...........................................................................................247



Enhancing Your Browsing Experience ................................................................248



     Getting to Know Microsoft Edge Settings ....................................................250



Using Internet Explorer .........................................................................................251



     Creating Shortcuts to Websites ......................................................................252



     Opening All Links in the Desktop Browser....................................................253

 



15 Keeping Up with Your Contacts in the People App .................................... 255



Introducing the People App.................................................................................256



Adding Contacts to the People App ..................................................................258



Managing Your Contacts ......................................................................................261



     Locating Your Contacts ...................................................................................262



     Modifying or Sharing a Contact .....................................................................262



     Filtering Contacts .............................................................................................263

 



16 Setting Up the Mail App .................................................................................. 267



Exploring the Mail App .........................................................................................268



Setting Up Your Email Accounts ..........................................................................269



     Setting Up Your Outlook.com, Google, Yahoo!, iCloud, POP, or IMAP Account ..............271



     Setting Up Your Exchange or Office 365 Account .......................................273



     Manually Setting Up an Email Account Using Exchange, EAS, POP, or IMAP .................275



Managing Your Email Accounts ...........................................................................278



     Managing Account Settings ............................................................................278



     Managing Account Options ............................................................................281

 

17 Using the Mail App ............................................................................................. 285



Reading Your Email ...............................................................................................286



     Replying to a Message ....................................................................................287



     Filing a Message in a Folder ...........................................................................289



     Deleting a Message .........................................................................................290



     Forwarding a Message ....................................................................................291



     Marking a Message as Unread .......................................................................291



Writing an Email Message ....................................................................................293



     Addressing Your Message ...............................................................................294



     Formatting Your Email Message.....................................................................295



     Attaching a Photo, File, Table, or Hyperlink to Your Message ...................297



     Checking Spelling in Your Message ...............................................................298



Managing Your Inbox............................................................................................299



     Pinning Accounts to the Start Menu ..............................................................299



     Flagging Messages ..........................................................................................300



     Printing Emails ..................................................................................................301



     Future Improvements .......................................................................................302

 



18 Managing Your Calendar ................................................................................... 305



Starting the Calendar App ...................................................................................306



     Controlling the Calendar View ........................................................................307



     Setting Calendar Colors ..................................................................................310



Synchronizing with Other Calendars ...................................................................311



Adding Events to Your Calendar .........................................................................313



     Customizing the Calendar View......................................................................316

 



19 Sharing Your Windows Computer with Others ............................................. 319



Windows 10 Users and Account Basics ..............................................................320



Adding a New User ...............................................................................................323



     Adding a New User with a Local Account .....................................................323



     Adding a New User with a Microsoft Account ..............................................325



Creating a PIN or Picture Password ....................................................................328



     Adding a PIN to Your Account .......................................................................329



     Adding a Picture Password to Your Account ................................................329



Making Changes to User Accounts .....................................................................332



     Changing a User’s Type ..................................................................................332



     Removing a User Account ...............................................................................334



Maintaining Security ..............................................................................................337



     Windows Hello ..................................................................................................337



     Using the Screensaver to Add Security .........................................................338



     Two-Step Verification .......................................................................................339



 



20 Sharing Files and Printers .................................................................................. 343



Networking with Homegroup ..............................................................................344



Using the Windows Homegroup .........................................................................345



     Creating a Homegroup ....................................................................................346



     Joining a Homegroup ......................................................................................349



     Leaving a Homegroup .....................................................................................350



     Troubleshooting Homegroup Connections...................................................350



Setting Up Sharing ................................................................................................351



     Disabling Sharing for Specific Files or Folders .............................................353



     Sharing Files and Folders Only with Specific Users......................................354



Sharing Your Printer ..............................................................................................356



Seeing Stuff Shared by Others ............................................................................360

 



21 File and Folder Basics ........................................................................................ 363



Files and Folder Basics .........................................................................................364



     Understanding Files .........................................................................................364



     Understanding Folders ....................................................................................365



Exploring with File Explorer .................................................................................367



     Working with Quick Access .............................................................................368



     Working with Libraries .....................................................................................369



     Navigating the Folder Tree .............................................................................372



     Customizing the Content Pane .......................................................................375



     Exploring the Preview and Details Pane ........................................................377



     Folder Options .................................................................................................379

 



22 Working with OneDrive ..................................................................................... 383



Introducing OneDrive ...........................................................................................384



     Setting Up OneDrive .......................................................................................387



     Adding Files to Your OneDrive ......................................................................390



     Managing Your OneDrive Files .......................................................................390



     Sharing a File on Your OneDrive ...................................................................392



Viewing OneDrive Status ......................................................................................394



Configuring OneDrive Preferences .....................................................................396



     Sync Settings with OneDrive ...........................................................................396



     Using OneDrive in the Photo App .................................................................397



     Using OneDrive with the Music App..............................................................398



Managing Metered Connections Considerations ..............................................400



Troubleshooting OneDrive Issues .......................................................................402

 





IV Having Fun










23 Working with Photos in Windows ................................................................... 405



Using the Photos App ...........................................................................................406



     Viewing Your Collection ..................................................................................407



     Using Albums ....................................................................................................412



     Tweaking the Photos App with Settings ........................................................415



Editing Your Photos ..............................................................................................417



Using the Camera App .........................................................................................422



     Controlling Camera Security ...........................................................................424



Organizing the Pictures Library ............................................................................426



     Renaming Your Pictures ...................................................................................426

 



24 Using Your Microsoft Account for Purchases ................................................ 431



What Are Xbox Services? .....................................................................................432



Purchasing with Your Microsoft Account ............................................................433



     Managing Your Microsoft Account .................................................................436

 



25 Having Fun with Movies and TV Shows ......................................................... 441



Getting Started with the Movies & TV App .......................................................442



     Navigating the Movies & TV App ..................................................................442



     Adding Your Videos to the Videos Library ....................................................445



Playing Videos in the Movies & TV App .............................................................448



Shopping for Videos .............................................................................................450



     Making a Purchase ...........................................................................................451



     Renting a Selection ..........................................................................................454

 



26 Enjoying Music ..................................................................................................... 457



Getting Started with the Groove Music App .....................................................458



     Learning What’s Where in the Groove Music App .......................................459



Adding Music to the Groove Music App ............................................................461



     How to Link Your Music ...................................................................................462



     How to Move Your Music ................................................................................465



     Using Album View ............................................................................................466



Creating Playlists ...................................................................................................469



Purchasing Music ...................................................................................................470



     Using Groove Music Pass ................................................................................470



     Purchasing Music in the Windows Store ........................................................472



Importing Music and Creating Music CDs..........................................................474



     Importing Music from a CD ............................................................................474



     Creating a Music CD ........................................................................................476

 



27 Having Fun and Playing Games ....................................................................... 479



Gaming with Windows 10 ....................................................................................480



Understanding Xbox Live Services ......................................................................481



Using the Xbox App ..............................................................................................485

 

 



Index ...................................................................................................................... 491















V Online Bonus Content










BC1 These Are a Few of My Favorite Apps .................................................... online



BC2 Working with Other Windows Apps ......................................................... online



BC3 Advanced File and Folder Management .................................................. online



BC4 Keeping Your Computer Healthy .............................................................. online



BC5 Resolving Common Problems .................................................................... online