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My Windows 8.1

Book

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Description

  • Copyright 2014
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-7897-5222-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-5222-2

My Windows® 8.1

Step-by-step

instructions with callouts to Windows 8.1 photos that show you exactly what to do.

Help

when you run into Windows 8.1 problems or limitations.

Tips and Notes

to help you get the most from your Windows 8.1 computer.

Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your Windows® 8.1 computer working just the way you want. Learn how to

  •  Master Windows innovations you like, and keep the older techniques you’re comfortable with

  •  Adjust the Start screen so it works the way you want (not the other way around!)

  •  Get more productive with touch gestures, live tiles, and Charms

  •  Browse the Web faster and easier with Internet Explorer 11 tabbed browsing

  •  Find, download, install, and work with the best new Windows Store apps

  •  Copy, move, and share files using File Explorer

  •  Use the built-in Skype app to make super-easy free video calls

  •  Master the major improvements in Windows 8.1’s Photos and Music apps

  •  Stream movies on your computer, and share media with your Xbox

  •  Use cloud features to access your files everywhere, on any device you choose

  •  Keep your files and computer safe, secure, backed up, and working reliably

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Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Preparing Your Windows 8.1 PC and Setting Up Devices

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 2 and Index)

Table of Contents

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  

9780789752222   TOC   10/11/2013

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