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    Windows 8.1 Bible
    Windows 8.1 Bible
    Windows 8.1 Bible
    Ebook1,640 pages13 hours

    Windows 8.1 Bible

    By Jim Boyce, Jeffrey R. Shapiro and Rob Tidrow

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Windows 8.1 coverage that goes above and beyond all competitors?

    Serving as an evolutionary update to Windows 8, Windows 8.1 provides critical changes to parts of Windows 8, such as greater customization of the interface and boot operations, return of a 'start button' that reveals apps, greater integration between the two interfaces, and updates to apps. Weighing in at nearly 1000 pages, Windows 8.1 Bible provides deeper Windows insight than any other book on the market. It's valuable for both professionals needing a guide to the nooks and crannies of Windows and regular users wanting a wide breadth of information.

    • Shows you how to get started and discusses security and updates, personalizing Windows 8.1, and going beyond the basic desktop
    • Highlights ways to manage your content and install and remove programs
    • Discusses printing, faxing, and scanning; enjoying and sharing pictures, movies, and music; and performance tuning

    Windows 8.1 Bible leaves no stone unturned when examining this important Windows update.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWiley
    Release dateFeb 5, 2014
    ISBN9781118835180
    Windows 8.1 Bible
    Author

    Jim Boyce

    Jim Boyce is a highly-regarded expert on operating systems and productivity software who's written or contributed to more than 50 books, including Microsoft Outlook 2010 Inside Out and Microsoft Outlook 2010 Plain & Simple.

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      Book preview

      Windows 8.1 Bible - Jim Boyce

      Part I: Getting Started, Getting Secure

      IN THIS PART

      Chapter 1: What's New in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

      Chapter 2: Navigating the Windows 8.1 Interface

      Chapter 3: Getting Around the Windows Desktop

      Chapter 4: Sharing and Securing with User Accounts

      Chapter 5: Using Windows 8.1 Family Safety

      Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Startup Problems

      Chapter 1: What's New in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      New platforms

      The Windows 8.1 Interface

      The Windows store

      Cloud synchronization

      Messaging

      Other new features

      In some ways, Windows 8.1 is a radical departure from Windows 7, as well as the other versions of Windows that preceded it. In other ways, Windows 8.1 isn't much different from Windows 7. Both possibilities are good ones, both from a technology standpoint and for the user. The differences mean an expanded set of features, richer experience, broader platform support, performance improvements, and much more. The similarities mean that if you're familiar with previous versions of Windows, you can put Windows 8.1 to work right away without a steep learning curve.

      In this chapter, we focus not on those familiar features, but rather on many of the new and changed features in Windows 8.1. You'll find an overview here of those features, with deeper explanation in other chapters. We can't cover every new feature here, but we hope to give you a good overview of the key features and conceptual changes introduced in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

      In this chapter, we also focus on Windows 8 as a whole, rather than Windows 8.1 specifically. So, if you're looking for information on how Windows 8 is different from Windows 7, you'll find it in this chapter. We also highlight the differences and improvements in Windows 8.1 versus Windows 8. So, you get a holistic view of the Windows 8 family in this chapter.

      Now, whip out that new Windows 8.1 tablet or PC, start reading, and start taking advantage of the great new features that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have to offer.

      New Platforms

      One of the most significant additions to Windows 8 is its support for platforms other than the traditional PC. Windows 8 moves beyond the Intel and AMD x86 processor family to support System on a Chip (SoC) devices from both the x86 and ARM architectures. Windows 8.1 naturally also supports the ARM architecture.

      ARM, which stands for Advanced RISC Machine, was developed by the company now known as ARM Holdings. Although you might never have heard of them, ARM processors are found extensively in consumer electronics devices, including tablets, cellphones, MP3 players, gaming consoles, computer peripherals, and much more.

      While the traditional PC portable form factor continues to shrink with ultra-light tablets and notebooks, SoC support for Windows 8 generally means the capability to provide a Windows experience on small form-factor tablets, cellphones, and smaller handheld devices, in addition to the generally larger (albeit typically more powerful) traditional PC platforms. For ARM devices, the result is a new opportunity for device manufacturers to provide a new selection of handheld devices running a Windows operating system (dubbed Windows on ARM, or WOA) with support for applications like those in the Microsoft Office suite.

      For users, it means a consistency of user experience across a broad range of devices. For example, your experience could be largely the same between your notebook, your tablet, and your cellphone. Support for ARM also opens up some interesting possibilities for embedding Windows in a vast array of consumer electronic devices. It's quite likely that someday soon your TV will be running Windows and give you, for example, the same, consistent experience streaming movies on your TV as on your PC.

      An important distinction to understand about the ARM platform, however, is that applications written for your desktop PC or notebook won't necessarily run on an ARM device. For example, none of the applications in existence today, built for the x86 Windows 7 and earlier operating systems, will work on ARM-based devices. However, that roadblock doesn't exist for Windows 8–specific applications.

      Microsoft's Visual Studio development environment makes it relatively easy to compile an ARM version of an application at the same time you compile one for the x86 platform. This means that developers can create one code set for their application and publish it for both platforms. When you download an application from the Windows Store, that app will run on the Windows 8 traditional devices, as well as ARM-based Windows 8 devices. You can install the app on up to five devices in any mix of x86- and ARM-based devices. The app will provide the same experience on all of them.

      What about Office applications, you ask? Excellent question! Microsoft includes four Office applications with WOA devices, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. These versions of the Office applications don't provide the same level of features as the regular version, but they provide a means for users to work with their data across multiple types of devices. For example, if you sync your OneNote notebooks to SkyDrive, you can view them in OneNote on your WOA device. Or when someone e-mails you a spreadsheet as an attachment, you can view it in Excel on the WOA device.

      Although there are many new devices being introduced near Windows 8.1's release, Windows 8.1 does not represent a platform shift from Windows 8. Windows 8.1 will run on the same two platforms as Windows 8 (x86- and ARM-based devices).

      Note

      In this chapter, the term Windows 8 is used to denote the Windows 8 family that includes Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. So, a discussion of Windows 8 apps describes apps designed to run on both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 devices.

      The Windows 8.1 Interface

      As with many previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 introduced a new user interface, and Windows 8.1 fine-tunes that interface. Unlike many previous versions, Windows 8's new interface is radically different from what we've come to know as the traditional Windows user interface. Clearly designed with the tablet and handheld market in mind — at least in large part — Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 give you a simplified, clean user experience with tiles providing access to applications.

      Note

      The Windows 8 UI look isn't just about tablets and small form-factor devices. To Microsoft, the new UI is really as much an aesthetic concept as it is a user interface. It's about uncluttering the desktop, websites, and PowerPoint decks almost as much as it's about uncluttering the Windows user interface.

      The Start screen

      Figure 1.1 shows the Windows 8.1 Start screen, a key component of the new Windows 8.1 interface. You'll learn how to navigate the new Windows 8.1 interface in Chapter 2. For now, understand that the tiles on the Start page, like icons on the traditional Windows desktop, give you quick access to your programs and documents. Tap the Internet Explorer tile, for example, and Internet Explorer opens. Likewise, click or tap the Photos tile, and the Photos app opens, enabling you to view the photos stored on your computer, or in SkyDrive, Facebook, Flickr, and other locations.

      Figure 1.1

      The Windows 8.1 Start screen.

      9781118835319-fg0101.tif

      A key difference between Windows 8.1 tiles and desktop icons, however, is that tiles can be live, showing data that changes dynamically. The Mail tile, for example, shows a preview of new messages in your Inbox. The Calendar tile shows a preview of meetings and events in your Calendar, the Finance tile shows stock prices (as shown in Figure 1.1), and so on. The advantage is that the tiles can give you information at a glance that you would otherwise have to open a program to view.

      The Windows 8.1 UI isn't just about the Start page or its tiles, however. Windows 8 apps generally follow the same clean, streamlined look as the Windows 8.1 interface itself. For example, Figure 1.2 shows the Finance application. There is no window border, no controls in the title bar, and no visible menu. While a Windows 8 app can include any number of interface features specific to the application, in general the interface will be simple and streamlined like the Finance app, if not more so.

      Figure 1.2

      A Windows 8 app typically has a clean, simplified interface.

      9781118835319-fg0102.tif

      Although the Windows 8.1 interface is a departure from the traditional Windows desktop, the combination of live tiles, clean look, and capability to put your most frequently used apps and documents in one area for quick access makes Windows 8.1 a winner, particularly for tablets and handheld devices.

      The Lock Screen

      The Windows 8.1 Lock Screen appears when the computer is locked (see Figure 1.3). The Lock Screen shows the current day and time, battery status, and network status, all on a photo background. The Lock Screen can also display notifications from applications. To display the logon screen, slide the Lock Screen up.

      Figure 1.3

      The Lock Screen.

      9781118835319-fg0103.tif

      The Charms Bar

      The Charms Bar appears at the right edge of the display (see Figure 1.4) when you move the mouse to the bottom-right or upper-right corner of the display. You can also display the Charms Bar by swiping in from the right edge of the display.

      The Charms Bar gives you quick access to Search, Settings, and other options and features.

      The Windows Store

      If you're familiar with the iPad, iPod, or Android devices (not to mention a handful of other types), you're familiar with the concept of an app (application) store. As you might expect, given the expansion of Windows 8 in the tablet and handheld market, Windows 8 added its own app store, called the Windows Store, shown in Figure 1.5.

      Figure 1.4

      The Charms Bar.

      9781118835319-fg0104.tif

      The great thing about the Windows Store, like its counterparts for other devices and platforms, is quick access to a vast collection of applications from games to productivity tools to multimedia apps. As long as your device is connected to the Internet, you can open the Windows Store, browse for and quickly locate the app you need, and typically, in less than a minute, have the app installed and running on your device. Many apps are free; others have some cost. Many give you the capability to try the app for free before you buy it.

      Cloud Synchronization

      With the likelihood that many people will have multiple Windows 8 devices, it's no surprise that Windows 8 introduced some great cloud-synchronization features that are carried over to Windows 8.1. For example, Windows 8.1 can integrate with your Windows account (formerly called Windows Live accounts) and SkyDrive to give you access to documents and photos from multiple devices. You can save, open, and view files from SkyDrive from a variety of devices, including a Mac or iPad, your Windows Phone, or your iPhone.

      Figure 1.5

      The Windows Store.

      9781118835319-fg0105.tif

      Many Windows 8 applications integrate with SkyDrive directly. For example, the Photos app lists not only the photos you have on your computer, but also those in SkyDrive (as well as Facebook and Flickr). If you have a domain account, you can associate your domain account with your Windows account and enjoy that same cloud experience.

      Other applications also support SkyDrive. For example, you can get a free OneNote app for your Windows Phone, iPhone, or Android device that enables you to view OneNote notebooks that are synced to SkyDrive. So, if you create a note on your PC, it can automatically sync to SkyDrive, and from there it can be viewed from your mobile phone. This is a great feature for taking your work notes, shopping list, or other notes with you wherever you go.

      Tip

      Office Web Apps, introduced with SharePoint Server 2010, are included with SkyDrive, enabling you to view and edit Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint documents from a web browser without having Office installed on a device.

      Integrated Messaging

      A lot of great new apps are included with Windows 8.1, but one deserves particular mention here. The new Mail app included with Windows 8 combines a sleek interface with the capability to integrate e-mail accounts into a unified mailbox (see Figure 1.6). Bringing all your mail into one app can be a great timesaver and can eliminate the need for multiple mail applications or the need to open multiple web browsers to check your mailboxes.

      Note

      You can use Mail to connect to almost any mail service.

      Figure 1.6

      The Mail app.

      9781118835319-fg0106.tif

      Social Networking Integration

      Windows 8.1 provides social network integration in a handful of ways to make it easier for you to work with your friends and contacts across those services.

      For example, the People app lets you integrate contact information from Hotmail (Windows Live), LinkedIn, Twitter, Exchange, and Google. So, all your contacts from all those services can appear in the People app. The People app also provides social updates about your friends within the People app, so you can, for example, see what status updates your friends have posted on Facebook.

      File Explorer

      The ribbon interface made its appearance in Office 2007 and, since then, has expanded in the 2010 and 2013 editions of Office and SharePoint. Now, you'll find the ribbon interface in File Explorer. Figure 1.7 shows an example of an Explorer window's ribbon.

      Figure 1.7

      The ribbon interface in Explorer.

      9781118835319-fg0107.tif

      As you might expect, the ribbon in Explorer groups has commands for working with and sharing files and folders, changing how items display in the window, and in the case of media files, playing the files.

      Tip

      You can click the up arrow near the top right of the ribbon to minimize it. The arrow changes to a down arrow, which, when clicked, expands the ribbon.

      Another great addition in File Explorer is the capability to easily mount CD images and virtual hard drive images right in Explorer. Once you mount an ISO image, for example, the image appears in File Explorer as CD, just as if you had a physical CD inserted in your CD drive. Although you could mount these images in Windows 7, File Explorer makes it much easier.

      Search

      Windows 7 integrated search within the operating system to enable you to quickly locate files, e-mail messages, and other items on your computer. Windows 8.1 enhances that dynamic search capability and includes a great new interface for search that categorizes results. Figure 1.8 shows an example of a search in Windows 8.1 Search.

      Figure 1.8

      The new Windows 8.1 Search screen showing results for Apps.

      9781118835319-fg0108.tif

      Search categorizes your search results so you can quickly find the item you're looking for. The categories are listed on the right, and clicking on a category displays the results for that category at the left. By default, the App category is selected, so Search automatically shows all apps on your computer. To find a specific app, document, e-mail, or other item, just type an appropriate search word or term in the text box. Then click a category to view the items in that category that meet your search criteria.

      You can use natural language query syntax, such as Find all files where the filename starts with Goober and the size is greater than 10MB. You can also use the Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) available in Windows 7 to search, such as filename:Goober size:>10MB.

      Spell Check and AutoCorrect

      Windows 8.1 extends spell check across the operating system to any application that uses standard text controls. This means, for example, that you can use spell check in Lync or other applications that don't have their own spell-check feature.

      Enterprise Features

      Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 include a selection of features that will only be available to enterprise users via the Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise editions. This section explores the major features that are exclusive to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

      Windows to Go

      Windows to Go enables you to boot and run Windows 8 from a USB flash drive. This means you can take your operating system, applications, and documents with you from one device to another. This capability also offers administrators a means of restricting access for specific types of users, such as contingent workers, consultants, or visitors.

      DirectAccess

      DirectAccess allows remote users to access the corporate network without the need for a virtual private network (VPN) connection. Unlike a VPN connection, which the user must establish manually, DirectAccess establishes a bi-directional connection automatically for the user. The result is that users can gain access quickly and simply to internal network resources such as messaging services, file servers, printers, collaboration tools like SharePoint, and more. Think of DirectAccess as an automatic VPN that just happens for the user; users don't need to do anything to initiate the secure connection to the corporate network. DirectAccess authenticates the computer, which means the computer can connect to the network before the user logs on. DirectAccess can also authenticate the user and supports two-factor authentication using smart cards. The end result is a very seamless VPN experience for users, with simplified deployment and management for the IT team.

      BranchCache

      BranchCache in Windows Server 2012 and in Windows 8 caches web, file, and other application content, enabling users to access that cached content locally from the locan area network (LAN) rather than retrieve it from the wide area network (WAN). BranchCache, therefore, can potentially eliminate a large amount of external network traffic, which can be particularly important for organizations with relatively low-bandwidth WAN links. For security, BranchCache encrypts the content both on the caching server(s) and on the client computers.

      AppLocker

      AppLocker enables administrators to control which applications and processes users can run on their computers, including executable files, Windows Installer files, DLLs, scripts, packaged applications, and packaged application installers. Controlling applications in this way can improve security and adherence to processes by blocking unapproved applications and ensuring licensing compliance, and also helping to ensure process compliance. Administrators can define rules based on attributes such as application publisher, product name, filename, version, and others. Rules can be assigned to individuals as well as security groups, providing flexibility and the ability to implement exceptions.

      VDI enhancements

      Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) provides the capability to deliver a desktop computing experience to users from virtual clients running in a datacenter. The VDI features in Windows 8 support a rich client desktop experience, including host-side rendering to support for graphics-intensive applications; GPU Virtualization, which enables multiple clients to share a graphics processing unit (GPU) on the Hyper-V server; intelligent screen capture and compression to improve user graphics experience and reduce network bandwidth requirements; and USB device redirection. All these features combine to enable a rich desktop user experience to a broad range of devices, including lower-cost devices.

      Windows 8 app deployment

      The Enterprise edition of Windows 8 includes the capability for PCs and tablets that are domain joined to side-load internal apps. This feature gives administrators an easy means for deploying these apps across the enterprise.

      Internet Explorer 11

      Internet Explorer 11 (see Figure 1.9), included with Windows 8.1 and also available as a download for Windows 7 and Windows 8, includes some great new features that build on its predecessor, Internet Explorer 10. Internet Explorer 11 now supports the Web Graphics Library (WebGL) standard, adding features for interactive content, graphics performance, and other features for rich content experiences. IE 11 also offers great performance overall, and browsing feels faster thanks to web page caching, prefetch, and prerender features. HTML 5 support is also strengthened in IE 11.

      Figure 1.9

      Internet Explorer 11's Windows 8.1 look.

      9781118835319-fg0109.tif

      IE 11 also offers new features for the tablet market, offering better touch-based interaction, gyroscope input, and display orientation lock. As with IE 10, there are two versions of IE 11, one a Windows 8–style app and the other running on the desktop. The desktop version supports touch-based navigation, just like the Windows 8 version.

      There are several new features in IE 11 designed with the user in mind. These include enhanced pinned sites, which enable IE to update content dynamically using live tiles; the capability to sync your open IE tabs across multiple devices, better Skype integration, and more.

      IE 11 also offers new features for the IT administrator. These include security improvements for enhanced protected mode, which prevents pages from accessing protected parts of the operating system. Adobe Flash is included with IE 11 on Windows 8.1, and can be updated through Automatic Updates and group policy. There are also several new group policy settings to help administrators more closely manage the user experience and control security with IE 11.

      Client Hyper-V

      Although not enabled by default, Windows 8.1 includes the Hyper-V client, enabling you to run virtual machines (VMs) within the Hyper-V platform. For example, you might run a VM of Windows XP to support an application that isn't compatible with later versions of Windows. Or maybe you need to run Linux, but you don't want to dual-boot between them. Hyper-V on Windows 8.1 is a great solution.

      Client Hyper-V on Windows 8.1 offers more capabilities and power than its predecessor, Virtual PC. Client Hyper-V supports both 32- and 64-bit client operating systems, although Client Hyper-V only runs on 64-bit PCs running the 64-bit version of Windows 8.1. It requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM on the host PC and processors that support Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), although most of today's PCs provide that support.

      Tip

      To enable Hyper-V on your computer, open the Programs and Features object in the Control Panel and click Turn Windows Features On or Off.

      BitLocker

      BitLocker has been around for a while, but Windows 8.1 improves performance and includes features for disk encryption. For example, when you turn on BitLocker to encrypt a drive, you have the option to only encrypt sectors on the drive that have data stored on them, instead of encrypting the entire drive. As space gets used on the drive, BitLocker encrypts that data. Windows 8.1 BitLocker also adds the capability to deploy Windows 8.1 to an encrypted state, instead of encrypting the drive after installation.

      Additional Windows 8 BitLocker features include the capability for users to change the BitLocker PIN or password, with support for password and PIN complexity through group policy; a Network Unlock feature that enables automatic unlocking of operating system volumes at system reboot when those systems are connected to the corporate network; and support for Encrypted Hard Drives, which offload the encryption process to the storage controller on the hard drive.

      Smart Cards

      Windows 8.1 includes a handful of features for smart card users and simplifies smart card deployment and management for administrators. For example, Windows 8.1 supports virtual smart cards (VSC) on systems that support the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Virtual smart cards can be deployed to users’ systems with no cost for physical cards.

      Other smart card changes in Windows 8.1 include improvements in the smart card sign-on process, making it easy for users to choose a different authentication option after they insert their smart card, and system-level changes for the way the Smart Card Service starts and stops, enabling the service to run only when it's needed, improving overall system performance.

      Task Management

      The Task Manager, which lets you view and manage running applications and processes, received a facelift in Windows 8 that carries through to Windows 8.1. The Task Manager simplifies the default display to show only a list of running applications (see Figure 1.10). You can click an application in the list and click End Task to end it.

      If you want to see additional information about running applications and processes, click More Details to expand the Task Manager, as shown in Figure 1.11. This more-familiar interface provides multiple tabs to view performance data, application history, and other details.

      Figure 1.10

      The Windows 8.1 Task Manager.

      9781118835319-fg0110.tif

      Proximity and Wi-Fi Direct

      Wi-Fi Direct is a peer-to-peer connectivity technology that allows Wi-Fi devices to interact directly with one another without going through a wireless access point/router. Wi-Fi Direct is a bit like Bluetooth, but with a stronger signal and further range.

      One of the advantages to the capability for devices to detect one another (Proximity) through Wi-Fi Direct is that you can easily make connections to printers, headsets, and other devices that support Wi-Fi Direct. In addition, Windows 8 applications that support Wi-Fi Direct can discover and communicate with each other across devices easily. This capability opens up a broad range of new features and interesting scenarios for social networking, gaming, and data sharing.

      Figure 1.11

      Task manager's expanded view.

      9781118835319-fg0111.tif

      Refresh/Reset

      Windows 8.1 offers two features to help you restore your Windows 8.1 device to a known, good state. The first of these is Refresh Your PC, which reinstalls Windows 8.1 without losing your data, Windows 8 apps, and settings. Refresh Your PC also maintains your network and mobile broadband configurations, BitLocker settings, drive assignments, and so on. Refresh Your PC doesn't keep all your applications, however. Although Windows 8 apps are retained, traditional Win32 applications are not. Refresh Your PC creates an HTML list on your desktop to let you know what applications were removed. The second feature is Reset Your PC, which reinstalls Windows 8.1, removing your data, apps, and settings (essentially, a complete reset to factory condition).

      Changes and Updates Specific to Windows 8.1

      The previous sections of this chapter offered a holistic overview of many of the key changes introduced in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Naturally, there are changes that are specific to Windows 8.1.

      For example, the Start button has returned to the desktop (see Figure 1.12), although it is functionally different from the Start button in Windows 7. In Windows 8.1, clicking the Start button takes you to the Start screen. Right-clicking the Start button displays the Quick Links menu shown in Figure 1.12).

      Many users complained that they had to boot to the Start screen in Windows 8, so Windows 8.1 adds a feature that lets you start at the desktop instead. In addition, as explained in Chapter 11, you can control other desktop and Start screen behaviors, such as having Windows display the desktop when you close all apps (including Windows 8 apps).

      Windows 8.1 adds new interface features to give you more flexibility for tile sizing, color options, and animated backgrounds. Windows 8.1 also offers a new all apps view of the Start screen to help you more easily access all your installed apps. Where Windows 8 supports two Windows 8 apps displayed side-by-side, Windows 8.1 enables you to work with four apps at one time.

      Figure 1.12

      The Windows 8.1 Start button displays The Quick Links menu.

      9781118835319-fg0112.tif

      Search has also been improved in Windows 8.1 with the addition of Bing Smart Search. You don't need to open a browser to search; you can search right from the Start screen and quickly navigate to resulting sites, open documents, play songs, and more. Results are delivered in a clean, graphic view to help you quickly identify results.

      The Messaging app is gone, replaced by Skype. All the bundled Windows 8 apps have been updated for Windows 8.1, some significantly. The Music app, for example, has been completely revamped. New apps have been added, including Calculator, Alarms, Health & Fitness, and Food & Drink. The new Reading List app lets you save links, e-mail messages, snippets from news apps, and other items as a to-do reading list.

      Input is improved, also. The onscreen keyboard implements an auto-suggest feature that not only suggests matches for the word you are currently typing, but also uses a linguistic model to suggest the next word.

      There are many other subtle changes in Windows 8.1 in addition to those described here. The following chapters explore these new features and changes in detail.

      Wrap-Up

      There are literally thousands of changes in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 from previous versions of Windows, so this chapter naturally doesn't cover them all. Many of the bundled applications have been updated, new applications have been added, the interface has been changed (and not just for Windows 8 apps), and so on. You'll find explanations of many of these changes in the following chapters.

      Because the interface potentially has the most impact on the way you use Windows and your Windows apps, that's the best place to start getting familiar with the changes in Windows 8.1. So, move on to Chapter 2 to learn how to navigate through and use the new Windows 8.1 interface.

      Chapter 2: Navigating the Windows 8.1 Interface

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      Introducing the Windows 8.1 interface

      Using the Start screen

      Using the Charms Bar

      Using the taskbar

      Working with Windows 8 apps

      Getting to the desktop

      If you've been using previous versions of Windows for a while, you're no doubt familiar with the Windows desktop and how to work with Windows and Windows applications. Even so, you might find the Windows 8.1 interface very different. Gestures such as swipe, tap, tap and hold, slide, and so on might be foreign concepts. Fortunately, Windows 8.1 uses many of the same general gestures and actions you'll find on other touch-based devices. So, the Windows 8.1 interface should feel familiar to you.

      If you don't have much experience with touch interfaces, this chapter will get you up to speed. You'll learn to navigate through the Windows 8.1 interface, use Windows 8 apps, and even get to that familiar Windows desktop! Armed with some basic concepts, you'll be navigating the Windows 8.1 interface like a pro in no time.

      If you've been using Windows 8 for a while and are new to Windows 8.1, this chapter will also help you understand the changes that Microsoft introduced in Windows 8.1 to address some user angst over the Start menu (or lack thereof) and make the interface even easier to use.

      Introducing the Windows 8 Interface

      The new interface introduced in Windows 8 and fine-tuned in Windows 8.1 represents a shift toward touch-based interaction with the operating system and applications, driven in large part by the growth of the tablet and handheld device markets. But the Windows 8.1 interface is not just about touch; it's also about simplification and putting data and applications within easy reach. As you grow comfortable using the Windows 8.1 interface, you'll no doubt come to appreciate both the simplicity of using it and its clean look.

      Figure 2.1 shows the Windows 8.1 Lock screen, which you use to log into the device. Although Chapter 4 explains how to log in and out of Windows, we cover it briefly here. To log in, slide the display up. To slide on a touch device, move your finger from the bottom of the display toward the top. With a mouse, click anywhere on the Lock screen. Windows will display the list of user accounts available on the device (see Figure 2.2). Tap (touch or click) on a user tile to enter the password for that user account, and then press Enter or tap (or click) the arrow icon to the right of the password field.

      Figure 2.1

      The Windows 8.1 Lock screen.

      9781118835319-fg0201.tif

      Figure 2.2

      Choose an account with which to log in.

      9781118835319-fg0202.tif

      After you log in, you'll see the Windows 8.1 Start screen, shown in Figure 2.3. The Start screen serves much the same function as the Start menu in previous versions of Windows. Square or rectangular tiles give you quick access to apps, external resources such as SkyDrive, folders, and even the desktop.

      The key goal for the design of the Windows 8.1 interface is simplicity. From the Start screen with its simple tile metaphor, to Windows 8.1 apps with no borders or traditional window elements such as menu bars and close buttons, the Windows 8.1 interface takes a minimalist approach to how you interact with Windows, your apps, and your data.

      Before we dig deeper into the Windows 8.1 interface and its elements, let's take a look at the gestures and actions you'll use within the interface.

      Figure 2.3

      The Windows Start screen.

      9781118835319-fg0203.tif

      Gestures and Mouse Actions

      There are a handful of touch-based gestures you'll use with Windows 8.1, along with mouse-based alternatives for use on non-touch devices (or when you have a mouse connected to a touch device). The following list summarizes Windows 8.1 gestures, along with corresponding mouse actions.

      Tap/Left-click: Touch a finger to the object you want to select, and then remove your finger from the screen. With a mouse, left-click the object (point to it, click the left button, and then release the button).

      Tap and hold/Click and hold: Put a finger on the object you want to select, and hold your finger there. Tap and hold is typically followed by another gesture, such as sliding. For example, to relocate a tile on the Start screen, you tap and hold the tile, and after a check mark appears at the top right of the tile, you can slide it to a new location. The equivalent mouse action for tap and hold is left-click and hold.

      Swipe: Slide your finger across the display, left, right, up, or down. For example, to view the tiles at the right side of the Start screen if they're off-screen, swipe from right to left.

      Slide (drag)/Click and drag: After you've selected an object, you can slide it on the display. Tap and hold to select the object, and then simply slide your finger across the screen to move the object. The mouse equivalent is to click and drag the object.

      Swipe from the edge of the screen inward: There are a handful of tasks you can accomplish by swiping from the edge of the display in toward the middle of the screen. For example, swiping from the left edge lets you switch between apps. Swipe from the right edge to display the Charms Bar. Slide up from the bottom or down from the top to view options for the current app. The mouse equivalent varies depending on the task. To view options for the app, right-click the app. To open the Charms Bar, hold the mouse at the bottom right or top right of the screen.

      Pinch: Place two fingers on the screen and move them apart or toward each other to zoom in or out, respectively.

      Using the Start Screen

      Now that you know some basic gestures and their corresponding mouse actions, you're ready to start navigating around the Windows 8.1 interface, starting with the Start screen, previously shown in Figure 2.3. Use any of these actions to open the Start screen:

      Press the Windows key on the keyboard.

      Use the mouse to place the cursor at the bottom-left corner of the screen, and then click the resulting Start screen icon.

      Open the charms and tap the Start charm.

      Press Windows+Tab to open the Task Switcher and select the Start icon.

      To move around the Start screen on a touch device, simply swipe the display left or right to view additional tiles. Then, tap a tile to open its associated app. Or, in the case of the Desktop tile, tap the tile to open the Windows 8.1 desktop.

      You'll find that tiles on the Start screen can be live, meaning they can dynamically display information. For example, after you add an account to the Mail app, it will show a preview of messages in your Inbox. The Weather tile is also live; it shows the current weather conditions (assuming your device is connected to the Internet). Other tiles show similar dynamic data. Figure 2.4 shows some examples of live tiles.

      Figure 2.4

      Live tiles on the Windows Start screen.

      9781118835319-fg0204.tif

      If you're working in an app or on the desktop and you want to return to the Start screen, the easiest method is to push the device's Windows button. On a device without a Windows button (such as a PC with a traditional keyboard), press the Windows key on the keyboard. You can also click or tap the Start icon at the bottom left of the display (see Figure 2.5).

      Tip

      On a touch device, swipe from the left edge of the screen, hold, and then move slowly back to the left to display a graphic list of the running applications. Then, tap the Start icon to open the Start screen. Or, tap another icon to return to the associated app. You can also open the charms and tap the Start icon.

      Figure 2.5

      Use the Start icon to open the Start screen.

      9781118835319-fg0205.tif

      Using the Charms

      Charms, shown in Figure 2.6, give you access to Devices, Settings, Search, sharing options, and the Start screen. To display the charms, swipe in from the right edge of the screen. Or, place the mouse at the bottom right or top right of the screen. When the charms appear, click the charm you want to use. To close the charms, simply tap or click any other area of the screen.

      Tip

      You can press Windows + C to open the charms.

      Figure 2.6

      Access Settings and Devices with charms.

      9781118835319-fg0206.tif

      Clicking Settings opens a menu similar to the one shown in Figure 2.7. The top portion of the menu is in the context of the current app. For example, if you tap or click Devices with the Start screen displayed, you'll see menu items that pertain to the Start screen. If you have Internet Explorer open, you'll see settings for Internet Explorer. The menu behaves similarly for other apps, showing settings for that app.

      The bottom portion of the menu provides system-wide options, including the current network connection status, sound and brightness indicators, a Notifications icon that lets you turn on or off notifications, a Power icon for turning off or suspending the device, and a language icon for selecting the current language. You can click Change PC Settings to open the new Windows 8 PC Settings app, shown in Figure 2.8.

      The charms include the following:

      Search: Tap or click Search to open the Search screen, where you can search for apps, documents, and other items.

      See Chapters 22 and 23 for more details on using Search in Windows 8.1.

      Share: Tap or click Share to open the Share menu, which you can use to share content from the current app (if it supports sharing) to other apps. For example, if you open a website in Internet Explorer (IE) and then open the charms and tap Share, the resulting menu enables you to e-mail a link and synopsis of the currently displayed page. A new mail page appears with the content already in the message, and all you have to do is enter an e-mail address and tap Send. You don't have to leave IE to share the content; it remains open while you create and send the e-mail.

      Start: Tap or click Start to open the Start screen.

      Devices: Tap or click Devices to open the Devices menu, where you can view and set options for devices such as secondary displays, printers, and other devices.

      Settings: Described earlier in this section, tapping or clicking Settings opens a Settings menu that lets you specify settings for the current app (or for Windows 8.1 in general, if the Start screen is open when you tap Settings).

      Figure 2.7

      The Settings menu.

      9781118835319-fg0207.tif

      Figure 2.8

      Use the PC Settings app to change a variety of settings.

      9781118835319-fg0208.tif

      Working with Windows 8.1 Apps

      If you're working on a traditional PC with Windows 8.1 installed, some (potentially many) of your apps will be traditional Windows apps running on the desktop. But, as more and more Windows 8.1 apps are published, you'll no doubt have several favorite Windows 8.1 apps. On touch devices such as tablets and smaller handhelds, many of your apps will probably be Windows 8.1 apps.

      In general, working with a Windows 8.1 app should be fairly intuitive. The gestures and actions you use to work with the Start screen and other Windows 8.1 screens are the same for apps. For example, to move back and forth between visited pages in IE, swipe left or right in the IE app.

      Rather than focus on specific Windows 8.1 apps, this section of the chapter focuses on actions and methods you'll use in general to work with Windows 8.1 apps.

      Opening and using a Windows 8.1 app

      Opening a Windows 8.1 app couldn't really be any easier. Just open the Start screen, locate the app's tile, and tap or click the tile. If you're working on a non-touch device, and you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can use the wheel to scroll through the Start screen's tiles. Scroll down to move to the right, or scroll up to move to the left. Then, just click the tile for the app you want to open.

      How you work in a Windows 8.1 app depends entirely on the app, but will rely on the standard touch gestures and mouse actions described earlier in this chapter. To open a Windows 8.1 app's app menu (see Figure 2.9), swipe up from the bottom or down from the top of the screen. Or, right-click in the app. The app menu offers options for the current app.

      Figure 2.9

      Use an app's menu to configure the app or set options.

      9781118835319-fg0209.tif

      Snapping apps on the screen

      At first, it might seem that you can view and work with only one Windows 8 app at a time, but you can actually snap two apps to the screen at once and easily switch between them. You can even view the desktop and any running apps there side-by-side with a Windows 8.1 app.

      To snap two Windows 8.1 apps to the screen, follow these steps:

      Open the two Windows 8.1 apps.

      Switch to the app you want to be primary, and consume most of the screen space.

      Open the app thumbnails and drag the app to the left or right side of the screen. Either action snaps the second app to the left or right of the screen.

      Tip

      Your device must be configured for a minimum resolution of 1366 x 800 pixels to snap apps on the screen. If your resolution is lower than this, dragging another app in causes it to become the foreground app.

      Figure 2.10 shows two Windows 8.1 apps snapped side-by-side.

      Figure 2.10

      Two Windows 8.1 apps snapped side-by-side.

      9781118835319-fg0210.tif

      As we hinted at above, you can snap a Windows 8.1 app beside the desktop, enabling you to see and work with a traditional Windows app on the desktop while also using a Windows 8.1 app. For example, Figure 2.11 shows the Windows 8.1 Finance app snapped beside the desktop.

      Figure 2.11

      The desktop and a Windows 8 app snapped side-by-side.

      9781118835319-fg0211.tif

      To snap the desktop and a Windows 8.1 app, open the Windows 8.1 app and the desktop from the Start screen. If you want to work with a desktop app, open it from the desktop. With either app in the foreground, open the app thumbnails and drag the other app to the left or right side of the screen. If you look closely at Figure 2.11, you'll see a drag handle between the two apps. Drag this handle to resize the apps, shrinking the primary app and expanding the secondary app. Drag the handle in the other direction to change the primary and secondary again.

      If the desktop is primary, dragging the handle to resize the Windows 8.1 app causes the desktop to appear at the edge of the screen as a set of thumbnails showing the running desktop apps. You can switch to a desktop app simply by tapping or clicking its thumbnail. It then becomes primary and the Windows 8.1 app shrinks to become secondary. To show only one app on the screen, drag the handle to move the unwanted app off the screen.

      Note

      Removing an app from the screen in this way doesn't close the app; it simply brings the other app to the foreground. The other app continues to run until you close it.

      Switching between apps

      Experienced Windows users will be happy to learn that the methods you've used in the past to switch between apps are still available in Windows 8.1. For example, you can press Alt+Tab to view a list of running apps (see Figure 2.12) and select one to bring to the foreground. You can also press Windows+Tab to open a task switcher at the left of the screen showing thumbnails of your running apps (see Figure 2.13). Continue pressing Windows+Tab until the desired app is highlighted; then release the keys to switch to that app.

      Figure 2.12

      Use Alt+Tab to switch between apps.

      9781118835319-fg0212.tif

      Figure 2.13

      Use Windows+Tab to switch between apps.

      9781118835319-fg0213.tif

      Thanks to the touch-based nature of Windows 8.1, you also have some new ways to switch applications on touch devices:

      Swipe in from the left edge of the screen and release to cycle between running apps. The desktop and all apps running on the desktop are treated as a single app for the purpose of switching in this way.

      Swipe in from the left edge, hold, and then move your finger back to the left until the app thumbnails appear. Then, tap the app you want to use.

      Move the mouse cursor to the top left of the screen, and then move the mouse down to display the app thumbnails. Or, simply click in the upper-left corner of the screen to switch to the next app.

      Move the mouse cursor to the bottom left of the screen, and when the Start screen icon appears, move the mouse up to display the app thumbnails.

      Closing a Windows 8.1 app

      It's easy to close a Windows 8.1 app, although you might not have figured it out on your own. Just grab the app at the top and drag it down to the bottom of the display.

      This method isn't all that intuitive, but it's the easiest way to close a Windows 8.1 app, once you know the method exists. When using a mouse, just move the cursor to the top of the app until the pointer changes to a hand; then click and drag the app to the bottom of the screen. When using a touch device, swipe down from the top to the bottom of the screen. The app should close.

      Getting to the Desktop

      If you're like most people, you haven't left behind your legacy desktop-based Windows apps in favor of all Windows 8.1 apps. That will, no doubt, change over time as more Windows 8.1 apps become available and as desktop versions are updated to support the Windows 8 interface. Fortunately, Windows 8.1 still supports those desktop apps and makes it easy to get to them from the Start screen. To open the desktop, just tap or click the Desktop tile on the Start screen.

      Note

      Windows RT, the version of Windows designed for the ARM processor, does not support legacy Windows desktop apps.

      If you're working in a Windows 8.1 app and you want to switch to the desktop, you can access it from the app thumbnails. Just open the thumbnails and tap or click the desktop thumbnail. Or, you can press Alt+Tab or Windows+Tab to open the desktop.

      Using the Taskbar

      Although not technically a part of the Start screen or the new Windows 8.1 interface, the Windows taskbar nevertheless deserves mention here, if for no other reason than you probably want to pin apps to the taskbar so you can get to them quickly from the desktop.

      Figure 2.14 shows the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop with a small selection of apps pinned to it. As in previous versions of Windows, you can open or switch to an app by tapping or clicking its icon on the taskbar.

      Although you can't pin Windows 8.1 apps to the taskbar, you can pin your other Windows apps there, as well as app resources such as File Explorer. To pin an app to the taskbar, open the Start screen or search for the app in the Search screen, right-click or tap and hold the app's tile, and in the app menu, tap or click Pin to Taskbar.

      Figure 2.14

      The taskbar remains an important fixture in the Windows 8.1 interface.

      9781118835319-fg0214.tif

      Wrap-Up

      Although there are some significant improvements and new features in Windows 8.1 geared toward the enterprise and traditional desktop user, some of Windows 8.1's biggest impact will be in the tablet and handheld market. Windows 8.1 and its interface are clearly designed to tackle that market. The clean Windows 8.1 look is well suited to tablets and smaller devices, uncluttering the display.

      Some of the gestures and actions you use to work in the Windows 8.1 interface aren't exactly intuitive, but most of them are, and you should have little trouble getting the hang of the new interface. If you're new to Windows, turn to Chapter 3 to learn how to navigate through the desktop and work with desktop apps.

      Chapter 3: Getting Around the Windows Desktop

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      Logging in

      Using the Windows desktop

      Using the Start screen

      Using programs

      Shutting down the computer

      In today's busy world, few people have the time to sit down and learn to use a computer. Many books and online tutorials don't really help because they assume you already know all the basic concepts and terminology. That's a big assumption because the truth is that most people don't already know those things. Most people don't know a file from a folder from a megabyte from a golf ball. These just aren't the kinds of things we learned about in school or from our day-to-day experiences.

      This chapter is mostly about the kinds of things everyone else assumes you already know. It's for the people who just bought their first computer and discovered it has this thing called Windows 8 on it. Or the people who were getting by with an older computer but now have a new Windows 8 computer and really want to know more about how to use it.

      We often refer to the skills in this chapter as everyday skills because they're the kinds of things you'll likely do every time you sit down at the computer. In this chapter, we point out the name and purpose of many elements you'll see on your screen. Together, these bits of information provide a foundation of basic knowledge of how you use a computer, in general, to get things done. And it all starts with logging in.

      Terminology for Things You Do

      If you're new to computers, the first step is to learn a little terminology about actions you perform to operate the computer. We assume you know what the mouse is. When you move the mouse, the mouse pointer on the screen moves in whatever direction you move the mouse. Most mice have two buttons. The button on the left is the primary or left mouse button. It's referred to as the primary button because clicking it always makes an action occur directly.

      When you rest your hand comfortably on the mouse, the left mouse button should be under your index finger. You don't want to hold the button down, however. Just rest your index finger on it lightly.

      Tip

      If you're left-handed, you can switch the orientation of the buttons using the Mouse applet in the Control Panel. To open the Mouse applet, swipe in from the right to open the Charms Bar, tap or click Settings, and then tap or click Control Panel.

      The button on the right is the secondary or right mouse button. In contrast to the primary mouse button, clicking the secondary mouse button usually doesn't make an action take place directly; instead, it shows you various actions you can take.

      cross-ref-icon.png Windows 8 includes new terminology for new mouse and touch-based gestures. Those terms are covered in detail in Chapter 2, where you learn more about the new Windows 8 interface.

      Mouse terminology

      Everyone uses some specific terms to refer to actions you perform with the mouse. These terms include point, click, double-click, right-click, and drag.

      Point

      The term point, when used as a verb, means to touch the mouse pointer to an item. For example, point to the Desktop tile means to move the mouse pointer so that it's positioned over top of the Desktop tile (the tile named Desktop that, by default, is at the lower-left corner of the Start screen). If the item you want to point to is smaller than the mouse pointer, make sure you get the tip of the mouse pointer arrow on the item. Whatever the tip of the mouse pointer is on is the item to which you're pointing.

      The term hover means the same thing as point. For example, the phrase hover the mouse pointer over the Desktop tile means the same as point to the Desktop tile.

      When you point to an item on the Windows desktop, the item's name typically appears in a tooltip (a small box that appears, telling what you're pointing to). For example, if you point to a date and time on the notification bar on the Windows desktop taskbar, the day and date appear in a tooltip near the mouse pointer. The tooltip tells you the name of the item you're pointing to. Figure 3.1 shows an example of a tooltip when pointing to the desktop calendar.

      Figure 3.1

      The tooltip that appears when pointing to the Windows desktop calendar on the notification bar.

      9781118835319-fg0301.tif

      Tip

      You can learn the name and purpose of many items on your screen just by pointing to the item and reading the tooltip that appears near the mouse pointer.

      Click

      The term click means to point to an item and then tap the left mouse button. Don't hold down the left mouse button. Just tap (press and release) it. It makes a slight clicking sound when you do. For example, the phrase click the Desktop tile means put the mouse pointer on the Desktop tile on the Start menu and tap the left mouse button. When you do, the Windows desktop appears.

      Double-click

      The term double-click means to point to an item and then tap the left mouse button twice, quickly. Don't hold down the button and don't pause between clicks. Just tap the left mouse button twice. You use double-clicking to open items represented by icons on your screen.

      Right-click

      The term right-click means to point to an item and then tap the right mouse button. Again, don't hold down the mouse button, and don't use the left mouse button. Whereas clicking an item usually takes an immediate action, right-clicking presents a shortcut menu of things you can do with the item. You'll see many examples throughout this book.

      Drag

      The term drag means to point to an item and hold down the left mouse button while you're moving the mouse. You typically use dragging to move and size things on the screen. You can see examples a little later in this chapter.

      cross-ref-icon.png As you discover in Chapter 21, you can also use dragging to move and copy files from one location to another.

      Keyboard terminology

      It should go without saying that the computer keyboard is the thing that looks like a typewriter keyboard. The keys labeled F1, F2, and so forth across the top are function keys. The keys with arrows and names such as Home, End, PgUp (Page Up), and PgDn (Page Down) are navigation keys.

      Tab, Enter, and Spacebar

      The Tab key has two opposing arrows pointing left and right. That key is usually to the left of the letter Q. The Enter key (also called the Return key) is located where the carriage return key is on a standard typewriter. It may be labeled Enter or Return, or it may just show a bent, left-pointing arrow. The Spacebar is the wide key centered at the bottom of the keyboard. When you're typing text, it types a blank space.

      If in doubt, Escape key out

      The Escape key is labeled Esc or Escape (or maybe even Cancel). It's usually at the upper-left corner of the keyboard. It's a good one to know because it often allows you to escape from unfamiliar territory.

      The Help key (F1)

      The Help key is the F1 function key. That's a good one to know because it's the key you press for help. Not the kind of help where someone appears and helps you along. Unfortunately, it's not possible to get that kind of help from a computer. Instead, pressing Help opens a help window.

      The 9781118835319-un0301.tif key

      If you have a Windows keyboard, you also have a Windows key, which shows the Windows logo. It's usually near the lower-left corner of the keyboard. The Windows key might also show the word Start because you can tap it to show and hide the Windows 8 Start screen.

      Shift, Ctrl, and Alt

      The keys labeled Shift, Ctrl (Control), and Alt (Alternate) are modifier keys. There are usually two of each of those keys on a keyboard, near the lower left and lower right of the main typing keys. The Shift key may be labeled with a large, up-pointing arrow. One Shift key is located to the left of the Z key, the other to the right of the question mark (?) key. They're called modifier keys because they usually don't do anything by themselves. Instead, you hold down a modifier key while pressing some other key. For example, when you hold down the Shift key and press the A key, you get an uppercase A rather than a lowercase a.

      Shortcut keys

      The term press always refers to a key on the keyboard rather than something you do with the mouse. For example, the statement Press Enter means to press the Enter key. When you see an instruction to press two keys

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