My Windows 8 Book

About the Author ix

Dedication x

Acknowledgments x

We Want to Hear from You! xi

Reader Services xi

Introduction 1

Versions of Windows 8 2

Highlights of Windows 8 3

What You’ll Find in This Book 5

Let’s Begin 7

Chapter 1: Wow, Windows 8! 9

Exploring Windows 8 10

Touring the Start Screen 10

Using Touch in Windows 8 13

Getting Around with the Mouse and Keyboard 18

Using the Mouse 18

Using the (Real) Keyboard 22

Shutting Down or Putting Windows 8 to Sleep 27

Finding the Help You Need 29

Chapter 2: Preparing Your Windows 8 PC and Devices 35

Adding Devices in Windows 8 36

Connecting to Wireless Networks 43

Managing Your PC Power 46

Transferring Files 49

Refreshing Your PC or Reinstalling Windows 8 53

Chapter 3: Beginning with the Start Screen 59

Exploring the Start Screen 60

Understanding Windows 8 Charms 64

Changing the Way Tiles Look and Behave 66

Moving, Grouping, and Removing Apps 71

Searching in Windows 8 75

Chapter 4: Working with the Windows 8 Desktop 81

Moving Between the Desktop and the Start Screen 82

Getting Ready to Work with Programs 83

Tailoring the Taskbar 87

Working with Windows on the Windows Desktop 89

Window Basics 89

Chapter 5: Personalizing Windows 8 97

Personalizing Your Lock Screen 97

Adding Badges 103

Adjusting the Look of Windows 8 103

Changing Your Windows 8 Desktop 107

Tweaking Your Touch Experience 110

Adjusting the Mouse 111

Choosing Your Language 114

Chapter 6: Securing Your Windows 8 Computer 117

Customizing Your Login 118

Working with the Action Center 129

Using Windows Defender 134

Turning on Your Windows Firewall 136

Working with User Accounts 139

Maintaining Your Privacy 143

Chapter 7: Exploring Windows 8 Apps 147

Getting Started with Apps 148

Finding and Starting Apps 151

Working with Apps 154

Exploring a Program “Window” 155

Checking Out a Windows 8 App 156

Closing Apps 160

Getting New Apps from the Windows Store 162

Starting and Stopping a Program from the Desktop 165

Repairing and Uninstalling Programs 167

Chapter 8: Managing Files with File Explorer 173

Getting Started with File Explorer 174

Starting File Explorer 174

Exploring the Explorer Screen 175

Using the Ribbon 178

Working with Windows 8 Libraries 181

Managing Your Files and Folders 188

Copying, Moving, and Sharing Files and Folders 194

Chapter 9: Always Online with Internet Explorer 10 203

Introducing Internet Explorer 10 203

Starting Internet Explorer 205

A Look Around the Internet Explorer Window(s) 206

Browsing and Searching the Web--the Windows 8 Way 209

Navigating the Web 211

Searching for Information 216

Working with Tabs 220

Securing Your Browsing Experience 223

Chapter 10: Connect and Communicate with Windows 8 227

Getting Social with the People App 228

Staying in Touch Through Email 238

Checking Out the Mail Window 240

Keeping Your Dates Straight with the Calendar App 243

Messaging: When You Need Instant Contact 247

Chapter 11: Get Entertained with Windows 8 Photos, Music, Movies, and Xbox 253

Let There Be Photos! 253

Grooving to Your Tunes 260

Watching and Sharing Video in Windows 8 269

Games in Windows 8 273

Chapter 12: Connect with Other Computers, Devices, and the Cloud 279

Setting Up a Home Network 279

Gathering Your Equipment 280

Getting Started with a HomeGroup 283

Using Your HomeGroup 286

Saving Your Files to SkyDrive 289

Chapter 13: Windows 8 Care, Feeding, and Troubleshooting 293

Getting Windows 8 Updates 293

Backing Up and Restoring Your Files 298

Using System Tools 302

Compatibility with Windows 8 305

Appendix A: Windows 8 App Gallery 309

Appreciating Your Apps 310

Checking Out the Bing Apps 312

Finance App 313

Weather App 313

Maps App 314

News App 315

Sports App 316

Travel App 317

The Windows Store Revisited 319

Getting App Info 322

Installing Apps 324

The Windows 8 App Gallery 330

Allrecipes 330

ChaCha 331

Dictionary.com 332

HowStuffWorks 333

OneNote MX Preview 334

Paint 4 Kids 335

StumbleUpon 336

Wikipedia 337

Index 339