Learn how to get around your PC
Windows 8 and Windows RT come with new ways of getting around. Many PCs now have touch capabilities, but you can also use the mouse and keyboard that you're familiar with. Getting to know some basic actions can go a long way toward helping you get around your PC quickly and efficiently.
Zoom in and outOn the Start screen, click zoom in the lower-right corner of your screen, or press Ctrl while you rotate your mouse wheel forward or back.
Show the charmsMove your mouse pointer to the upper-right or lower-right corner on your screen. This will show the charms, which you can use to search for things, share content, get back to Start, set up devices, and change settings.
Select something
On the Start screen, right-click an item to select it.
Get to the desktop
On the Start screen, click the Desktop tile.
Tip: You can personalize the Desktop tile by personalizing the desktop. On the Start screen, click Desktop, right-click in an open area, and then click Personalize.
Go to the Start screenUse the charms—search, share, change settings, and more
Point to the upper-right or the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Start to go to the Start screen. Or, point to the lower-left corner of your screen and click the Start preview.
No matter where you are in Windows 8 or Windows RT, the charms help you do the things you do most often, like search, share links and photos, connect devices, and change settings. What you can do with the charms can change depending on if you're on the Start screen or using an app.
The five charms—Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings—are always available on the right side of your screen. Here’s how to open them:
If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right or the lower-right corner of the screen, move up or down, and then click the charm you want.
SearchWith the Search charm (+F), you can search for anything. You can search just the app you're in (like finding a specific message in Mail), search another app (like looking up something on the Internet), or search your entire PC (for an app, setting, or file).
Search your PC. When you’re on the Start screen or desktop, you can search your whole PC. Open the charms, tap or click Search, enter a term, and you’ll see the results. You can filter the search results to show apps, settings, or files, depending on what you're looking for. Tip: To search from the Start screen, you don’t even need to open the charms. Just start typing!
Search your apps. If you’re using an app, you can search just that app. For example, you can find specific email messages in the Mail app or look up meetings in the Calendar app. From within the app, open the charms, tap or click Search, and then enter what you're looking for.
Search the Internet. You can also search the web from anywhere on your PC. Open the charms, tap or click Search, enter your search term, and then tap or click Bing. You'll see Bing results for whatever you’re searching for.
Share
When you’re in a specific app, you can use the Share charm (
Start
You can always get back to the Start screen by using the Start charm (
Devices
You'll mainly use the Devices charm (
Settings
You can use the Settings charm (
Go online and browse the web
Whether you're working, playing games, listening to music, or catching up with friends, you'll want to be online and connected. Here’s how to connect your PC to the Internet.
Join a network
The first step to getting online is joining a network. Here's how:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Settings.)
2. Tap or click the wireless network iconor the wired network icon
.
3. Tap or click the network you want to connect to, and then tap or click Connect.
Get to the web
Once you’ve joined a network and have an Internet connection, you can get to the web right from the Start screen by tapping or clicking the Internet Explorer tile (if you don't have it, you can download Internet Explorer for free). If you're using another browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, you'll see a tile for your browser on your Start screen.
You can also get to the web from the desktop. On the Start screen, tap or click the Desktop tile, and then you'll notice an icon for your browser pinned to your taskbar.
Internet Explorer from Start
When you open Internet Explorer from the Start screen, the navigation controls, including your favorites and the Address bar, stay out of the way so you can focus on the website you're visiting. You can show the controls at any time by swiping up from the lower edge of the screen or right-clicking the screen.
Internet Explorer from the desktop
To open Internet Explorer from the desktop, on the Start screen, tap or click Desktop, and then tap or click the Internet Explorer button on the taskbar. When you open Internet Explorer from the desktop, you’ll see the Address bar at the top of the browser.
Find out more info about browsing the web.
Connect your Microsoft account
A Microsoft account is your email address and a password. When you use your Microsoft account to sign in to your Windows 8 or Windows RT PC, it's your key to free online storage, mobile entertainment, thousands of apps in the Windows Store, and connecting your devices and accounts seamlessly. If you already use services like Xbox, Outlook.com, or MSN, you've already got a Microsoft account.
After you connect a Microsoft account, you can do a lot with it: get apps, play Xbox games with friends, play music in the Music app, and add your Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to the People app so you get updates from the people you care about in one place.
Apps from the Store
Get apps from the Windows Store, and use them on up to five PCs running Windows 8 or Windows RT. You need a Microsoft account to get apps from the Store.
Your people in one place
Link your Outlook.com, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to the People app, and you'll see your friends' contact info and status updates in one place.
Your photos in one place
Link accounts to your Photos app to see your Flickr, SkyDrive, and Facebook photos all from one app.
Connect a Microsoft account now
You can choose to sign in to your PC without a Microsoft account, but you need a Microsoft account to fully experience all these benefits. When you first set up your Windows 8 or Windows RT PC, you have the option to sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account.
If you're not sure if you've already connected a Microsoft account to your PC, here's how to find out:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
2. Tap or click Users.
If you see a button under your account that says Sign in with a Microsoft account, you haven't connected a Microsoft account to your PC yet.
If you haven't connected a Microsoft account to your PC yet, you can do it now:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
2. Tap or click Users, tap or click Sign in with a Microsoft account, and then follow the instructions.
3. Add an account picture to go along with your sign-in info.
After you set up your Microsoft account, you can set an account picture to go along with your sign-in info. This will help personalize your account and distinguish it from any other people that are used on the same PC.
By the way, here’s how to change your account picture:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
2. Tap or click Personalize, and then tap or click Account picture.
Depending on your PC, you can upload a favorite picture as your account picture or you can take a new photo or video clip to associate with your account. The account picture is there to reflect that your account is unique to you, so make it your own!
More than one Microsoft account
If you have more than one Microsoft account and want to decide which one to make your primary account, follow the steps in this guide (English only). If you're a gamer, for example, you might want to use your Xbox Live ID, or if there's an email address you use the most, you might want to use that. We'll help you decide.
Post a Comment