Windows 8 Basics

Part 1

Home screen

Using tiles. When you start your computer, you will see the Start screen after the lock screen and login screen. It is intended to replace the Start button from previous versions of Windows. The Start screen contains several rectangles of different colors and sizes. These are the tiles. They are designed to perform the same action that icons performed in previous versions of the OS: when clicked, the program associated with them is launched.

Some tiles display basic information about the program associated with them. For example, the Store tile shows the number of programs that have updates available.
You can move tiles by holding and dragging. With the exit Windows updates 8.1 became available group movement(and editing) tiles.

Benefits of living tiles. Live tiles change their appearance every few seconds to display various information. These tiles are very convenient and add a dynamic feel to your Start screen, but they are not available for all apps. Live tiles are especially handy for apps like News - you'll always be up to date with live headlines.

Click the Desktop tile to switch to desktop mode. The Start screen should have a tile that turns on the traditional desktop mode. For most tasks this view is not required, but thanks to classic look desktop, you can quickly get used to the new Windows 8.

Part 2
Desktop
Part 3
General navigation
1. Express button panel. To bring up the Quick Keys menu, move the pointer to the top-right corner and drag down. This way you can call system time and a menu for controlling some computer functions. Be sure to check out wide possibilities of this menu.
  Switch between windows. To switch between windows, programs, and applications, hold the pointer in the upper left corner of the screen and tap left button mice. So you can view running programs. To quickly jump to a specific program, hold the pointer in this corner and drag down to get to the equivalent of the taskbar, where you will see all the open programs.
  - Don't forget, the desktop is separate program, and you may need to launch the desktop to go directly to the program you want.
2. Launching programs. To launch programs, click tiles in the Start menu or program icons in desktop mode. Creating separate tiles for frequently used programs will be discussed below. As before, programs can be pinned to the desktop taskbar.
  - To pin a program to the taskbar for which you can't quickly find the application icon in desktop mode, use the Search Express button to find the program and select Pin to taskbar. This feature is not available for all programs, but pinning to the Start menu is always available.
3. Closing programs. Close programs using the familiar "x" button in the upper right corner of the program window. If this button is not available, open sidebar tasks (hold the pointer in the upper left corner of the screen and drag down) and click right click mouse over the program you want to close.
  - You can also use the Alt+F4 combination to close a program, but this way you can only close the program you are currently viewing.
4. Using several programs at the same time. As you will notice, for example, when you go from the Internet access window where you are running a video on YouTube, playback will stop. If you want to use two programs simultaneously in Windows 8, you will need to switch your computer to windowed mode.
  - To switch to windowed mode, both programs must be running. Hold your mouse pointer in the upper left corner until another program you want to view appears. Capture the image and then hold it at the edge of the screen until the program outline appears. Release the image, after which both programs will be launched and active.
  - Windows 8.1 allows you to run up to 8 apps at once, but this number also depends on your screen size. For example, on tablets you cannot run more than two programs.
Part 4
Main programs
1. Office software package. If you have the latest version of the office software package, which is designed in the same style as Windows 8, you will notice that the interface has become more elegant. Compared to Office 7, the functionality remains virtually unchanged. If you are familiar with this version of office tools, you can easily upgrade to new version programs. In order to improve, some programs have received new functions. Now enjoy office programs it has become even easier and more convenient.
  
  Mail application. This is a very useful application that can work with all your accounts Email in one program. The program can be synchronized with Hotmail services, Yahoo, AOL, Gmail or Google, Outlook and many others. You can view, send and organize all your correspondence using one program.
  - To add email accounts, tap Options in the Hot Keys menu, then select Accounts and Add Accounts.
2. SkyDrive app. The SkyDrive application allows you to store files on the Internet and access them from any computer. Files can be stored as private or public, and you can also share files with specific people. You can also create folders, upload files, and perform other actions like refreshing the screen and viewing details by right-clicking the window background.
  - For use SkyDrive service Typically a subscription is required, but some features may be available for free.
3. "Shop" application. The Store service allows you to find and download new programs for your device. Some of the programs are free. You will have access to games, productivity, social, entertainment and sports programs, reading apps and more.
  
  Standard programs. You may need programs like Notepad and Calculator, which used to be in the Accessories menu. Such programs and utilities are also present in Windows 8. To find them, click on the search button in the Express Keys menu and scroll all the way to the right.
  - Such programs usually run in desktop mode and are treated as a single program.
4. New printing tools. Make sure your printer is set up using the Devices express button. In programs that run on the desktop or have a familiar interface, printing is the same as before. For applications with the new "modern" Windows interface 8 you will need to find special button print or call the print dialog using the hotkey combination Ctrl+P.
  
  Setting up custom tiles. You can create new tiles from the Start menu by right-clicking on an application icon in the search menu. In the same way, you can change the appearance of the tiles by selecting suitable size(if available). By using third party programs You can create fully personalized tiles with your own image and text.
Part 5
Changing programs, settings and appearance
1. Removing tiles. To remove a tile, right-click on it and select Remove from Start Menu. This action is different from uninstalling programs because the program will remain installed on your computer and will be accessible. It will simply no longer appear in the Start menu.
  
  Change six basic parameters. There are six main options available in the Express Keys menu: network parameters, volume, screen brightness, notifications, power and keyboard. The purpose of these parameters is self-explanatory and allows you to general management system.
  
  Extra options. For change additional parameters You need to select "Change PC settings" below the six main options. This menu allows you to personalize the screen, change user settings, personalization, synchronization and much more.
  - In desktop mode, there's a more familiar way to change settings.
2. Control Panel. For quick access Control Panel can be found by using the Search Express button or by clicking Control Panel under the Settings Express button. To access the Control Panel and other options, you can position the pointer in the lower left corner and right-click.
3. Personalize the appearance of the device. There are several in various ways changes in the appearance of the device. They allow you to personalize your device. If desired, these parameters can be synchronized between different devices, so you'll see the same screen in front of you every time, no matter what device you're using.
  - Personalization home screen. To change the background and color scheme From the Home screen, select Settings from the Hot Keys menu, then tap Personalization. This action can only be performed from the Start screen. IN this menu You can set the Start screen to overlay the desktop instead of having a dramatically different screen. Thanks to this you can also install own image as the Start screen background.
  - Desktop personalization. Right-click the background in desktop mode and select Personalize. Set the desired background image from those available on your computer or select one of the preset images.
  - Personalize your lock screen. To personalize your lock screen background, select Change PC settings below the six main options. Tap Personalization and Lock Screen. To select your own background images Click Browse.
  - Change your account picture. To change your account picture, select Change PC settings below the six main options. Next, click “Personalization” and “Account Picture”. You can upload an existing photo or take a new photo using your webcam.
4. Security Settings
  - Set up account Microsoft for everyone to enjoy the benefits of Windows 8.
  - One of the new Windows features 8 is the universal "Spell Checker" in background. This feature is useful when writing a comment on a blog, creating or editing an article on wikiHow or similar sites, prompting you to make corrections. For comfort online users Many words from modern computer jargon have been added to the dictionary.
  - Possible safe installation Windows versions 8 Preview in parallel with the existing version of Windows. During installation, please note Special attention to the partition where you are installing Windows 8. This installation will require an empty partition.
  Warnings
  - Don't forget to check compatibility software. Many programs may not work correctly in Windows 8.
  - If you install Windows 8 Preview alongside your existing version of Windows, do not leave your computer idle while in Windows 8.
    - In case of automatic Windows transition 8 into standby mode, subsequent boot more early version Windows may be accompanied by an integrity violation report hard drives. Nothing bad will happen, but it may take you some time. At waking up Windows cannot choose which partition to return to, which may require you to manually turn off the computer and turn it on again.
    - The reason lies in the double menu Windows boot 8, which is activated by the mouse and has a solid background fill.
    - Configure the msconfig.exe file on an earlier version of the OS. You won't be able to use the menu from Windows 8, but you will get a stable boot.
  - When dual booting or even clean install one system, it is necessary to ensure that the system Windows partition was on the correct section.
  - If you are not sure about the advisability of upgrading to a new version, you can use booting from a removable device, which allows you to familiarize yourself with the system's capabilities. A version for downloading from such devices is available for download.
  - Do not use dual boot, if you have little practical experience. Numerous articles on wikiHow cover many topics in depth and help you gain the knowledge you need.

An operating system is a program that makes a computer functional and is responsible for the functioning of all other programs and hardware. If you have a “computer,” it probably has the Windows operating system installed. If you are a novice user, we will help you learn and master all the features of your version of Windows, and also customize them according to your preferences. All our lessons are intended primarily “for dummies” - for beginners Windows users 10, 7, 8/8.1 and XP are listed below. They are available to you at any time of the day and completely free.

Windows 10

Windows 10 is latest version operating system Windows from Microsoft for personal computers And mobile devices. It was released on July 29, 2015, and for exactly 1 year, users could upgrade their computers to Windows 10 on free of charge. If you haven't had time to update: . Learn more about Windows 10 with our beginner tutorials below! More instructions and articles you will find.

Windows 8/8.1

Windows 8 is the penultimate version of the operating system from Microsoft for personal computers, laptops and even mobile devices (tablets, smartphones, etc.). In this version, everything is completely redesigned, and many things may be incomprehensible and unusual for users. With the help of our lessons you will learn all the features, settings and quickly get used to Windows 8.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is the operating system from Microsoft, released in 2009 as an upgrade to XP or Vista. Learn all the features and settings of the Windows 7 operating system with the help of our lessons.

The world is waiting for the emergence of a new generation of the Windows 8 operating system from Microsoft. Its test versions are already available. Judging by them, Windows 8 has many new features and capabilities that are not obvious at first glance, but are very convenient if you learn how to use them. A few tips and tricks in this article will make your life with Windows 8 much easier!

How to turn off your Windows 8 computer

The most ill-conceived and inconvenient thing in Windows 8 is the process of turning off the computer. There is simply no familiar “Turn off” button in the Metro interface! Of course, you can use the Alt+F4 key combination, but it’s much more pleasant to turn off the computer by pressing the tile in the Metro interface.
Creating such a tile is very simple. Go to your desktop, click on it right key mouse and create a new shortcut. In the shortcut parameters enter the command:

shutdown.exe -s -t 00

Copy the created shortcut to the folder:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Please note that the "ProgramData" folder is hidden, so the easiest way to copy the address is to address bar conductor.

After that, return to the Metro interface and you will find the “Shutdown” tile in it:

By clicking this tile you can turn off your computer in one click!

How to remove an application from Windows 8

To get rid of programs you no longer need in just a couple of minutes, right-click on any application icon in the Metro interface. A special panel will appear at the bottom of the screen, on which, among other things, there is a “Delete” item.

When you click on it, the “Programs and” section will open for third-party programs. Windows components", from where you can run a regular uninstaller, and applications downloaded from Windows Store, will simply be deleted immediately, without unnecessary requests!

Windows 8 Hotkeys

If your computer doesn't have touch screen, working in the Metro interface with a mouse will be tedious. It will be more convenient to use hot keys instead of a mouse. Below are the most important combinations Win keys dows 8:

Windows + C: Open the right pop-up toolbar.
Windows + I: Opens the settings panel.
Windows + T: Opens the desktop.
Windows + M: The worker also opens it and at the same time minimizes all windows.
Windows + Q: Opens the utility global search in the Windows 8 metro interface.

Don't like the Metro interface?

If you don't like the Metro interface, you can get rid of it easily and simply with the help of a small, useful trick. Launch Explorer and create a shortcut on your desktop for the desktop itself.

Then simply copy this shortcut to your startup programs folder.

More detailed instructions on this issue is given in our review:

Search apps directly in Metro

In Windows XP, searching for applications required clicking Start, placing the cursor in the small window at the bottom of the screen and typing the name of the application. It would seem that it would be much simpler? It turns out there is somewhere!

In Windows 8, you don’t need to open any windows at all to search for an application. You just need to start typing, right in the Metro interface.

What to do if Windows 8 starts to crash?

Alas, test versions of Windows 8 always crash once a month, so much so that you almost have to reinstall the operating system from scratch. It is possible that this is a deliberate limitation of free trial versions of Windows 8.

For those who already use this OS as their main one, reinstallation is not advisable. It is much easier and faster to use one of the two new built-in “update” or “reset” system functions.

Move your mouse to the lower right corner of the screen, wait for the panel with the “Settings” button to appear and click it:

The system settings panel will appear. Click the link " Additional settings" (More PC settings):

The control panel will appear. Go to the “General” section:

The Refresh... command in this section allows you to restore the system without deleting user data. If this recovery option does not help, you can use the “Reset to initial settings” option (Reset...):

The reset function actually completely reinstalls Windows 8, while it deletes all data and restores the OS to its original state. After performing the “Reset” the system will be like new!

Default application settings

The default applications in Windows 8 are generally not bad, but some of them would like to be replaced with third-party ones. A special tool has been created for this in Windows 8. To launch it, simply type the text “Set default programs” in the metro interface and click on the link that appears.

In the default programs settings window, select the "Set programs as default" option. For each program, you can see and configure all the extensions that it can open:

Windows 8 download links

All the innovations of Windows 8 can be seen and tried now by downloading the official free test version. Links to it can be found in our review.

Windows 8- This penultimate version systems released by Microsoft today. As we expected, after the “Seven” we received the “Eight”. And of course we need to learn install Windows 8 to get started with this latest operating system. I suggest we do this today.

Let's look at the whole process Windows installations 8, how it differs from the installations of other versions of Windows, and so on. But before we get down to business, we need to naturally announce the system requirements. It's simple!

To install Windows 8 we need:

so that the processor is with clock frequency not less than 1 GHz
free space hard drive 20 GB or more
DirectX 9 support

In other words, if you previously had “Seven” installed, then you shouldn’t bother with system requirements. Latest Windows 8 will work great for you.

1. Where to get a disk with Windows 8

You can buy the program in a store or online. If you are from the network, then most likely you will have an image downloaded that will need to be written to an empty disk. I explained how this is done in the lesson: . If this information is relevant to you, then read it, everything is very simple there.

2. Set the BIOS to boot from disk

Today we can confidently say that Microsoft has kept its promise regarding the new operating system. After all, Windows 8 has a completely different interface compared to Windows 7 or earlier versions. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to use Windows 8.

Rules for using Windows 8

Every user is confident that he can easily understand any operating system from Microsoft, but in this version of Windows everything is much more complicated. After all, even at the first stage there is a problem with locking the screen.

In fact, there are no difficulties in solving this problem. To remove the lock from the screen, just press the space bar on the keyboard and scroll the mouse wheel up. If installed touch monitor, all manipulations can be carried out using your finger. It is as a result of such actions that a menu will appear on the screen, which will allow you to enter the operating system. But before that, you need to enter the login and password that were entered at It should be noted that this process is considered simple only if the computer has Russian Windows 8.

Another problem that users encounter quite often is basic navigation. As everyone knows, the operating system is launched with a new and improved Metro interface. It is thanks to this that when you turn on the computer, bright tiles appear that correspond to a particular application. In order to scroll through the programs that were installed when the operating system loaded, you must use the wheel. Scrolling will move the icons up or down. Of course, you can also use the keyboard buttons to perform such manipulations. If you need to go to another menu, press Home key or End. To return to the start page, just use the Windows button.

Hotkeys in Windows 8

Of course, it is very important to understand how to use Windows 8, so it is advisable to remember the key combinations that will be encountered quite often in this operating system. As in all versions, it is responsible for the appearance of the menu.

If you need to quickly view all applications that have been installed, you should click Win combination+ Q. When you press Win + F, the user has the opportunity to start searching for files. When you need to open the Control Panel window, just hold down the Win + I keys.

But these are not all the combinations that the Windows 8 operating system uses. It should be noted that the language in this version is switched using the Win + Space keys.

Loading an unsigned driver

Today, no operating system will work without installed drivers. Therefore, it is very important to install everything necessary components. Most often, when loading a driver for Windows 8, the system displays an error, which indicates some problems. Typically this is a consequence of loading a driver that does not have digital signature. It is for this reason that it is important to learn how to install an unsigned type of driver in the operating system. Windows system 8.

It is worth immediately noting that loading such components can entail serious consequences that will affect the performance of the entire operating system.

First thing to do is install unsigned driver, you must disable digital signature verification. This can be done through command line. To do this, just write: shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 00. After this, the computer will reboot.

As soon as it opens start page, an expanded list of boot options will appear. This is where you need to find the Troubleshoot inscription and click on it.
Next, select the Advanced Startup option, after which another list of commands opens. Here you should click on the Startup Settings inscription, and then the Restart button. When the computer restarts, a menu will open showing the entire list of boot options. Among all the names you need to find an item that can disable the check. It should be noted that you need to select it by pressing the 7 key. It is as a result of such Windows actions will boot in the mode that allows loading an unsigned driver.

Windows 8 activation

Today, before using Windows 8, you need to activate of this product from Microsoft. For these purposes, we offer a wide range of completely different programs, but it is best to choose the 7TW8AIOT program.

This application is a real "combine" that is capable of performing several various functions. Among them, the most popular are:

activation files;
disabling an installed interface.

In addition to these functions, the program is capable of performing other processes. To start activation operating system, you need to launch the application - and the procedure will be enabled automatically. It should be noted that the program independently searches for a KMS server for the activator.

Programs for Windows

After it is finished, you can install everything possible programs. IN modern world There are quite a few products that can run on this operating system. But this does not mean that you need to clog up your computer. It is best to install really Below are some of them.

OpenWith Enhanced. This application can replace standard window"To open with". It is worth noting that this utility has in its arsenal big list useful and convenient functions.
Windows 8.x Explorer Rebar Tweaker. Also very interesting program, which allows you to customize the navigation bar.
Ultimate Windows Tweaker. This application allows you to efficiently customize Windows 8.

In addition to these utilities, there are a number of useful applications. Therefore, each user must select them for their computer.

Shutdown Windows 8

Many people, having figured out how to use Windows 8, at the end of the work are faced with another problem, which is that this is due to the fact that traditional methods, as a rule, do not work for this operating system. Most often, after carrying out standard shutdown measures, the computer goes into sleep mode. Therefore, it is very important to understand this process.

To turn off your Windows 8 computer, you need to perform the following steps. First of all, you need to point at top corner With right side. After this, a window will open in which you need to click “Select options” and “Turn off”.