Andy Rathbone - Windows 8.1 For Dummies

Windows 8.1 For Dummies

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2013947510

ISBN 978-1-118-82121-3 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-82102-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-82109-1 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Introduction

W elcome to Windows 8.1 For Dummies, the worlds best-selling book about Windows 8.1!

This books popularity probably boils down to this simple fact: Some people want to be Windows whizzes. They love interacting with dialog boxes. Some randomly press keys in the hope of discovering hidden, undocumented features. A few memorize long strings of computer commands while washing their hair.

And you? Well, youre no dummy, thats for sure. But when it comes to Windows and computers, the fascination just isnt there. You want to get your work done, stop, and move on to something more important. You have no intention of changing, and theres nothing wrong with that.

Thats where this book comes in handy. Instead of making you a whiz at Windows, it merely dishes out chunks of useful computing information when you need them. Instead of becoming a Windows expert, youll know enough to get by quickly, cleanly, and with a minimum of pain so that you can move on to the more pleasant things in life.

And you can do that whether youre dealing with a touchscreen, laptop, or desktop computer.

About This Book

Dont try to read this book in one sitting; theres no need. Instead, treat this book like a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Turn to the page with the information you need and say, Ah, so thats what theyre talking about. Then put down the book and move on.

Dont bother trying to memorize all the Windows jargon, such as Select the Menu Item from the Drop-Down List Box. Leave that stuff for the computer enthusiasts. In fact, if anything technical comes up in a chapter, a road sign warns you well in advance. Depending on your mood, you can either slow down to read it or speed on around it.

Instead of fancy computer jargon, this book covers subjects like these, all discussed in plain English:

Keeping your computer safe and secure

Making sense of the new Windows Start screen

Finding, starting, and closing programs and apps

Locating the file you saved or downloaded yesterday

Setting up a computer for the whole family to use

Copying information to and from a CD or DVD

Saving and sharing photos from your digital camera

Printing your work

Creating a network between two or more computers to share the Internet, files, or a printer

Fixing Windows when its misbehaving

Theres nothing to memorize and nothing to learn. Just turn to the right page, read the brief explanation, and get back to work. Unlike other books, this one enables you to bypass the technical hoopla and still get your work done.

How to Use This Book

Windows 8.1 will most definitely leave you scratching your head at some point. Its the most confusing version of Windows ever released to the public, so take pride in the fact that youre strong enough to persevere.

When something in Windows leaves you stumped, use this book as a reference. Find the troublesome topic in this books table of contents or index. The table of contents lists chapter and section titles and page numbers. The index lists topics and page numbers. Page through the table of contents or index to the spot that deals with that particular bit of computer obscurity, read only what you have to, close the book, and apply what youve read.

If youre feeling adventurous and want to find out more, read a little further in the bulleted items below each section. You can find a few completely voluntary extra details, tips, or cross-references to check out. Theres no pressure, though. You arent forced to discover anything that you dont want to or that you simply dont have time for.