Nick Vandome - Windows 10 in easy steps: Covers the Creators Update

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www.ineasysteps.com Third Edition Copyright 2017 by In Easy Steps Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

Notice of Liability Every effort has been made to ensure that this book contains accurate and current information. However, In Easy Steps Limited and the author shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by readers as a result of any information contained herein. Trademarks Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their respective companies. Contents Introducing Windows 10 This chapter explains what Windows is, and shows how to get started with the operating system, including the changes in Windows 10 Creators Update and its interface, keyboard shortcuts, creating a Microsoft Account and signing in. What is Windows? Windows is an operating system for PCs (personal computers), laptops and tablets. The operating system is the software that organizes and controls all of the components (hardware and software) in your computer.

The first operating system from Microsoft was known as MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System). This was a non-graphical, line-oriented, command-driven operating system, able to run only one application at a time. The original Windows system was an interface manager that ran on top of the MS-DOS system, providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and using clever processor and memory management to allow it to run more than one application or function at a time. The basic element of Windows was its windowing capability. A window (with a lower-case w) is a rectangular area used to display information or to run a program or app. Several windows can be opened at the same time so that you can work with multiple applications.

This provided a dramatic increase in productivity, in comparison with the original MS-DOS. Microsoft released four versions of this interface management Windows, with numerous intermediate versions, including: 1985 Windows 1.0 1987 Windows 2.0, 2.1 & 2.11 1990 Windows 3.0, 3.1, 3.11 (Windows for Workgroups) 1995 Windows 95 1998 Windows 98, 98 SE 2000 Windows Me (Millennium Edition) The next version, Windows XP, was a full operating system in its own right. This was followed by Windows Vista and then Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 (there was no Windows 9). 2001 Windows XP (eXPerience) Home and Professional 2007 Windows Vista Home, Home Premium, Ultimate etc. 2009 Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium, Ultimate etc. 2012 Windows 8 Starter, Pro, Enterprise and RT 2013 Windows 8.1 Starter, Pro, Enterprise and RT 2015 Windows 10 Home, Pro, Enterprise and Education 2016 Windows 10 Anniversary Update The New icon pictured above indicates a new or enhanced feature introduced with the Windows 10 Creators Update.

About Windows 10 The latest version of Windows was released in April 2017: 2017 Windows 10 Creators Update, which can be used to upgrade any existing version of Windows 10. All major computer operating systems (OS) undergo regular upgrades and new versions. Sometimes these are a significant visual overhaul, while others concentrate more on the behind- the-scenes aspect of the OS. In terms of Microsoft Windows, Windows 8 was one of the most radical updates to the User Interface (UI), and introduced a number of new features for both desktop and mobile versions of Windows. However, it was not met with universal approval, as it was perceived that it was two separate operating systems (desktop and mobile) bolted together, and not satisfying either environment completely. If you are upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1, you will be able to keep all of your settings, files and apps.

With Windows 10, a lot of the problems with Windows 8 were addressed: the familiar Start menu was reinstated to return to a UI similar to earlier versions of Windows; there was a greater consolidation between desktop and mobile devices running Windows 10; and the operation of apps was standardized so that it is similar for the new Windows apps as well as the more traditional ones. In a sense, this was a case of going back one step in order to go forwards two steps, and Windows 10 has succeeded in creating a familiar environment, coupled with a range of innovative and useful features. The functionality of the Creators Update is generally the same as for the original Windows 10, and it will, in general, be referred to as Windows 10 throughout the book. Windows 10 Creators Update The intention for Windows 10 has always been to produce incremental updates, rather than waiting a period of time for the next major update. This is the reason why it is unlikely that there will be a Windows 11; instead, there will be regular online updates to Windows 10. The Windows 10 Creators Update marks the second anniversary of the release of the software.

It contains a number of improvements and refinements but, in keeping with the Windows 10 ethos, it is an incremental update rather than a major new operating system, although it contains a comprehensive range of new features. The Creators Update is delivered online through the Windows Update function in the Settings app. A registered version of Windows 10 has to be installed in order for the Creators Update to be downloaded (or a license can be bought when downloading the Creators Update). Some of the new features in the update are detailed on the next two pages. Microsoft has also announced a version of Windows 10 named Windows 10 S. This is designed to only use apps from the Windows Store, and is aimed at the education market and users who prefer to remove the risk of using non-Windows Store apps.

About Creators Update These features are new or updated in the Windows 10 Creators Update. Although the Creators Update is still under the Windows 10 banner, there is a range of significant additions and enhancements from the earlier versions of the operating system. Some of these include: Enhanced Settings. The Settings app has been updated to include more options, and also more of the items in the Windows Control Panel have been migrated to the Settings app so that they can be found in one place. One example of this is the Themes option, which can be used to apply personalized themes across the whole of Windows 10. Gaming Settings.

There is a new Settings category for Gaming, and there is also a new Game Bar that is a virtual games controller, which can be activated when playing games with Windows 10 Creators Update.