Windows 10 Plain & Simple
SECOND EDITION
Nancy Muir Boysen
Michael Miller
Windows 10 Plain & Simple
Published with the authorization of Microsoft Corporation by:
Pearson Education, Inc.
Copyright 2018 by Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permissions, request forms, and the appropriate contacts within the Pearson Education Global Rights & Permissions Department, please visit www.pearsoned.com/permissions/. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
ISBN-13: 978-1-5093-0673-2
ISBN-10: 1-5093-0673-0
Library of Congress Control Number: The LOC is on file.
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Trademarks
Microsoft and the trademarks listed at http://www.microsoft.com on the Trademarks webpage are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
Warning and Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an as is basis. The authors, the publisher, and Microsoft Corporation shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book.
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Editor-in-Chief: Greg Wiegand
Acquisitions Editor: Laura Norman
Development Editor: Rick Kughen
Managing Editor: Sandra Schroeder
Senior Project Editor: Tracey Croom
Copy Editor: Wordsmithery
Indexer: Valerie Haynes Perry
Proofreader: Dan Foster
Technical Editor: Laura Acklen
Editorial Assistant: Cindy Teeters
Cover Designer: Twist Creative, Seattle
Compositor: Danielle Foster
Acknowledgments
From Nancy Boysen, 1st edition: Id like to thank Rosemary Caperton at Microsoft Press for trusting me with the writing of this book. Also, much gratitude to Carol Dillingham, who managed the editorial aspects of the book with great grace and professionalism. Many thanks to the folks at Octal Publishing who handled with great competence all the day-to-day production work on this challenging visual book. Thanks to Ed Bott for providing assistance with select figures. Finally, thanks to my technical reviewer, Randall Galloway, for keeping me on track with Windows 10.
From Michael Miller: Id like to thank the entire team at Microsoft Press for helping to turn this manuscript into a printed book. In particular, thanks to Laura Norman, Rick Kughen, and technical editor Laura Acklen, old friends alla team who really knows how to put a good book togeether.
About the authors
Nancy Muir Boysen is the author of more than 100 books on technology and other nonfiction topics. Prior to her authoring career, Nancy was a senior manager at several technology publishers as well as a training manager at Symantec. She has a Certificate in Distance Learning Design from the University of Washington, and has taught Internet safety and technical writing at the university level.
Michael Miller is a popular and prolific writer. He has written more than 200 books over the past three decades, on a variety of topics from computers to music to business, for audiences ranging from high school seniors to seniors over 50. He is known for his casual, easy-to-read writing style and his ability to explain a wide variety of complex topics to an everyday audience. Collectively, his books have sold more than a million copies worldwide.
His best-selling technology-related books include Computer Basics: Absolute Beginners Guide, Easy Computer Basics, How Microsoft Windows Vista Works, Microsoft Windows XP for Home Users, My Smart Home for Seniors, My Social Media for Seniors, My Windows 10 Computer for Seniors, Using Microsoft Windows 95, and Windows 7 Your Way. Learn more about Michael Miller and his books at www.millerwriter.com. His Twitter handle is @molehillgroup.
1. About this book
In this section:
With Windows 10, Microsoft has created a brand-new computing experience, the culmination of all the Windows products throughout the years. Before Windows 10, you might have used any number of earlier versions, such as Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista. This book is designed to help you make the leap and understand how to find what you need and get things done. Knowing the ins and outs of working with Windows 10 will help you be more efficient when working with your computer.
In this book, youll find a visual learning experience that offers step-by-step instructions along with images of Windows screens and callouts for each step. Youll always know where to take an action because you can see just what to click or select in apps, the Windows 10 desktop, the Start menu, and so on.
If youre new to Windows, this book will get you going. If you have used previous versions of Windows, youre going to appreciate this very powerful operating system that offers a wealth of functionality and, in many cases, fun and connections with others.
A quick overview
Windows 10 Plain & Simple is organized into multiple sections. Each section concerns a specific facet of Windows, and each has a color-coded bar across the top of the page; those colors match the section name in the table of contents. To help you find your way around the contents, heres a quick overview of what each section covers.
introduces the various visual interfaces of Windows 10, such as the Desktop, Start menu, Task View, and Action Center. You also learn how to start Windows 10, log in to your account, and shut down Windows.
helps you get started using Windows 10. Youll learn how to create new user accounts if your computer is used by people other than you, how to add passwords, and how to open the Windows Settings app, where you can control a variety of features. You are also introduced to Cortana, the personal assistant and search feature new to Windows 10. You get a closer look at the elements on the Start menu, which you use to access apps and settings. Along the way, you get advice about using the taskbar, Task View, setting the date and time, and managing power and storage options.