When you're setting up Windows 8, it will require you to create an account name and password that you will use to sign in. You can also create additional accounts, and you'll have the option of associating each one with a Microsoft account.
[*=left]Click anywhere on the lock screen to unlock the computer.
Clicking the lock
screen
[*=left]Your user account name and picture will appear. Type your password and then press Enter to sign in. Alternatively, you can press the back arrow to select a different user.
[h=3]Navigating Windows 8 There are several ways to navigate through Windows 8, including hot corners, keyboard shortcuts, and gestures if you're using a tablet.
[h=4]Using Hot Corners Whether you're in the Start screen or the Desktop, you can navigate through Windows 8 by using hot corners. To use a hot corner, just hover the mouse in the corner of the screen, and it will open a toolbar or tile that you can click. Each corner performs a different task:
Lower left: When you're using an app, you can click in the lower-left corner to switch back to the Start screen.
Clicking in the lower-left corner
Upper left: If you click in the upper-left corner, it will switch to the previous app that you were using.
[*=left]Upper right or lower right: You can hover the mouse in the upper-right or lower-right corner to open the Charms bar, which you'll use to adjust your computer's settings, manage printers, and more. We'll talk more about the Charms bar later in this lesson.
Hovering in the lower-right corner
If you have several apps open, you can switch between them by hovering the mouse in the upper-left corner and then moving the mouse down. This displays a list of all of your open apps, and you can click the desired app to switch to it.
Windows 8 has several keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate more easily:
[*=left]Alt+Tab: You can hold down the Alt key and then press Tab one or more times to switch between your open apps. This feature is called Flip, and it works in both Desktop view and the Start screen.
Alt+Tab
[*=left]Windows: When you have an app open, you can press the Windows key to switch to the Start screen. This shortcut also lets you switch back to the Start screen when you are in Desktop view.
Windows key
[*=left]Windows+D: You can hold down the Windows key and press D to switch to Desktop view.
The Charms bar is a toolbar that lets you access your computer's settings, along with other options. You can access the Charms bar by hovering the mouse in the top-right or bottom-right corner.
The Charms bar contains several icons, which are called charms, and each one contains different options:
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Search: The Search charm lets you find apps, files, or settings on your computer. However, a simpler way to search is to go to the Start screen and type the name of the file or app that you're looking for.
Searching for an app
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Share: The Share charm is basically a copy and paste feature that is designed to be as convenient as possible. It allows you to "copy" information (such as a photo or web address) and "paste" it into another app. For example, if you're viewing a photo in the Photos app, you can share it with the SkyDrive app, which will upload the photo to your SkyDrive. If you're reading an article online, you can share the address with the Email app, which lets you email the article to a friend.
Using the Share charm to upload a photo to SkyDrive
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Start: This switches to the Start screen. If you're already on the Start screen, it will open the most recent app.
The Start screen
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Devices: This shows any hardware devices that are connected to your computer, such as printers or monitors.
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Settings: This lets you access general settings for your computer, as well as settings for the app you're currently viewing. For example, if you're in Internet Explorer, you can go to the Settings charm to access your Internet Options.
[h=3]Coping Without the Start Menu One of the biggest complaints about Windows 8 is that it doesn't have a Start menu. The Start menu was a very important feature in previous versions of Windows, as it was used to launch apps, search for files, open the Control Panel, and shut down the computer. You can still do all of these things in Windows 8, but they're now found in different places.
[*=left]Press the Windows key to switch to the Start screen, and then type what you're looking for. Your search results will instantly appear on the left side of the screen, and search options will appear on the right.
Start screen apps are different from the "classic" Windows apps you may be used to. Apps fill the entire screen instead of opening in a window. However, you can still multitask by opening two apps side-by-side.
[*=left]Hover the mouse at the top of the app. The cursor will change to a hand icon.
The hand icon
[*=left]Click, hold, and drag the top of the app all the way down to the bottom of the screen and then release. The app will close, and you'll return to the Start screen.
Closing an app
When dragging the app down, it may look like it's "stuck." However, just keep moving the mouse down until the cursor gets to the bottom of the screen, and the app will then close.
Although apps usually fill up the entire screen, Windows 8 lets you snap an app to the left or right side and then open a second app. For example, you might want to keep your calendar visible while you're using another app.
[h=2]Using SkyDrive with Windows 8 :4
[h=3]Using SkyDrive with Windows 8
One of the biggest changes in Windows 8 is that it is closely integrated with SkyDrive, Microsoft's online storage service. If you have files stored in your SkyDrive, you'll be able to access them easily with Windows 8. In this lesson, we'll show you how to manage your SkyDrive files, and also how to install the SkyDrive Desktop app.
If you've used previous versions of Windows, you're probably used to working with folders and files on your computer. But people are now more mobile than ever, and it's nice to have your files with you wherever you go. The cloud is generally the most convenient way to do this. If you store your files online, then all you need is an internet connection, and you'll be able to access your files — whether you're at work, at home, or at a friend's house.
SkyDrive gives you 7 gigabytes of online storage space for free, and you can purchase more space if you need it. You can decide whether you want to store all of your files online, or just the most important ones. When you log in to Windows with your Microsoft account, it automatically connects to your SkyDrive, allowing you to access your files from the built-in SkyDrive app or the Photos app.
The Photos app lets you access your SkyDrive photos
[h=4]To Upload Files to SkyDrive: Some apps, such as Microsoft Office 2013, save files to SkyDrive by default. However, you may already have files on your computer that you would like to add to your SkyDrive.
Click the SkyDrive app in the Start screen.
Opening the SkyDrive app
Right-click anywhere on the screen. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Opening the SkyDrive menu
Click the Upload button.
Clicking the Upload button
You will see a list of the folders and files in your Documents library.
Folders and files in the Documents library
To view your other files, click the Files drop-down arrow and select a different location (for example, Desktop).
Selecting a different location
When you've found the file you want to upload, select it and then click Add to SkyDrive. If you want, you can select multiple files.
