9780789748850

Easy, clear, readable, and focused on what you want to do

Step-by-step instructions for the tasks you care about most

Large, full-color, close-up photos show you exactly what to do

Common-sense help whenever you run into problems

Tips and notes to help you do even more

Over the years, you’ve learned a lot. Now, learn Windows 8!

We’ve identified the Windows 8 skills you need to stay connected with people you care about; keep your computer reliable, productive, and safe; express your creativity; find new passions; and live a better life!

Our crystal-clear instructions respect your smarts but never assume you’re an expert. Big, colorful photos on nearly every page make this book incredibly easy to read and use!

Set up your computer with no fuss or aggravation
Get productive fast, even if you don’t have computer experience
Use the new “touch” features of Windows 8 if you have a touchscreen device
Safeguard your privacy and protect yourself from online scams
Display up-to-the-minute news, weather, and stock prices
Browse and search the Web, wherever you go
Find reliable health information online
Make Skype video calls to friends and family
Use Facebook to find old friends and see what they’re up to
Store your pictures and share them with loved ones
Read eBooks on your PC–even enlarge text for greater comfort
Watch TV or movies with Netflix, Hulu Plus, or YouTube
Enjoy your music, and discover great music you’ve never heard
Fix your own computer problems without help

Michael Miller is a prolific and popular writer of non-fiction books, known for his ability to explain complex topics to everyday readers. He writes about a variety of topics, including technology, business, and music. His best-selling books for Que include Using Google Search, Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics, Windows 7 Your Way, Your First Notebook PC, and Facebook for Grown-Ups. Worldwide, his books have sold more than 1 million copies.

Find out more at the author’s website: www.molehillgroup.com

Follow the author on Twitter: molehillgroup

P Prologue: Basic Operations 3

Using Windows 8 with a Mouse or Touchpad 3

Mouse and Touchpad Operations 4

Using Windows 8 with a Keyboard 6

Keyboard Operations 6

Using Windows 8 on a Touchscreen PC 8

Touchscreen Operations ..8

1 Understanding Computer Basics 11

Examining Key Components 11

Hard Disk Drive 12

Memory 13

Processor 13

Display 14

Keyboard 15

Pointing Device 16

Connectors 17

Exploring Different Types of PCs 19

Desktop PCs . 19

Notebook PCs 21

Which Type of PC Should You Buy? .22

Setting Up Your New Computer System 23

Set Up a Notebook PC 23

Set Up a Traditional Desktop PC 24

Set Up an All-in-One Desktop PC .26

2 Using Windows 8—If You’ve Never Used a Computer Before 29

Powering Up and Powering Down 29

Turn On and Configure Your New PC—for the First Time 30

Turn On Your System—Normally 39

Turn Off Your Computer 41

Finding Your Way Around Windows 8 .42

Use the Start Screen 43

Use the Start Screen .44

Display the Charms Bar .45

Use the Charms Bar 46

Display the Desktop .47

3 Using Windows 8—If You’ve Used Windows Before 49

Logging in with the New Lock Screen 50

Log Into Windows 8 51

Launching Apps from the New Start Screen 52

Display the Start Screen .53

Scroll Through the Start Screen 54

Open a Tile 55

Find Additional Apps and Utilities 56

Using New and Traditional Apps 57

Open the Desktop 57

Open a Traditional Desktop App 58

Exploring Improved System Tools 59

Configuring Options from the Charms Bar 61

Configure Windows 8 from the Charms Bar .61

Relearning Essential Operations 62

4 Setting Up User Accounts 67

Understanding Windows 8 User Accounts 67

Microsoft Accounts 68

Local Accounts 69

Setting Up a New Account on Your PC 69

Set Up a New User with a Microsoft Account 70

Set Up a New User with a Local Account 73

Switching Users 76

Change Users 77

Log Out of Windows 78

Log In with Multiple Users 78

5 Personalizing Windows 8 81

Personalizing the Start Screen 81

Change the Background Color and Pattern 82

Make a Tile Larger or Smaller 83

Rearrange Tiles 84

Remove a Tile 84

Add a New Tile 85

Turn On or Off a Live Tile 86

Personalizing the Lock Screen 87

Change the Lock Screen Background 87

Add Apps to the Lock Screen 89

Change Your Account Picture 91

Configuring Other Windows Settings 92

Configure Settings from the PC Settings Screen . 92

Configure Settings from the Traditional Control Panel .100

6 Using New Windows 8 Apps 103

Finding Apps in Windows 8 103

Search for Apps Installed on Your PC 104

Display All Your Apps 105

Pin an App to the Start Screen 105

Working with New Windows 8 Apps 106

Configure App Options .106

Switch Between Apps .107

Snap Two Apps on the Same Screen .108

Close an Open App 109

Using Popular Windows 8 Apps .110

News 110

Weather ..111

Sports ..112

Finance 113

Travel .113

Maps ..115

Calendar .117

Finding New Apps in the Windows Store 118

Browse the Windows Store 119

Download and Install a New App .120

7 Using Traditional Apps on the Desktop 125

Personalizing the Windows Desktop 125

Display the Desktop ..126

Change the Desktop Background ..127

Change the Color Scheme .129

Choose a Screen Saver ...131

Launching Your Favorite Programs ....133

Create a Shortcut on the Desktop ...133

Pin a Program to the Taskbar . ....134

Open a Program. ..135

Working with Traditional Software Programs ..136

Manage Windows ..136

Scroll Through a Window .138

Use Pull-Down Menus .139

Use Toolbars and Ribbons .....140

8 Browsing and Searching the Web 143

Connecting to the Internet—and Your Home Network .. .143

Connect to Your Home Network 144

Connect to a HomeGroup ..146

Access Other Computers in Your HomeGroup 149

Access Non-HomeGroup Computers on Your Network .150

Connecting to the Internet at a Wi-Fi Hotspot .151

Connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot .151

Using Your Web Browser .153

Launch Internet Explorer .154

Browse the Web ....155

Open Multiple Pages in Tabs ..156

Save Your Favorite Web Pages ..157

Return to a Saved Page ...158

Searching the Internet ......159

Search Google ..160

Search Bing .....161

9 Protecting Yourself from Online Threats 165

Protecting Against Identity Theft ..166

Avoiding Phishing Scams .....167

Keeping Your Private Information Private 169

Hiding Personal Information on Facebook .170

Keeping Your Facebook Posts Private ....171

Protecting Against Online Fraud .....172

Identifying Online Scams ....173

Avoiding Online Fraud ..........174

Protecting Against Computer Viruses and Other Malware .. ..175

Protecting Against Malware .176

Protecting Against Attacks and Intrusions ...179

Employing a Firewall .....179

10 Senior Living Online 183

Reading Local and Community News Online ....183

Find Local News ....183

Find Local Weather ......185

Exploring Travel Opportunities Online ..186

Research a Destination .....186

Make Reservations ..188

Discovering Recipes Online. .189

Find Tasty Recipes .189

Finding Healthcare Information Online 190

Research Medical Conditions 191

Find a Doctor 192

Order Prescription Drugs 193

Obtaining Legal Advice Online 194

Find Legal Advice and Services 195

Managing Your Finances Online .196

Do Your Banking and Pay Your Bills 196

Track Your Investments .197

Shopping Online 198

Find a Bargain 199

Purchase an Item 200

Shop Safely 201

11 Emailing Friends and Family 205

Using the Windows 8 Mail App .205

Set Up Your Email Account 206

View Incoming Messages .208

Reply to a Message 209

Send a New Message 209

Using Web-Based Email .211

Send and Receive Messages with Yahoo! Mail . 212

Send and Receive Messages with Gmail 215

Send and Receive Messages with Outlook 216

Managing Your Contacts with the People App 218

View Your Contacts 218

Add a New Contact .220

12 Video Calling with Skype 223

Installing and Setting Up Skype 223

Download the Skype App 224

Launch Skype for the First Time 225

Configure Your Skype Account . .227

Calling Friends and Family 228

Add a Contact .228

Make a Video Call ..230

Make a Voice Call 232

13 Connecting with Facebook and Other Social Media 235

Sharing with Friends and Family on Facebook .236

Sign Up for Facebook .236

Discover New—and Old—Friends on Facebook 237

Post a Status Update .241

Find Out What Your Friends Are Up To .243

Explore Your Friends’ Timelines .244

Pinning Items of Interest to Pinterest 245

Create New Pinboards 246

Find and Repin Interesting Items 247

Pin an Item from a Web Page .248

Find People to Follow .249

Managing Your Social Media with the People App 250

Connect to Your Social Network Accounts .251

View Your Friends’ Social Activity ..253

Post to Facebook ..255

14 Storing and Sharing Pictures with Loved Ones 257

Using Your Digital Camera with Your Windows 8 PC 257

Transfer Photos from a Memory Card 258

Transfer Photos from an iPhone 261

Viewing and Editing Photos .264

View Your Photos .264

Touch Up Your Photos .267

Sharing Your Pictures Online ...269

Attach a Photo in Windows Mail 269

View an Attached Photo ...272

Upload Photos to a New Facebook Photo Album ..273

Upload Pictures to an Existing Facebook Photo Album ..277

View Photos on Facebook ..278

Upload Photos to Flickr .280

Share Your Flickr Photos ..282

15 Reading Books on Your PC 285

Reading eBooks with Amazon’s Kindle App. ....285

Download the Kindle App ... .286

Purchase eBooks from Amazon . ...288

Read an eBook ..290

Change How a Book Is Displayed Onscreen ...292

Reading eBooks with Barnes & Noble’s NOOK App .293

Download the NOOK App .294

Purchase eBooks from Barnes & Noble ..295

Read an eBook ..298

Change How a Book Is Displayed Onscreen .299

16 Watching Movies and TV Shows on Your PC 303

Watching Movies on Netflix .304

Download the Netflix App ...304

Sign Up or Sign In.. 305

Watch a Movie ..306

Watching TV Shows on Hulu Plus ...310

Download the Hulu Plus App ..310

Sign Up or Sign In 312

Watch TV Programming ......313

Sharing Videos on YouTube .317

View a Video .......317

Upload Your Own Video ....319

Purchasing Videos with the Xbox Video App .320

Purchase a Video ....321

View a Video ...324

17 Enjoying Music on Your PC 329

Playing Music from Your iTunes Library .330

Download and Install iTunes ..330

Play Digital Music .. ...331

Create a New Playlist ...333

Play a Playlist ........334

Playing Music from CDs ....335

Play a CD ......335

Rip a CD to Your PC ....336

Burning Your Own CDs ....338

Downloading Music from the iTunes Store . .340

Purchase Music ....340

18 Using Files and Folders 345

Using File Explorer ....345

Open File Explorer .......346

Navigate Folders and Libraries .347

Use the Navigation Pane .348

Change the Folder View 349

Sort Files and Folders ...351

Working with Folders ...352

Create a New Folder ...352

Rename a Folder ..353

Managing Files ...354

Copy a File ......355

Move a File ..356

Delete a File ........357

Restore a Deleted File .....358

Empty the Recycle Bin ..359

19 Making Windows Easier to Use by Seniors 361

Employing Ease of Access Functions .362

Enlarge the Screen ...362

Make Text and Icons Bigger ...364

Improve Onscreen Contrast .. .......365

Make the Cursor Easier to See ......365

Read Text Aloud with Narrator ......366

Operate Your PC via Voice Command .......367

Use the On-Screen Keyboard .369

Using Alternative Input Devices ......370

Replace the Touchpad ....370

Attach a Different Keyboard .. ..371

Connecting a Larger Screen ......372

Connect a New Monitor ......373

20 Dealing with Common Problems 375

Performing Necessary Maintenance .....375

Delete Unnecessary Files 376

Delete Unused Programs .378

Defragment Your Hard Disk .....379

Check Your Hard Drive for Errors ...380

Backing Up Important Files .....382

Activate File History ....382

Restore Backup Files .......383

Fixing Simple Problems .......384

You Can’t Connect to the Internet ....384

You Can’t Go to a Specific Web Page . .385

You Can’t Print ...386

Your Computer Is Slow . ..387

A Specific Program Freezes ..389

Your Entire Computer Freezes ...390

Recovering from Serious Problems . ...391

Restore Your Computer to a Previous State .. .......392

Refresh System Files 394

Reset Your System ...396

TOC, 9780789748850, 5/13/2013

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

My Windows 8 Computer for Seniors

My Windows 8 Computer for Seniors

0789748851

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials