Windows 8.1 Operating System Lesson # 2

Windows 8.1 Operating System Lesson # 2

The Start Screenand Apps List

Windows 8 and its updates are radically different from the earlier Windows, but features of the earlier systems remain accessible in it. To keep these instructions concise we assume that students have previous experience with computers. To accommodate thosefamiliar with the earlier versions, we use the features and techniques from the earlier versions when possible. Recent updates have been affecting the way Windows 8.1 behaves. Here we describe the system as of the end of July 2014.

Windows 8.1 is designed to work with either conventional screens or with touch screens. It works differently with these two types of devices. The instructions presented here do not apply to touch screens, except as noted.

Do not turn the computer on until you know how to turn it off.

On the Desktop, RIGHT click on the Windows Start button.
On the menu, click on Shut down or sign out.
Click on Shut down.
Wait until the light on the tower button turns off.
Flip the switch on the surge protector.

Turn Computer K on and log in

Trip the switch on the surge protector.
Press the On button on top of the computer tower. Wait for the computer to boot.

Since this computer is a dual boot you need to choose an Operating System.

If it appears, click on Windows 8.1.

Note 1:Most commonly a dark screen with “Choose an operating system start…” will appear.

Windows 8.1 should be highlighted, so just press the Enter key.
If it is not highlighted, use the arrowkeys to select it; then press the Enter key.

Click anywhere on the colorful opening Lock screen to continue.

Note 2: Two accounts have been set up on the computer. If the last account open was Lab User, then the computer will open directly into its Desktop, because that account does not require a password. For these lessons you need to log into the Computer Group account.

If you were not asked for a password and the Desktop appears, to change the log into Computer Group:

RIGHT click on Start.
Point to Shut down or sign out.
Go straight across and click on Sign out.
Click anywhere to get past the Lock screen.
Wait for the Accounts screen to appear and click on Computer Group.

On the Computer Group log in screen, when asked for the password:

Type in the password provided by your instructor and press Enter.

The Start Screen

By default the system opens with the Desktop.

On the Desktop, on the Task Bar at lower left, click on the Start button to get the Start Screen.

The Windows Start button is a toggle, it switches from the Start Screen to the Desktop and back each time you click on it. On the Start Screenthe Start button is hidden. You can bring it up by pointing the mouse to the lower left corner of the screen.

On the Start Screenare rectangle-shapedTiles. These are shortcuts to programs, files, settings, web pages, documents, etc. Clicking on a tile activates it; it starts an app, opens a document, executes a link. You can rearrange the Tiles as you wish, but the process is somewhat unpredictable. You can add new Tiles and remove existing ones from the Start Screen.

Click on the purple Calendar tile that shows today’s date to activate it. The contents of some of the Tiles can change over time. Those tiles are Live.

With the latest revision of Windows 8.1 it is possible to close windows using the X at upper right. Be sure to install this revision on your own computer.

Point to the top right corner of the screen and wait for the Title Bar to appear. Click on the red X to close the Calendar app.

Note: Another way to close some tiles is with ALT+F4. To do that, hold down the ALT key and tap F4. (The Function Key 4 on the very top row of keys, not the number 4.)

The Apps List

If the Start Screen is not already displayed, click on Start on the Task bar to bring it up.

Find the small down arrow in the lower left of the Start Screen and click on it.

This brings up the Apps List.

There is a down pointing arrow next to Apps List heading.

By clicking on it you can choose to sort the list by name, date the App is installed, frequency of use, or category.

Click on the down arrow, select another order and examine the result.
Then return the list to the order by name.

To see all of the Apps scroll the Apps List to the left by moving the mouse to the right edge of the screen(or use the scroll bar at the bottom of the screen, if visible).

Find the Calculator tile and click on it. The Calculator screen opens.
After a second or two the Title bar will disappear. Point to the top right corner of the screen and wait for the Title bar to appear again. Click on the red X to close the Calculator app.

When the window closes the standard Windows Desktop appears.

Click on Start on the Task bar to bring up the Start Screen.
Click on down arrow in the lower left of the Start Screen.
Find Internet Explorer and click on it.

Back Refresh Tabs Favorites Tools Forward

We chose Yahoo as the default Home Page. The page fills the whole screen. At the bottom is the Apps Bar. Sometimes it appears at top or both places. Here, across the bottom, are the address bar and the common symbols for Back arrow, Refresh, Tabs, Favorites, Page tools, and the Forward arrow.

Point to the top right corner of the screen and wait for the Title Bar to appear. Click on the red X to close the window.

On the Task bar at the bottom of the Desktop is an icon for the Internet Explorer. Click on it.

Note the difference in appearance when you activate the traditionalInternet Explorerprogram in this way.

Close any windows that may be open.

We will pin an app tile from the Apps Listto the Start Screen and then unpin it.

Open the Apps List as instructed above.

Be careful, in the step below do not click on Uninstall.

RIGHT click on one of the app tiles and note the drop down menu entries. The entries vary, depending on the nature of the application.

Select an app with the entry Pin to Start and click on that entry. Then the tile is shown on the Start Screen. Click on the app to open it.

Find the app on the Start Screen.

RIGHT click on the App that you just pinned and click on Unpin from Start.

Account, Power Options and Search

At the top right corner of the Start Screen find the entries for the Account name, Power Options, andSearch.

Account Power Search

Options

Do not change any of the options here.

Clicking on Accountname brings up the options for adding or changing the account picture, locking it (so that you need to access it with the account’s password), signing out or switching to another account installed on the system.

Clicking on Power Options brings up a menu with Sleep, Shut Down, and Restart.

Point to each of them and read the descriptions and read the descriptions that pop up.
Click in an empty area to turn off the Power Options.

The Charms Bar

Point to the top right corner of the screen to get the Charms bar. On the screen it is vertical. It is shown as horizontal here.

Search Share Start Devices Settings

You see Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings.

Click on Search.
In the Search box type Paint and examine the screen.

Note the drop down list of search results.

Either click on the Search symbol at right () or on the Paint entry in the list below.

The Paint program window opens. Note thatPaint is a standard program and not a Windows Store app. The Title bar appears and the X at upper right is shown.

At top right click on the red X to close Paint.

On the Desktop open the Resource folder.
Open the file Pill.bmp.
Point to the top right corner of the screen to get the Charmsbar.
Click on the Share icon.

Click on Mail, Send anemail.

Wait for the Mail screen to appear. In the To: filed type your email address.
Click on Add a message and, without the quotes, type “Sharing image.”
Click on the Send icon at upper right.
On the Desktop closeany windows.

Start

Point to the top right corner of the screen to get the Charmsbar.
Click on the Start icon to toggle between the Start Screen and the Desktop.

The Start icon on the Charms bar is also a toggle. Clicking on it switches between the Start Screen and the Desktop.

Devices

Point to the top right corner of the screen to get the Charmsbar.
Click on the Devices icon.

The Devices icon brings up a list of devices connected to the computer.

Listed are Play, Print, and Project. No special devices are attached to Computer K, so the Play and Print options indicate that you need to open an application to carry out these functions. Project refers to the monitor and its settings. Since only one screen is attached to the computer, the options are not meaningful.

Click in an empty space on the screen to turn off the Devices display.

Settings

Settings make it possible to customize the way the computer and windows behave. You should be very careful in making changes from the default settings that are originally installed. We will take up Settings in a later lesson, so you should ignore it for now.

Windows 8.1 is designed to work on different types of devices, not just desktop computers. Students used to working with earlier versions of Windows will find that Windows 8.1 is a very different environment. You should expect that it will take you time to get used to it. There are some programs on the web that can help you modify Windows 8.1 (Charles – just which programs do you have in mind?).

Turn the computer off (see screenshot on P.1)

On the Desktop, RIGHT click on the Windows Start button.
On the menu, click on Shut down or sign out.
Click on Shut down.
Wait until the light on the tower button turns off.
Flip the switch on the surge protector.

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