About Windows 8 User Interface and Features This guide provides an overview of the new features in the Windows 8 user interface so you can get up and running quickly with the new operating system. Starting Windows 8 for the First Time The first thing you see after installing Windows 8 is the Lock screen. The Lock screen shows a full-screen image, the date and time, battery status, network status, and notifications (if turned on). Topics in this guide include: Starting Windows 8 for the First Time Managing Applications Personalizing Your Start Screen Changing Control Panel and PC Settings Mouse/Keyboard Equivalents For More Information Unlock Your Computer and Sign In 1 With a mouse, click the screen and drag it up. With a keyboard, press any key. 2 In the user logon screen, type your netid and password, and then click the right arrow (or press ENTER). This launches the Start screen.
The Start Screen The Start screen replaces the Start button in earlier versions of Windows and is the starting point for everything you do in Windows 8. Windows 8 is Ready to Charm You Windows 8 introduces charms, which show up on the right side of the screen when you swipe in from the right or point to the upper-right or lower-right corner of the screen with the mouse. You can use the Start screen to: Launch apps Organize apps Search for apps, settings, and files Go to the desktop Open Windows Explorer Open Internet Explorer 10 Go to the Windows Store The charms are available from the Start screen or the desktop. Use the Search charm to search system-wide for an app, setting, or file. If you re using a modern app, search can be context-sensitive for that app. For example, if you re using the Windows Store, use the Search charm to search for apps in the store. Use the Share charm to share content between modern apps. For example, you can open a Web page in the modern version of Internet Explorer 10 and use the Share charm to send the page to the Mail app.
Use the Start charm to go to the Start screen, or to the desktop or last-opened modern app if you re already in the Start screen. If you open a desktop application like Microsoft Outlook 2010 or Word 2010, it automatically opens in the desktop. Use the Devices charm to manage devices, such as an additional monitor. Use the Settings charm to: access Control Panel or PC settings; restart or shut down your PC; turn notifications on or off; check network availability; adjust volume; adjust screen brightness; or access online Help. Display the Charms Swipe in from the right edge of the screen. With a mouse, point to the upper-right or lower-right corner of the screen. With a keyboard, press the Windows key +C. Where Did the Desktop Go? The desktop is still a very important part of Windows 8, but you open the desktop like you would open any other application by clicking its tile in the Start screen. The desktop feels a lot like earlier versions of Windows, except there s no Start button. The Start screen in Windows 8 replaces the Start button in earlier versions of Windows, so if you want to open another application, go to the Start screen. Switch from the Start Screen to the Desktop click the Desktop tile. You can also swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click the Start charm if the desktop was the lastopened app. With a keyboard, press +D.
Switch from the Desktop to the Start Screen Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then click the Start charm. With a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click the Start charm. With a keyboard, press the Windows key. Search for Apps, Settings, and Files To search in the Start screen, you can just start typing. For example, type Outlook in the Start screen to find Outlook. Then just click the app on the left side of the screen to open it. You can use the pane on the right to change the scope of your search to an app, setting, or file. For example, to search for Change screen brightness, type Change in the Start screen, and then under Apps on the right side of the screen, click Settings. On the left side of the screen, click the Change screen brightness Control Panel. Lock Your Computer or Sign Out 1 In the Start screen, click your user name in the upper-right corner of the screen. 2 In the drop-down menu, click Lock or Sign out. Tip With the keyboard, press +L to lock the computer and go to the Lock screen. Shut Down or Restart Your Computer 1 Open the Charms Menu click the Settings charm, and then click the Power button icon. With the keyboard, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then select the Power button icon. 2 Select Sleep, Shut down, or Restart. Note If you change the search scope to a modern app, search can be contextsensitive.
Managing Applications Windows 8 makes it easy to manage your applications. You can quickly view and switch between open applications or view all installed applications. Scroll to Find Installed Apps In the Start screen. With your mouse, use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the screen. With a keyboard, press the RIGHT ARROW and LEFT ARROW keys. Show All Installed Apps In the Start screen, swipe up, and then click All apps in the lower-right corner of the screen. With a mouse, right-click anywhere not occupied by a tile, and then click All apps in the lower-right corner of the screen. Windows displays all installed apps as shown in the graphic. Switch Between Open Apps Using Touch 1 Swipe in from the upper-left corner of the screen. A thumbnail of the most recently used open app will appear. 2 Nudge back slightly to the left to display the thumbnails of open apps. 3 Click the app you want to open. Switch Between Open Apps with a Mouse 1 Point to the top-left corner of the screen. A thumbnail of the most recently used open app will appear. 2 Move the mouse pointer down the left side of the screen to display the thumbnails of open apps. 3 Click the app you want to open. Switch Between Open Apps with a Keyboard Press +TAB to cycle from one app to the next. Close an App With the app thumbnails displayed, flick the app that you want to close from the top of the screen to the bottom. With a mouse, right-click the app that you want to close, and then click Close.
Personalizing Your Start Screen You can pin and unpin apps in the Start screen. You can also resize, arrange, and group app tiles, and you can name groups of tiles. Pin an App 1 In the Start screen, search for the app you want to pin. 2 On the left side of the screen, right-click the app. 3 In the bar of commands at the bottom of the screen, click Pin to Start. When a tile is selected, the border changes and there is a check mark in the upper-right corner of the tile. A command bar appears at the bottom of the screen, showing possible commands for the selected app. The available options depend on the type of app. 2 Do one of the following: To resize a tile, click Smaller or Larger. To unpin a tile, click Unpin from Start. To remove the application from your computer, click Uninstall. Note When you install an app from the Windows Store, the app is automatically pinned to the Start screen. For information on pinning websites, see the Using Internet Explorer 10 Work Smart Guide at: Resize, Unpin, or Remove a Tile 1 In the Start screen, click the tile and pull down slightly to the right to select it. To select a tile with a mouse, right-click the tile. Arrange Tiles Note To cancel a selection, click the tile and pull down slightly to the right, or right-click it with the mouse. Click the tile and drag it to a new location. Group Tiles To organize tiles in existing groups: Just drag the tile where you want it to go.
To create a new group: Drag the tile to a space between two existing groups or to the right of all groups. A vertical gray bar shows where the new group will be placed. Change Control Panel and PC Settings In Windows 8, settings are located in two places: in the Control Panel and in PC Settings. The Control Panel contains most of the settings that existed in earlier versions of Windows and is available from the desktop through the Settings charm. PC Settings are available from the Start screen and from the desktop through the Settings charm. The following graphic shows the PC Settings user interface: To add a name for a group of tiles: 1 Click the Zoom button in the lower-right corner of the screen. This causes the screen to zoom out so you can see all tiles. 2 Right-click the group you want to name. 3 At the bottom of the screen, click Name group, type a name, and then click Name. 4 Click anywhere on the Start screen to return it to its normal size. Open the Control Panel From the desktop, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, click the Settings charm, and then click Control Panel. With a mouse, point to the upper-right or lower-right corner of the desktop, click the Settings charm, and then click Control Panel. With the keyboard, press +I from the desktop. Tip You can also access the Control Panel in the Start screen by searching for Control Panel.
Open PC Settings From the Start screen or the desktop, and with your mouse swipe to open the charms menu click the Settings charm, and then in the lower-right corner of the screen, click Change PC settings. With a keyboard, press +I from the Start screen or desktop, and then select Change PC settings. Change Your Lock Screen Image 1 Open PC Settings as described in the previous procedure. 2 On the left side of the screen, click Personalize. 3 If it isn t already selected, click the Lock screen on the right side of the screen, and then click the desired image (or click Browse to find an image). Add an App to the Lock Screen Apps can run in the background and send notifications even when the screen is locked. You can add an app to run in the background while your screen is locked. 1 Open PC Settings, and then click Personalize. 2 On the right side of the screen, under Lock screen apps, you will see a list of apps that show up in the Lock screen. To add an app, click a plus box. 3 In the Choose an app menu, pick an app to add. Change the Start Screen Design or Colors 1 Open PC Settings, and then click Personalize. 2 On the right side of the screen at the top, click Start screen. 3 Choose from the different designs and colors. Using SkyDrive If you re using Office Customer Preview with Windows 8, you can easily share files with SkyDrive. Consumer online storage services such as SkyDrive are only for personal use, however. No corporate information should be stored on SkyDrive. For More Information Windows 8 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/get-started