Windows^® 8 For Dummies^®, Pocket Edition

by Andy Rathbone

Windows^® 8 For Dummies^®, Pocket Edition

Published by
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

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Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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ISBN 978-1-118-37166-4 (ppk); ISBN 978-1-118-51355-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-51360-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-51357-6 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Author

Andy Rathbone started geeking around with computers in 1985 when he bought a 26-pound portable CP/M Kaypro 2X. Like other nerds of the day, he soon began playing with null-modem adapters, dialing computer bulletin boards, and working part-time at Radio Shack.

He wrote articles for various techie publications before moving to computer books in 1992. He’s written the Windows For Dummies series, Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, TiVo For Dummies, PCs: The Missing Manual, and many other computer books.

Today, he has more than 15 million copies of his books in print, and they’ve been translated into more than 30 languages. You can reach Andy at his website, www.andyrathbone.com.

Author’s Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Dan Gookin, Matt Wagner, Tina Rathbone, Steve Hayes, Nicole Sholly, Virginia Sanders, and Russ Mullen.

Thanks also to all the folks I never meet in editorial, sales, marketing, proofreading, layout, graphics, and manufacturing who work hard to bring you this book.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments at http://dummies.custhelp.com. For other comments, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions and Editorial

Sr. Project Editor: Nicole Sholly

Executive Editor: Steven Hayes

Copy Editor: Virginia Sanders

Technical Editor: Russ Mullen

Editorial Manager: Jodi Jensen

Editorial Assistant: Leslie Saxman

Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case

Cover Photo: © imagewerks/Getty Images

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Sheree Montgomery

Layout and Graphics: Carl Byers, Carrie A. Cesavice, Tim Detrick

Proofreader: John Greenough

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Kathleen Nebenhaus, Vice President and Executive Publisher

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Introduction

This Pocket Edition isn’t intended to make you a whiz at Windows; instead, it dishes out chunks of useful computing information when you need them. You don’t have to become a Windows 8 expert, you just need to know enough to get by quickly, cleanly, and with a minimum of pain so that you can move on to the more pleasant things in life.

Best of all, you can get what you need out of this book whether you’re working on a touchscreen, laptop, or desktop computer.

About This Book

Treat this book like you would a dictionary or other reference text. Turn to the page with the information you need and say, “Ah, so that’s what they’re talking about.” Then put down the book and move on.

Instead of fancy computer jargon, this book covers the topics you’re looking for in plain English. You don’t have to memorize anything. Just turn to the appropriate page, read the brief explanation, and get back to work. Unlike other books, this one enables you to bypass the technical hoopla and still get your work done.

How to Use This Book

When something in Windows 8 leaves you stumped, find the troublesome topic in this book’s table of contents or index, turn to what you need, and then apply what you’ve read.

If you have to type something into the computer, you’ll see easy-to-follow bold text like this:

Type Media Player into the Search box.

When I describe a key combination you should press, I describe it like this:

Press Ctrl+B.

This means to hold down your keyboard’s Control key while pressing your keyboard’s B key. Whenever I present a website address, I show it this way: www.andyrathbone.com.

Tablet Owners Aren’t Left Out

Although Windows 8 comes preinstalled on all new Windows computers, Microsoft not-so-secretly aims this bold new version of Windows at owners of touchscreens. Tablets, as well as some laptops and desktop monitors, come with screens you can control by touching them with your fingers.

If you’re a new touchscreen owner, don’t worry. This book explains where you need to touch, slide, or tap your finger in all the appropriate places. If you find yourself scratching your head over explanations aimed at mouse owners, remember these three touchscreen rules:

When told to click, you should tap. Quickly touching and releasing your finger on a button is the same as clicking it with a mouse.

When told to double-click, tap twice. Two touches in rapid succession does the trick.

When told to right-click something, hold down your finger on the item. Then, when a little menu pops up, lift your finger. The menu stays put onscreen. (That’s exactly what would have happened if you’d right-clicked the item with a mouse.) While you’re looking at the pop-up menu, tap any of its listed items to have Windows carry out your bidding.

If you find touchscreens to be cumbersome while you’re sitting at a desk, you can always plug a mouse and keyboard into your touchscreen tablet. They’ll work just fine. In fact, they usually work better when working on the Windows desktop rather than the Start screen.

Icons Used in This Book

It just takes a glance at Windows 8 to notice its icons, which are little push-button pictures for starting various programs. The icons in this book fit right in, and they’re even a little easier to figure out.

Watch out! This signpost warns you that technical information is coming around the bend.

This icon alerts you about juicy information that makes computing easier: a method for keeping the cat from sleeping on top of your tablet, for example.

Don’t forget to remember these important points. (Or at least dog-ear the pages so that you can look them up later.)

The computer won’t explode while you’re performing the delicate operations associated with this icon. Still, wearing gloves and proceeding with caution is a good idea.

Are you moving to Windows 8 from an older Windows version? This icon alerts you to areas where Windows 8 works significantly differently from its predecessors.

Controlled by your fingertip rather than a mouse and keyboard, a touchscreen is standard fare on tablets, as well as some newer laptops and desktop monitors. This icon appears next to information aimed directly at the touchy feely crowd.

Where to Go from Here

Now, you’re ready for action. Give the pages a quick flip and scan a section or two that you know you’ll need later. Please remember, this is your book — your weapon against the computer nerds who’ve inflicted this whole complicated computer concept on you. Please circle any paragraphs you find useful, highlight key concepts, add your own sticky notes, and doodle in the margins next to the complicated stuff.

To access additional Windows 8 content, go to www.dummies.com/go/windows8. Occasionally, we have updates to our technology books. If this book does have technical updates, they will be posted at www.dummies.com/go/windows8fdupdates.

Please note that some special symbols used in this eBook may not display properly on all eReader devices. If you have trouble determining any symbol, please call Wiley Product Technical Support at 800-762-2974. Outside of the United States, please call 317-572-3993. You can also contact Wiley Product Technical Support at www.wiley.com/techsupport.