Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Understanding Windows 8

By Frankline Bell


For those of you that still own a PC with Windows 7, you might be a bit wary of upgrading your operating system or purchasing a new computer with Windows 8. While this operating system certainly is vastly different in appearance than Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows, using this system is not as hard as you might think after the first time you see it.

As a Windows user, we have spent many years navigating our PCs through the Start button. Certainly it seemed curious at first that the mechanism by which one turns off their computer would be located under the Start button, but we all got used to it. Now Microsoft has taken it away, and at first it seems a bit weird trying to figure out where everything is located. But never fear, all you must do is keep calm and type on. Simply type the name of application you need and it will appear on the screen. So if you need Microsoft Excel, you just type Microsoft or Excel and the icon will appear on the left top of the screen.

If you need to find something other than an application, such as an actual Word document, a notepad or an Excel document, you might be hoping to find that handy old Windows Explorer. Start typing the word file and an icon for "File Explorer" appears. Click on it and you will see the familiar search box you remember from the earlier versions of Windows. Then you can search your entire computer for specific files by name just as you did before the advent of Windows 8.

One very cool feature of Windows 8 is the Settings area. Just type the letter a (or any letter) and when the search menu appears on the left, click on the Settings tab. This opens up a huge list of different options for your computer. From this Settings area, you can change your password, adjust the screen brightness, change your family safety settings, change your desktop picture and much more. You also can access Settings by pressing the Windows icon key and the letter I.

While the tips above can help you get started with Windows 8, experience will be your best teacher. It takes time to learn to use a new operating system, and while you might have really loved Windows 7, Windows 8 is still a good operating system and far superior to some of Microsoft's previous offerings, such as Vista, which we would all like to forget.

If you have a new computer and are a bit uncertain about how to set it all up, connect it to a printer wirelessly, set up wireless internet and add a printer, rather than spend hours trying to figure it out call on the staff at GeeksAKnockin'. They can set up a single computer for home use or set up a network of computers at your office or home. They also will ensure that you have the best protection from viruses and spyware and can help those who need computer repair in Portland, computer repair in Gresham or perhaps in Beaverton, Hillsboro or anywhere in the Portland metro area.




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