Knowledgebase

Windows 8 is the next generation of Microsoft Windows operating systems. Many of its features are essentially the same as Windows 7. But given the trend towards using smaller mobile devices that are easy to use and less technically inclined in media, entertainment, communication and games, along with reality that touch screen devices are gradually dominating the market, this new operating system tries to meet these changes. At first it might seem a bit strange for desktop users but in half a day you should feel right at home again.

1. Be aware that Windows 8 is a versatile operating system able to be used for desktop, laptops and notebooks, as well as tablets. During its design, the decision was taken to make it compatible with tablets, mobile and smart phones and also as an embedded operating system for hardware items such as the ARM processor. This lets you unify all your electronic gadgets.
   
   
   
   

   
2. Familiarize yourself with Windows 8. Try navigating back and forth between a "Metro" interface and the more usual interface that you have been used to so far. Among the Metro applications (a set of cards you can see) in front of you, find the "Desktop" widget (that is, the card labelled as the "Desktop") and click on it.
   
   
   
   

   
3. Look at the familiar interface. Note that there is no usual Windows "start" with its orb icon at the bottom left corner of screen. But the quick launch icons for "Internet Explorer" and "Windows Explorer" are there.
   
   
   
   

   
4. Click on the Internet Explorer icon to open your internet connection. Note that this is the latest version of Internet Explorer; that is IE10, built for Windows 8. You can search the internet by directly typing your query into the address bar.
5. Comeback to the Metro interface. Point your mouse to the bottom left corner of your screen (shown on the picture by a red circle). You will see a small scale metro interface.
   
   
   
   

   
6. Enjoy both interfaces if you have two monitors, using "Extended" mode.
   
   
   
   

   

   • Note that you can have your classical Windows desktop gadgets on the second screen (here, clock, calendar, weather, and slideshow gadgets).
   • You can have "Recycle Bin" and your own shortcuts on the second screen.
   • By moving the mouse to the bottom-left or bottom-right of the second screen, you can see that similar facilities for switching to Metro exist on the second screen too.
   • If you are not yet used to the new approach, you can create a shortcut to the traditional "Start" menu there, too.
7. Click on the small scale Metro interface. You'll be back on the full screen Metro interface.
8. Gain administrative power. To do this:

   • During the installation of Windows 8, as with Windows 7, you have to select a "User Name", though not a password. You could leave the password field blank if you prefer, but not the User Name.
   • Many computer users, in particular the more enthusiastic ones, prefer to install applications in an "administrative role", logging into Windows. Your installation user name lacks that power––you have to make the "administrator" unhidden.
   • To that end, you need to use the command prompt and activate the administrator user. This demonstrates the simplicity of Windows 8.
9. Bring the Metro interface back. Just type on your keyboard "cmd.exe". You do not need to search for anything. Your screen changes too (just by typing cmd).
   
   
   
   

   

   • At the right side, a strip of applications together with the "Run" text field appears.
   • If there were other applications beginning with cmd, then this will show all of them.
10. Right click on the small "cmd.exe" icon on the top-left of the page. A tick sign appears on the icon. You need to do this to open the command-line window for running cmd.exe with administrative power. You will see your options at the bottom of the screen.
    
    
    
    

    
11. Select the "Run as Administrator" option. Command-line Windows comes out, together with the usual desktop.
12. Type net users administrator /active:yes and then "Enter ↵". You'll get a success message. In the next line, type exit and again "Enter ↵" to close the command-line window.
    
    
    
    

    

    • Do not forget that there is a space after administrator and before the slash (/active).
    • Now you can log out from the "installation imposed user name" and log in again as administrator and start setting up and tuning your operating system, installing applications, creating usernames and passwords or whatever job you normally do at the fresh installs. You might be used to following activities usually after a new installation of your operating system.
    • Installing the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from its official site is easily done on Windows 8.
    • Install "Adobe Reader". Go to its site. Adobe also has already maintained its reader for working with Windows 8.
    • Go to your familiar sites set up the logs in for them.
13. Assume you do not like to have all those applications on your screen. To delete any of them, simply right click on that one or pull it down if you're using a touchscreen. You can select multiple apps at a time.From the bottom strip of the screen, select "Unpin from start" or even "Uninstall" if you do not like having it on your computer.
    
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14. Move the mouse to the bottom right/top right corner or swipe in from the right edge (beginning from the bezel) if you're using a touch screen. Move it to the point shown by a minus – sign, shown inside the red circle in the picture. A side bar with 'charms' reveals itself. You can search your apps, files, settings or the internet from here.
    
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    • To become familiar with this, click on the minus sign. Note that all the Metro cards become smaller on the screen.
15. Note the same effect in the "Desktop" interface. A high contrast picture is shown here to demonstrate the usual blue coloured small desktop icon inside the red circle.
    
    
    
    

    
16. Move the mouse into the red rectangles of previous pictures. Note the areas that appear as black regions.
    
    
    
    

    
17. Note the black regions in the "desktop" interface too.
    
    
    
    

    
18. Click on one of the options, say, "Settings."
    
    
    
    

    

    • You should already be familiar with Network, Speaker and Notifications.
    • The brightness icon is for the monitors where the brightness can be controlled by the software on the computer. Not all the desktop monitors have such a feature available yet.
    • Keyboard is for rapid changing of keyboard and language settings.
19. Note the function of "Power."
    
    
    
    

    

    • It is not similar to previous Windows as there is no log-off and switch users options. You can shut down, restart, or put the computer into sleep.
20. Go to the top right of the page. Click on "Administrator" to open options for sign out of this account.
    
    
    
    

    
21. Click on "Change Account Picture." You will see that you can change many of PC settings from this dashboard.
    
    
    
    

    
22. Note that you can go to this place by clicking on "Change PC Settings" on the right side bar "Settings" icon (it looks like a cog wheel).
    
    
    
    
    
23. Move the mouse on the leftmost line of your screen to see the places that you have recently visited, whether on your computer or on the Internet.
    
    
    
    
    
24. Now that you feel reassured that Windows 8 is not a puzzle or a maze, notice that you have all the facilities that you had in the "Orb Start" menu again at your fingertips. Spend some time navigating around to become used to it.
    • Look at this picture. It is not in the same place as the "Start" in the previous Windows.
      
      
      
      
      
    • To get here, click on the "Search" (shown with a magnifier icon) on the right side bar of your screen (inside the black region).

    credits to http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Windows-8 for providing this tutorial