Windows 8 changed the traditional way of using and viewing Windows operating systems. Due to this change, getting around the OS and doing simple traditional tasks can be a challenge. On this page you will find a Windows 8 tutorial or Training Solution on getting around and working with the difficulties of Windows 8.

 

Pinning Apps to Tiles

• Make sure you are on the start screen ( tile screen)

• click the arrow  near the lower-left corner of the screen

• Find the application you want to pin or add to the tile screen.

• right-click the app you want to pin

• click Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar

• The apps you pinned will appear at the end of your Start screen or desktop taskbar.

Taken from mircrosoft.com

 

Understanding Start Tiles

The tiles on the Start screen are links or shortcuts to apps on the PC. Some of them have special “live” features such as giving you real time information like basic weather, app notifications, new emails, and upcoming appointments setup in your calendar. They are personalized to each individual based on their Microsoft account login ID.

For more information go to Microsoft.com

 

Getting to the start menu and desktop

There are several ways to get to the desktop and start menu. When you initially log in to your account for the first time you star off at the start menu, the one with the live tiles. If you look on the lower left tile, it says “Desktop” and is where you will click to access the Desktop. From the desktop, click on the start button or press on the windows logo key on your keyboard and it will take you back to the start menu.

For more information go to Microsoft.com

 

Organizing Start Menu tiles

-To move a tile on your Start screen

• On the Start screen, press and hold the tile you want to move. (If you’re using a mouse, click and hold the tile).

• Drag the tile to where you want to place it.

-To resize a tile on your Start screen

• On the Start screen, press and hold the tile you want to resize. (If you’re using a mouse, right-click the tile.)

• Tap or click Resize.

• Choose the size you want.

-To create a group of tiles

• On the Start screen, press and hold or right-click the tiles you want to group together.

• Drag them to an open space, and when a gray bar appears behind them, release the tiles. This will create a new group.

• If you want to name the group, tap or click where it says Name group above the group, and then enter a new name.

 Once you've created a group, you can move the entire group around on your Start screen.

-To move a group of tiles

• On the Start screen, pinch to zoom out. (If you’re using a mouse, click the zoom iconin the lower-right corner of your screen.)

• Press and drag or click and drag the group of tiles you want to move to where you want it to go.

Once you’re done moving groups, tap or click anywhere on the screen to zoom back in.

For more information go to Microsoft.com

 

Signing in to your PC

The easiest way to sign in is using your Microsoft account. You use your email address linked to a Microsoft account and password.
You can also log in to a local account stored on the PC by using the username and password. Microsoft account lets you log in to any Windows 8 PC connected to a network.

For more information go to Microsoft.com

 

What is Microsoft account?

"Microsoft account" is the new name for what used to be called a "Windows Live ID." Your Microsoft account is the combination of an email address and a password that you use to sign in to services like Outlook.com, OneDrive, Windows Phone, or Xbox LIVE. If you use an email address and password to sign in to these or other services, you already have a Microsoft account—but you can also sign up for a new one at any time.

Over time, all Microsoft services will be switching from the old name to the new one. You might continue to see mentions of "Windows Live ID" instead of "Microsoft account" for a while—for example, on xbox.com or windowsphone.com—but the names mean the same thing, and the services will be updated soon.

For more information go to Microsoft.com

 

Where are my apps?

To find your apps, go to the start menu with the tile screen. On the lower left hand you will see an arrow pointing down with a circle around it. Click on it and it will show you all installed apps on your PC. Another way is to move your mouse to the lower left of the screen and moving it up to show you the charms bar. You can go to the search bar to look for specific apps installed.

 

Multitasking (using apps side by side)

Using two apps side by side

• Open an app that you'd like to use.

• Slide in from the top of the screen until an opening appears behind the app, then drag the app to the left or right side.(If you’re using a mouse, point to the upper-left corner of the screen and right-click the app icon in the title bar. Choose either Split Left or Split Right. )

• Go back to Start and open a second app. It will appear next to the first app.

• To resize the apps, drag the divider between the apps.

To open a third app

If you go back to Start and open a third app, it’ll appear on top of the first two. You can tap or click the left or right side of the third app to replace one of the apps underneath it.

If you want use all three apps on the same screen, drag the third app until an open space appears next to or between the other apps. If a space doesn’t open, your screen can only fit two apps at a time.

For more information go to Microsoft.com