To the gurus,
My new laptop is showing up tomorrow with Windows 8. I plan on trying to learn and know the forum has information and experts that can point the way. I remember reading that Windows 8 has built in tutorial on how to do things. Are these helpful? I will check them out nevertheless. Thanks for being here for us that are novices.
Doc
Welcome. Good luck with the new lappy. This read below may help you. The basic problem with Win8, for new users, is lack of familiarity. The read is meant to help in this regard.
While recognizing that Win8 is really only one interface, treat it like two at the outset—the metro interface and the desktop interface. The first is like a tablet interface. The second is very much akin to what you are used to if you have been using Windows XP, Vista, or 7.
So, focus on what you know at the outset—the desktop. Keep in mind that you can do anything using the desktop that you used to be able to do by following virtually the same procedures—with one exception. You don’t have a start menu (button). I’ll return to this matter soon.
Without deemphasizing the focus mentioned above, the first thing to do, IMO, is to gain basic navigation ability. After starting up, to the metro start screen (no choice here without third-party software), find the Desktop tile. Click on it. Now, you are on the desktop. Press the Windows (Win) key, and you are back where you started—on the start screen (
screen, not
menu). Right click on the start screen (not on an app) and you will see an All apps shortcut. Click it, and you will see links for all installed apps. Those unclassified on the left are referred to as the metro apps. Those classified on the right are, for the most part, “classic” Window apps and apps from other sources. Press the Win key, and you go back to the start screen.
Notice that, in general, you can toggle between the desktop and the start menu using the Win key alone. Identified below are other important key combinations and their uses. Practice with them for a while.
Win + D: takes you to the desktop;
Win + C: takes you to charm bar—which is a mainstay of
additional navigation;
Win + I: takes you to Change PC settings link and the power button (for Sleep, Shut down, or Restart) among other things; and
Win + X: opens the power-user task menu from the desktop (i.e., Note the items that can be accessed here, and try some of the options.)
The charm bar also can be opened from either the start screen or the desktop (as well as from other places) by placing your pointer in the upper or lower right-hand screen corner. As implied the charm bar will have great navigational significance in the future.
Now, back to the desktop focus. As mentioned, the desktop does not have a start menu (button). Not having one creates an operational-efficiency problem IMO. I suggest your
get one or
create one ASAP. Quite a few third-party start-menu substitutes are available, and, for the most part, they have functions other than just providing a start menu (e.g., allowing one to start Windows 8 to the desktop rather than to the start screen). For a list of start-menu substitutes, see:
A List of Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8. Also, see this tutorial that deals with using a number of them:
Start Menu - Restore in Windows 8. When it comes to third-party software, I have a slight preference for
Stardock's Start8 because it mainly does only what I want. That is, it does little more than add the functionality precluded because of the MS decision not to include a start menu in Windows 8.
Personally, I use a self-created taskbar toolbar that contains shortcuts to everything, including folders, I could possibly want to access via a start menu (which requires additional explanation). While I did not create my toolbar as indicated in
Start Menu Toolbar - Create on Windows 8 Taskbar, this tutorial provides food for thought. In this regard, one could use more than one toolbar as a start-menu substitute.
Beyond obtaining a start menu, there is nothing else to “get over” in using the desktop. All you need to do is personalize it essentially as you would under Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (including selecting your desktop icons); select your Control Panel settings; and install needed software. Note that occasionally you may find that some task begun in the control panel leads you to the metro area for completion, but that won’t be a problem.
In sum, the above discussion is meant to get you over the hump in starting to use Windows 8. You still have a great deal to learn about metro; its integration with the desktop; and vice versa. But, at least, you now have a functional starting point.
I offer a caution and several suggestions. Don’t get too frisky with things you know little about at this point. If you have questions, then come here, and ask for help (or study on your own). And, investigate the topics covered by the tutorials here; they contain a vast amount of information about Windows 8.
