Exploring Microsoft Windows 8 Prepared by: Ms. Esraa AL Mousa

Windows 8 Operating System Released by Microsoft in 2012 Designed to operate on touch-screen devices Available for laptops, desktops, and tablet computers

Performing Tasks in Windows 8 Use the mouse Touch the screen on touch-enabled devices Use keyboard commands

Start Screen Components The first thing you see after you login to Windows 8. Windows 8 interface is the other name of the Start screen The start screen is where you begin all activities It contains most used applications. Windows 8 apps are applications specifically designed to run in the Start screen interface of Windows 8. Switch list is a list of thumbnails of opened programs.

Start Screen

Charms Bar Provides quick access to actions that are frequently used Contains five icons Replaces the Start button

Charms Bar Icons

Snap an App You can only display two apps on the screen at once with a feature known as snap.

Understanding the Desktop No Start button Accessed by Desktop tile The icon is a picture that represents programs or folders.

Program Shortcut The shortcut is an icon with an arrow in the left-hand corner.

Explore the Taskbar It is a horizontal bar located at the bottom of the desktop, it contains toolbars, open window buttons, and the Notifications area. Aero Peek – getting a sneak preview of any open window.

Jump list A Jump List is a list of program shortcuts, which show recently opened files, the program name, an option to pin or unpin an item, and a close option.

Notification Area It is on the right side of the taskbar. It displays icons for programs running in the background and provides access to such system activities as managing wireless networks and adjusting volume. It provides important status information that displays in pop-up windows.

Screen Saver A screen saver is a moving series of pictures or images that displays when your computer has been idle for a specified period of time.

Identify Window Components Title bar: the long bar at the top of each window. The title bar always displays the name of the folder, file, or program. Control buttons- right side of title bar (minimize, maximize (or restore down), or close).

File Explorer Interface File Explorer is an app that you can use to create and manage folders and files

File Explorer Interface (cont.)

File explorer views Details gives you additional details, such as file type and size. You can also change the size of icons by selecting Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large icons. The List view shows the file names without added detail. Tiles and Content views are useful to show file thumbnails (small pictures describing file contents) and varying levels of detail regarding file locations.

Using the Navigation pane The Navigation Pane provides ready access to computer resources, folders, files, and networked peripherals such as printers. It is divided into five areas: Favorites, Libraries, Home group, Computer, and Network.

Using the Navigation pane The Favorites area contains frequently accessed folders and recent searches. The Libraries are collections of files from different locations that are displayed as a single virtual folder. Home group is a Windows 8 feature that enables you to share resources on a home network. The Network area provides quick access to the devices and contents of the network computers.

Files and folders Files include electronic data such as documents, databases, slide shows, worksheets, digital photographs, music, videos, and Web pages Folders is where you place your data files to organize them. Subfolders are folders within other folders arranged according to purpose.

Creating a Folder

Open, Rename, and Delete Folders To open a Folder Double click the Folder. To rename a Folder Right-click the name and select Rename. Type the new name and press Enter. To remove a folder, right-click the item, click Delete. If you delete an item from a hard drive it will be placed in the Recycle Bin, but if you delete it from a removable storage medium, such as a flash drive, it will be permanently deleted.

Copy and Move Folders To copy an item, right-click the item and select Copy on the shortcut menu. Go to destination folder, right-click, and then click Paste. To move an item, right-click the item and select Cut on the shortcut menu. Go to destination folder, right-click, and then click Paste.