Title Page -- Copyright Page -- About the Authors -- Contents at a Glance -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Part I: Getting Started, Getting Secure -- Chapter 1: What's New in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 -- New Platforms -- The Windows 8.1 Interface -- The Start screen -- The Lock Screen -- The Charms Bar -- The Windows Store -- Cloud Synchronization -- Integrated Messaging -- Social Networking Integration -- File Explorer -- Search -- Spell Check and AutoCorrect -- Enterprise Features -- Internet Explorer 11 -- Client Hyper-V -- BitLocker -- Smart Cards -- Task Management -- Proximity and Wi-Fi Direct -- Refresh/Reset -- Changes and Updates Specific to Windows 8.1 -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 2: Navigating the Windows 8.1 Interface -- Introducing the Windows 8 Interface -- Gestures and Mouse Actions -- Using the Start Screen -- Using the Charms -- Working with Windows 8.1 Apps -- Getting to the Desktop -- Using the Taskbar -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 3: Getting Around the Windows Desktop -- Terminology for Things You Do -- Logging In -- Windows Start Screen -- Using the Windows Desktop -- Using Jump Lists -- Running Programs and Apps -- Moving a program window -- Closing a Program -- Using the Notification Area -- Logging Off, Shutting Down -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 4: Sharing and Securing with User Accounts -- Logging In and Out of User Accounts -- Sign-in Options -- Creating Strong Passwords -- Picture Passwords -- Types of User Accounts -- Creating and Managing User Accounts -- Deleting User Accounts -- Using User Accounts -- Creating and Using Password Reset Disks -- Running Programs as Administrator -- Add the Built-in Administrator Account to the Login Screen -- Stop Entering Password on Lockout -- Advanced Security Tools -- Using Credential Manager -- Managing Profile Properties and Environment Variables -- Wrap-Up.

Chapter 5: Using Windows 8.1 Family Safety -- Before You Get Started -- Setting Up Windows 8.1 Family Safety -- Other Online Safety Resources -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Startup Problems -- The Computer Won't Start -- Computer Takes Too Long to Start -- Programs Won't Start -- Wrap-Up -- Part II: Personalizing Windows 8.1 -- Chapter 7: Protecting Yourself with Windows Firewall -- How Firewalls Work -- Introducing Action Center -- Making Exceptions to Firewall Protection -- Advanced Firewall Configuration -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 8: Automatic Updates as Security -- Understanding Automatic Updates -- Enabling Automatic Updates -- Managing Updates -- Thwarting Exploits with Data Execution Prevention -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 9: Personalizing the Windows 8.1 Interface -- Customizing the Start Screen -- Customizing the Lock Screen -- Changing Your Account Picture -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 10: Personalizing the Desktop -- Using the Personalization Page -- Personalizing the Keyboard -- Customizing the Taskbar -- Customizing the Notification Area -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 11: Customizing Startup Options -- First Things First -- Starting Programs Automatically -- Using the System Configuration Tool to Control Startup -- Services Snap-In -- Bypassing the Login Page -- Troubleshooting Startup -- Start Screen versus the Desktop -- Wrap-Up -- Part III: Beyond the Desktop -- Chapter 12: Windows 8.1 and Windows Live -- Windows Live -- Creating a Windows Live Account -- Using Windows Live -- Saving Files in SkyDrive -- Using Office Web Apps -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 13: Social Networking with Windows 8.1 -- Using the People App -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 14: Using Computers Remotely -- Using Remote Assistance -- Using the Remote Desktop App -- Using Classic Remote Desktop -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 15: Managing Names and Addresses -- Opening Contacts -- Creating Contact Groups.

Printing Contacts -- Importing and Exporting Contacts -- Searching for Contacts -- Sharing Contacts on a Network -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 16: Working in the Cloud -- Understanding the Cloud -- Setting Up a SkyDrive Account -- Accessing SkyDrive Files -- Using SkyDrive -- Using SkyDrive -- Wrap-Up -- Part IV: Pictures, Music, and Movies -- Chapter 17: Working with Pictures -- Getting Pictures into Your Computer -- Using Your Pictures Folder -- Using Photo Gallery -- Adding pictures to Photo Gallery -- Use your Photo Gallery as a screen saver -- Printing Pictures -- Pixels and Megapixels -- Pictures, Tags, and Virtual Folders -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 18: Making Music with Media Player -- Controlling Sound Volume -- Starting Windows Media Player -- Listening to a CD -- Now Playing, Visualizations, and Enhancements -- Ripping (Copying) Music CDs -- Getting Music Online -- Using the Media Player Library -- Making Custom Playlists -- Creating Your Own Music CDs -- Copying Music to Portable Devices -- Fun with Skins -- Extending Media Player with Plug-ins -- Converting File Types -- Music, Metadata, and Searches -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 19: Working with Videos and Photos -- Watching Video Files -- Managing Photos with Media Player -- More on Playlists -- Wrap-Up -- Part V: Managing Your Content -- Chapter 20: Understanding Drives, Folders, and Files -- Understanding Disks and Drives -- About Folders -- About Files -- Using File Explorer -- To Click or Double-Click? -- Saving Things in Folders -- Creating Your Own Folders -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 21: Managing Files and Folders -- Selecting Icons -- Moving and Copying Files -- Renaming Files -- Deleting Files -- Using the Recycle Bin -- Creating and Deleting Shortcuts -- Managing Files with DOS Commands -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 22: Searching for Files and Messages on Your Computer -- Basics of Searching.

How Searching Works -- Quick Charms Bar Searches -- Searching Folders and Views -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 23: Metadata and Power Searches -- Working with File Properties -- Setting Properties When You Save -- Personalizing Searches -- Managing the Search Index -- Power Searches -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 24: Protecting Your Files -- Simple File Backups -- Using File History -- Starting File History -- Backing up to a network location -- Excluding folders during backups -- Setting the File History advanced option -- Restoring files from a backup -- Using System Protection -- Using BitLocker Drive Encryption -- Performing a System Backup -- Wrap-Up -- Part VI: Printing and Managing Printers -- Chapter 25: Installing and Managing Printers -- Printer Properties Versus Printing Properties -- Add a Printer with the Devices Tool -- Opening the Devices and Printers Folder -- Installing a New Printer -- Managing Printer Drivers -- Setting Default Printing Preferences -- Setting Printer Properties -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 26: Managing Print Jobs -- How Printing Works -- Managing Print Jobs -- Solving Common Printer Problems -- Printing Offline -- Creating XPS Documents -- Printing from Windows 8.1 Apps -- Wrap-Up -- Part VII: Installing and Removing Programs -- Chapter 27: Adding and Managing Windows 8.1 Applications -- Using the Windows Store -- Updating Apps -- Removing Apps -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 28: Installing and Upgrading Legacy Programs -- Playing It Safe with Program Installations -- Updates Versus Upgrades -- Installing and Upgrading from a Disk -- Common Installation Prompts -- The End User License Agreement -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 29: Getting Older Programs to Run -- Understanding Program Types -- Installing Incompatible Programs -- Using the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter -- Quick-and-Dirty Program Compatibility -- Using DOS Commands in Windows 8.1.

Wrap-Up -- Chapter 30: Repairing and Removing Programs -- Changing and Repairing Programs -- Uninstalling Programs -- Unpinning from the Start screen -- Dealing with stuck programs -- Turning Windows Features On and Off -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 31: Setting Default Programs -- Setting Default Programs for Files -- Using the Default Programs Page -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 32: Managing Programs and Processes -- Getting to Know Task Manager -- Not Responding? Task Manager to the Rescue -- Monitoring Performance with Task Manager -- Managing Processes with Task Manager -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 33: Troubleshooting Software Problems -- Troubleshooting Installations -- Troubleshooting Programs -- Researching Application Errors -- Editing the Registry -- Troubleshooting Tips -- Wrap Up -- Part VIII: Hardware and Performance Tuning -- Chapter 34: Installing and Removing Hardware -- Hardware, Firmware, and Software Demystified -- A Few Words About Device Drivers -- Using Hot-Pluggable Devices -- Not-So-Hot-Pluggable Devices -- Removing Hardware -- Updating Drivers -- Dealing with Devices That Prevent Windows 8.1 from Starting -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 35: Using Wireless Bluetooth Devices -- The World of Bluetooth -- Configuring Your Bluetooth Adapter -- Adding Bluetooth-Enabled Devices -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 36: Performance-Tuning Your System -- Getting to Know Your System -- Maximizing CPU and Memory Resources -- Monitoring and Adjusting Performance -- Maintaining Your Hard Drive -- The Power Settings -- Wrap-Up -- Chapter 37: Troubleshooting Hardware and Performance -- First Aid for Troubleshooting Hardware -- Dealing with Error Messages -- Performing a Clean Boot -- Using the System Recovery Options -- Troubleshooting Performance Problems -- Wrap-Up -- Part IX: Networking and Sharing -- Chapter 38: Creating a Home Network -- What Is a LAN? -- Planning a LAN.

Creating a Wired LAN.