Course outline for
Upgrading to Windows 8.1

Introduction

Prerequisites

Section 1: Getting Started

Lesson 1.1: The Basics of Windows 8.1

What is Windows 8.1?

What’s New in Windows 8.1?

Getting the Update

Logging In and Logging Out

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 1.2: Interface Basics

Understanding the Windows 8.1 Start Screen

Understanding the Windows 8.1 Desktop

Viewing the Charms Bar

Viewing Running Apps

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 1.3: Common Gestures and Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Key Shortcuts

Tapping and Swiping Basics

Pinch Zoom

Swiping to Show or Switch Apps

Using the Help + Tips App

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 1.4: Exiting Windows 8.1

Switching Users

Locking and Unlocking the Computer

Putting the Computer to Sleep

Restarting the Computer

Turning Off the Computer

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Section 1: Case Study

Section 1: Review Questions

Section 2: Working with the New Start Screen

Lesson 2.1: Using the New Start Screen

Viewing All Apps

Turning Live Tiles On or Off

Working with Notifications

Customizing Notifications

Changing the Start Screen Background to Match the Desktop

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 2.2: Working with Windows 8.1 Apps

Pinning Apps to the Start Screen

Pinning Apps to the Taskbar

Displaying the Taskbar

Moving and Resizing Tiles

Multitasking with Apps

Closing and Minimizing Apps

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 2.3: Searching in Windows 8.1

Searching for Apps

Using Bing Smart Search

Searching by Category

Changing Search Settings

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 2.4: Customizing PC Settings

Opening PC Settings

Changing Display Settings

Changing Mouse Settings

Disabling Hotspots

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 2.5: Using the Windows Store

Launching the Store

Searching for Apps

Downloading Apps

Launching Recently Installed Apps

Toggling Automatic Update for Apps

Uninstalling Apps

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Section 2: Case Study

Section 2: Review Questions

Section 3: Working with the Windows 8.1 Desktop

Lesson 3.1: Introducing the Windows 8.1 Desktop

Switching to the Desktop

Using the Desktop

Using the Taskbar

Using the System Tray

Using the Start Button

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 3.2: Using Desktop Features

Using Snap

Using Peek

Using Shake

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 3.3: Desktop Application Basics

Starting a Program

Opening Files from the Desktop

Launching Help from Within an Application

Ending a Frozen Program

Exiting a Program

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 3.4: Using File Explorer on the Desktop

Opening and Closing File Explorer

Understanding the Locations in the Navigation Pane

Customizing the Favorites Section of the Navigation Pane

Using File Explorer with OneDrive

Displaying Libraries

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Section 3: Case Study

Section 3: Review Questions

Section 4: Updated Windows 8.1 Apps

Lesson 4.1: Using Internet Explorer 11, Part One

Opening Internet Explorer

Navigating in Internet Explorer

Refreshing the Page

Moving Back and Forward

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 4.2: Using Internet Explorer 11, Part Two

Opening Tabs

Closing Tabs

Pinning a Page to the Start Screen

Side-By-Side Browsing

Customizing Internet Explorer 11

Switching to Internet Explorer Desktop

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 4.3: Using Mail

Starting Mail

Viewing Mail Messages

Composing Mail Messages

Replying to Messages

Deleting Messages

Organizing Mail

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 4.4: Using Skype

Starting Skype

Logging into Skype

Finding and Adding Contacts

Starting a Call

Changing Your Status

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 4.5: Using Reading List

Starting Reading List

Sharing Items to Reading List

Viewing Items

Searching Your Reading List

Removing Items

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Lesson 4.6: Using OneDrive

Opening and Configuring OneDrive

Viewing Files

Creating Folders

Adding Files

Syncing Files

Deleting Files

Step-By-Step

Skill Sharpener

Section 4: Case Study

Section 4: Review Questions

Answer Key

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Index