Windows 8 tutorials

windows8update.com have put together a complete overview of all the different parts and functions of Windows 8 - Windows 8 Tutorials.

Windows 8 Upgrade Tutorial: You might be interested in articles about upgrading from Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 to Windows 8. Check out our Windows 8 Upgrade guide or Tutorial.

Introduction to the Windows 8 interface: Microsoft have totally re-imagined Windows. The new user interface is different from anything you have ever seen in a Windows Operating System. Learn about Metro, Charms, Hot Corners and more.

The Windows 8 Charms Bar: This section covers the Windows 8 Charms section of Windows 8. This is a new feature in Windows 8 that allows users to get to some of the most commonly used functions in the Operating System quickly.

Windows 8 PC Settings: This section covers the Windows 8 PC Settings section of Windows 8. This is the section that allows you to tweak your PC configuration.

Windows 8 FAQ’s: This section covers the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about setting up some of the core apps in Windows 8.

Windows 8 Applications: This section covers the applications that actually come with Windows 8 such as the Windows 8 Messaging application, the camera application, the music applications etc.

Windows 8 Control Panel: This section covers the parts of Windows 8 that users can configure when they need to make changes to the way Windows 8 runs. These include items like Windows Update, Location Settings, Family safety and Autoplay.

Windows 8 Administrative Tools: This section covers the parts of Windows 8 that System Administrators need to use to monitor and configure the system such as Computer Management and Windows Firewalls.

Get Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free, for a limited time.

• For a limited time, get Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free **
  
  ** Windows 8 Media Center Pack is available at no charge for a limited time only through this promotional page on Windows.com. If you obtain Windows 8 Media Center Pack through any other location fees might apply. Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to one product key per email address. You qualify for this promotion if your PC is running Windows 8 Pro. Additional hardware may be required to watch and record live TV. You must provide a valid email address to receive your Windows 8 Media Center Pack product key. Your product key must be activated no later than January 31, 2013. Microsoft will only contact you at the email address you provide to send you your product key and to remind you when the activation period for your product key is ending. Catalysis Corporation is a third-party company we use to collect subscription information and process the delivery of these emails. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.
  
  
• For a limited time, get Windows 8 Pro Pack for $69.99 *
  
  * Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to five licenses per customer per promotion. To install Windows 8 Pro Pack, you must be running Windows 8. Internet access fees may apply. Prices shown are estimated retail prices; actual price may vary by retailer. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.
  
  

Link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs

Programming Windows® 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Apply your existing skills with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—and start building your own Windows 8 apps now. As a member of the Windows Ecosystem team, the author has trained hundreds of Microsoft engineers and has been on the front lines of bringing the first Windows 8 apps to the Windows Store. Through this book, you’ll get a thorough grounding in platform features and considerations, and delve into development essentials. “Quickstart” sections provide ready experience with the tools, API, and core features. And you’ll gain insights and best practices on design, coding, and performance from real-world developers working on real-world apps.

Topics includes:

• Platform Characteristics
• App Anatomy and Page Navigation
• Controls, Control Styling, and Basic Data Binding
• Collections and Collection Controls
• Layout
• Windows 8 Style Commanding UI
• State, Settings, Files, and Documents
• Input and Sensors
• Media
• Purposeful Animations
• Contracts
• Tiles, Notifications, the Lock Screen, and Background Tasks
• Networking
• Devices and Printing
• Extensions
• Localization, Accessibility, and the Windows Store

Windows 8 Inside Out

You’re beyond the basics—so dive right into Windows 8 and really put your PC to work! This supremely organized reference is packed with hundreds of timesaving solutions, troubleshooting tips, and workarounds. It’s all muscle and no fluff. Discover how the experts tackle Windows 8—and challenge yourself to new levels of mastery!

Topics include:

• Installing and personalizing Windows 8
• Mastering the new UI and features
• Using pen, touch, and voice input
• Implementing security essentials
• Managing files, disks, and drives
• Sharing and synching digital media
• Setting up and troubleshooting a home or mobile network
• Monitoring and tuning performance

Windows 8 For Dummies

Microsoft Windows is the operating system that runs nearly 90 percent of the world's computers. Windows 8 will offer new interface updates, cloud-based services, and much more. This update of Andy Rathbone's bestselling Windows guide covers all the basics, plus the enhancements unique to Windows 8. Whether you're meeting Windows for the first time or upgrading from an earlier version, this book shows you how to navigate the interface, work with files, browse the Internet, set up e-mail, manage media, and more.

• Combined editions of this book, all by Microsoft MVP Andy Rathbone, have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, making Windows For Dummies the #1 bestselling technology book of all time
• Covers all the basics of using Windows 8--core desktop components, managing files and folders, saving files, using Windows search, printing, and working in the cloud
• Shows how to get online, set up and use e-mail, use the latest version of Internet Explorer, set up security and virus protection, add music to the media player, organize photos, and edit media
• Includes coverage on using Windows 8's new start screen on both a desktop computer and a touchscreen device

Windows 8 For Dummies has what all Windows newbies need to know as well as complete coverage of the new version's bells and whistles.

Free ebook: Introducing Windows 8: An Overview for IT Professionals (Preview Edition)

The Windows 8 operating system is the newest member of the Microsoft Windows family. It differs from earlier Windows releases as much for what it does not change as for what it does change. That is, the features that IT pros loved about Windows 7 are still there in Windows 8—just better. The same keyboard shortcuts, management tools, security features, and deployment options are available in Windows 8. But in many cases, Windows 8 improves them in intuitive and significant ways. Some examples are the ribbon in File Explorer and faster disk encryption when using BitLocker Drive Encryption. This book describes these enhancements plus many of the new features in Windows 8.

Download: Introducing Windows 8: An Overview for IT Professionals - PDF ebook

Source: Microsoft Press

Microsoft launched Windows Upgrade Offer website

Microsoft announced at May, anyone purchased Windows 7 PC between 12 June 2012 and 31 Jan 2013 can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for US$14.99. The website of registration is onow live for 140 countries.

Windows Upgrade Offer website: http://windowsupgradeoffer.com/

Free ebook: Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Second Preview)

The second preview edition of “Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript” by Kraig Brockschmidt is available from Microsoft Press for free in pdf format. The book currently contains 12 chapters and it will be expanded and other ebook formats will be available with the complete book.  Sample code also can be downloaded.

Description
This book is about writing Metro style apps for Windows 8 using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Our primary focus will be on applying these web technologies within the Windows 8 platform, where there are unique considerations, and not on exploring the details of those web technologies themselves.

The new chapters cover collection controls (everything you wanted to know about ListView!), layout (especially view states), commanding UI (app bars, message dialogs, and their friends), the all-important topic of managing state, a close look at input and sensors (a form of input, really), media, animations, and contracts (share, search, the file pickers, and contacts). The earlier preview chapters (1-4) have also been updated and refined.

Table of Contents

• The Life Story of a Metro Style App: Platform Characteristics of Windows 8
• Quickstart
• App Anatomy and Page Navigation
• Controls, Control Styling, and Basic Data Binding
• Collections and Collection Controls
• Layout
• Commanding UI
• State, Settings, Files, and Documents
• Input and Sensors
• Media
• Purposeful Animations
• Contracts

Download Link: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/08/20/free-ebook-programming-windows-8-apps-with-html-css-and-javascript-second-preview.aspx

Windows 8 RTM is available for developers

If you have an MSDN Subscription or a TechNet Professional Subscription, the Windows 8 RTM is available. For info on other programs see the Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone post on Windows Team blog.

If you are not part of one of these programs, you can download the 90-day evaluation of the Windows 8 Enterprise edition for developers. This is available now from the Windows Dev Center download page along with Visual Studio Express 2012, Windows 8 design assets, code samples, and all the related tools and SDK’s needed to build apps.

If you use the evaluation version, you are recommended installing it on separate drive or partition or in a VM. This way you’ll be able to upgrade from your original OS to the Windows 8 RTM when it becomes available in October. If you don’t, then you’ll need to reinstall from scratch when you decide to move to the full version. Make sure you read all the details on thedownload page.

Source: Windows 8 app developer blog - Windows 8 RTM is available for developers.

Create bootable USB Windows 8 Release Preview

To craete bootable USB Windows 8 Release Preview from Windows 7 PC, you need to download and install Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool.

Download Windows 8 Release Preview ISO images.

- With a USB inserted.

- Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool.

- Browse to choose downloaded Windows 8 ISO file.

- Choose media type of USB device.

- Select inserted USB and click Begin copying.

- Bootable USB device created successfully.

Official announced: Buy a Windows 7 PC and get Windows 8 Pro for $14.99.

Microsoft officially announced - Buy a Windows 7 PC between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013, you can upgrade Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 when available.

Details: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/upgrade-offer?ocid=O_MSC_UPG_Display_Upgrade_en-us

winlogon error on Windows 8 Release Preview

I have updated Windows 8 from Consumer Preview to Release Preview. When I shutdown the Windows I get a message as "winlogon.exe - No Disk"!

Solution is to turn off fast startup.

- Search "Shutdown Settings" from Settings, and click to run "Change what the power buttons do".



- "Change settings that are not currently available".



- Scroll-down and uncheck "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" and Save changes.

Free ebook: Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (First Preview)

To help celebrate the Windows 8 Release Preview and the Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate, Microsoft Press release a preview edition of Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, by Kraig Brockschmidt (who, some of you might remember, many years ago worked with us on a couple editions of Inside OLE).

Download a PDF of the ebook here (4.34 MB).

Download the ebook’s sample code here (27.5 MB).

(We’ll release EPUB and MOBI versions of the final ebook.)

This first preview contains the first four chapters of what we think will be an 18-chapter final ebook:

Chapter 1   The Life Story of a Metro Style App: Platform Characteristics of Windows 8

Chapter 2   Quickstart

Chapter 3   App Anatomy and Page Navigation

Chapter 4   Controls, Control Styling, and Basic Data Binding

Chapter 5   Collections and Collection Controls

Chapter 6   Layout

Chapter 7   Metro Style Commanding UI

Chapter 8   State, Settings, Files, and Documents

Chapter 9   Input and Sensors

Chapter 10   Media

Chapter 11   Purposeful Animations

Chapter 12   Contracts

Chapter 13   Tiles, Notifications, the Lock Screen, and Background Tasks

Chapter 14   Networking

Chapter 15   Devices and Printing

Chapter 16   Extensions

Chapter 17   Apps for Everyone: Localization, Accessibility, and the Windows Store

Chapter 18   Services

Source: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/06/04/free-ebook-programming-windows-8-apps-with-html-css-and-javascript-first-preview.aspx

Download Windows 8 Release Preview Product Guide

Get the product guide (PDF), read in-depth info about Windows 8 Release Preview.

Windows 8 Release Preview is available now

It's Windows reimagined and reinvented from a solid core of Windows 7 speed and reliability. It's an all-new touch interface. It's a new Windows for new devices. And it's easy to try now—whether you're installing it for the first time, or moving from Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Download Here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=254225

Visual C++ for Windows 8

Want to know how to write cool tablet apps using Visual C++? To kick off our day of Metro style programming in VC++, this talk will begin with an overview of how the WinRT type system is projected in Visual C++, then delve into how easy it is to use fast and portable C++, UIs built using XAML or DirectX or both, and powerful parallel computation from std::async and PPL to automatic vectorization and C++ AMP to harness powerful mobile GPUs... and use any or all of those tools together easily in any combination within the same Visual C++ application, delivering beautiful and responsive results on today's mainstream mobile hardware.

Know how to use mouse and keyboard on Windows 8

This video is created by Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview. For more information, visit: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/get-started

How to close Metro Style Application in Windows 8

There are no close/exit icon on Metro style application. To close it manually, Touch and Drag from the top of the screen to the bottom.

Windows 8 Release Preview will be released at the first week of June

Announced from Japan's Windows 8 Dev Day, via Twitter @BuildWindows8, Windows 8 Release Preview first week of June.

Windows 8 will be available in three version

Announced in The Windows Blog - Announcing the Windows 8 Editions:

Windows 8 is the official product name for the next x86/64 editions of Windows.

For PCs and tablets powered by x86 processors (both 32 and 64 bit), we will have two editions: Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For many consumers, Windows 8 will be the right choice. It will include all the features above plus an updated Windows Explorer, Task Manager, better multi-monitor support and the ability to switch languages on the fly (more details on this feature can be found in this blog post),which was previously only available in Enterprise/Ultimate editions of Windows. For China and a small set of select emerging markets, we will offer a local language-only edition of Windows 8.

Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies. It includes all the features in Windows 8 plus features for encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Media Center will be available as an economical “media pack” add-on to Windows 8 Pro. If you are an enthusiast or you want to use your PC in a business environment, you will want Windows 8 Pro.

Windows RT is the newest member of the Windows family – also known as Windows on ARM or WOA, as we’ve referred to it previously. This single edition will only be available pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors and will help enable new thin and lightweight form factors with impressive battery life. Windows RT will include touch-optimized desktop versions of the new Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. For new apps, the focus for Windows RT is development on the new Windows runtime, or WinRT, which we unveiled in September and forms the foundation of a new generation of cloud-enabled, touch-enabled, web-connected apps of all kinds. For more details on WOA, we suggest reading this blog post which shares more detail on how we have been building Windows 8 to run on the ARM architecture.

Details: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/04/16/announcing-the-windows-8-editions.aspx