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How to Set a Proxy Server on Windows 8.1 Tablet or Hybrid Device

How to Set a Proxy Server on Windows 8.1 Tablet or Hybrid Device

One of the small but good improvements in Windows 8.1 is that it provides a touch-friendly way to set a proxy server. This proxy is then used by Internet Explorer and modern apps from the Windows Store that need to access the web. In Windows 8, even if you had a tablet or a hybrid device like Microsoft Surface, you had to use the desktop
How to Learn the Countries Where Windows Store Apps are Available

How to Learn the Countries Where Windows Store Apps are Available

Even though each app in the Windows Store has its own webpage that can be found using a search engine, Microsoft doesn't offer a full web version of the Windows Store. Also, in the Windows Store app, you cannot view apps that are not available in your region. This raises an interesting issue: you can't learn the countries where an app is available. It can
Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

Book Review - Windows 8.1 Step By Step, by Ciprian Rusen & Joli Ballew

When I reviewed the first edition of this book - Windows 8 Step By Step - I said that it was "the kind of book to keep handy by your computer for reference, because it will give you confidence that you can do everything right. It's a winner!" Other sites, including Amazon, where reviewers are notoriously cranky, have given it 5-star and 4-star ratings as
How to Use Windows Defender in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

How to Use Windows Defender in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

Guess what Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 users: when you're using Microsoft's newest operating system you don't need to install virus protection... Oh god, we sound like those Mac elitists, don't we? Well, we aren't saying this due to an over-confidence in virus coders lack of interest in a comparatively small market share. We're saying this because Windows 8 & Windows 8.1 have a baked
How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

How to Set AutoPlay Defaults for Media & Devices in Windows 8.1

In Windows 8.1 you can also set the AutoPlay settings for your media and devices, directly from PC Settings. There you have access to almost the same customization options found in the Control Panel. This tutorial shares where to find the AutoPlay settings and how to fiddle with them. Where to Find the AutoPlay Settings in PC Settings? Open PC Settings. Then, click or
How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

How to Set How Much Data Tiles Use in Windows 8.1

If you are a tablet user with Windows 8.1 and you have a poor data plan, then you will want to limit how much data is used by the operating system, including the tiles. Depending on the apps you have installed and what updates they display on their tiles, they might end up consuming a lot of data. Luckily, Windows 8.1 provides a way for
How to Work with File History in Windows 8.1, from PC Settings

How to Work with File History in Windows 8.1, from PC Settings

One of the minor but welcome changes in Windows 8.1 is that it allows users to use the File History from PC Settings. If you have a tablet or a computer with touch, you can quickly turn on this feature, select the drive where your data is backed up and perform manual backups. Here's how it works. NOTE: Before you enable File History, plug
The Calculator in Windows 7 & Windows 8 - A Tool for the Geek in You!

The Calculator in Windows 7 & Windows 8 - A Tool for the Geek in You!

The new Windows Calculator offers more precise calculations than ever and it also has a new and powerful interface. It now integrates the basic standard calculations with programming, scientific calculations and statistics. Beyond this, there are also other features which are very useful: things like mortgage calculation, a multifunctional converter and a few more options which deserve their share of attention. In this article I
Windows 8.1 Step by Step - The Best Book for Windows 8.1 is Available

Windows 8.1 Step by Step - The Best Book for Windows 8.1 is Available

If you plan to use Windows 8.1 or buy a PC, hybrid, or tablet with Windows 8.1, you should consider buying a good manual for it. We're happy to announce that Windows 8.1 Step by Step is available worldwide and there are some good offers you can find online. Also, now it is well stocked on all distribution channels. Windows 8.1 Step by Step
Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

Introducing Windows 8.1: What are the Charms & How to Use them

One of the most important features in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are the Charms. "Charms"... in Windows? It sounds strange! Right? Actually, they are not that hard to understand. To help you out, we will share how to access them, what they do and how to use them. How to Access the Charms Simply put, Charms are a set of shortcuts to common tasks, available
Introducing Windows 8.1: Change the Start Screen Wallpaper & Colors

Introducing Windows 8.1: Change the Start Screen Wallpaper & Colors

Windows 8.1 offers more personalization options than Windows 8 and Windows 7 do. One of the things that can be configured in more detail is the Start screen itself. For example, in Windows 8.1 you have more options for setting the wallpaper (background image), background and accent colors. You can even set it to use the same wallpaper as the Desktop, which changes every couple
How to Use the Action Center in Windows 8 & 8.1 to Keep Your PC Secure

How to Use the Action Center in Windows 8 & 8.1 to Keep Your PC Secure

The Action Center was first introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and, since then, it has been constantly updated. In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 it offers many of the old and familiar options but also some exciting new ones, aiming to further increase the security and stability of your system. In this tutorial I will show how to open the Action Center in
Introducing Windows 8.1: Configure the Action Center & its Messages

Introducing Windows 8.1: Configure the Action Center & its Messages

The Action Center in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 has an important role in keeping safe your computer or device and having it run well. This feature has received many improvements and it is now more powerful than ever before. In this article, I will show how to access its settings window and how to configure the way it works and how it notifies you.
How to Add, Change or Remove VPN Connections in Windows 8.1

How to Add, Change or Remove VPN Connections in Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 provides a more complex PC Settings panel that, for some tasks and settings, it is better and more complete than the traditional Control Panel. One of the surprising things you can do with it is that you can create VPN connections, configure them in detail and remove them when you no longer need to use them. Here's how it all works: How
Introducing Windows 8 & 8.1: How to Switch Between Sign-In Options

Introducing Windows 8 & 8.1: How to Switch Between Sign-In Options

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are optimized for use on a wide range of devices. Whether you're using a desktop computer, a tablet or even a hybrid device, Windows 8 and 8.1 have you covered. While many features will be accessible across all platforms, some tasks may be easier done on one form of device or another. This can be seen with a task as
How to Delete VPN or PPPOE Connections in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

How to Delete VPN or PPPOE Connections in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

You may have created a network connection in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 that you no longer use. Or you may have a VPN or PPPOE connection that has changed its configuration and it is no longer working with the initial parameters. In such scenarios it is best to delete these network connections and create them again from scratch. Here's how to remove all kinds
How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

As mentioned in many other articles, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is related to Search and its strong integration with Bing. In this operating system, Bing provides you with search suggestions and web results when performing any kind of search, directly from the Start screen. Some users will love this but will want to tweak the way it works while others will