Windows 8.1 is a new operating system that was released on October 26, 2012. It is a major update to the Windows 8 operating system and includes many new features and improvements. If you are upgrading from Windows 7, be sure to read our Windows 7 Upgrade Guide before beginning your installation process. If you are upgrading from Windows 8, be sure to read our Windows 8 Upgrade Guide as well. In this article, we will cover the following topics: What is Windows 8.1? How does it differ from previous versions of the Windows operating system? What is Windows 8.1? Windows 8.1 is a new operating system that was released on October 26, 2012. It is a major update to the Windows 8 operating system and includes many new features and improvements. It replaces the original version of the windows Operating System which was released in 2008 and was known as windows XP or older versions of windows were known as “windows 98” or “windows 95”. Windows 10 also supports updates for windows 8.1 so if you are upgrading from windows 10 or if you have an existing window8 computer then you can continue to use your current computer without any problems however if you want to upgrade your computer then it’s best to do so in order to get all of the benefits that come with windows 10 such as improved performance, security, updates and more! How does it differ from previous versions of the Windows Operating System? Windows 7 was released on July 29th 2006 while windows 10 was released on October 26th 2012 so there has been some time between these releases where there have been some changes made in order for both systems to work together better however overall they are still very similar in terms of their functionality! In addition both systems support updates for each other so if something goes wrong with your computer after updating to either version then you can always go back and update it using one of the many available
Windows 8 was very different from Windows 7, but change is only speeding up — Windows 8.1 has seen quite a few changes since Windows 8. You’ll have new things to learn, whichever which version of Windows you’re upgrading from.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it will help you get to grips with Windows 8.1 and locate the settings you may be looking for — especially if they’ve moved since Windows 7 or 8.
Desktop Options Aren’t Enabled By Default
RELATED: How to Optimize Windows 8.1 For a Desktop PC
Microsoft made a significant effort to make Windows 8.1 less awkward for desktop users, but the only difference you’ll notice by default is that the Start button is back. If you want to boot to the desktop and prevent the app switcher and charms from appearing when you move your mouse to the top corners of your screen, you’ll need to configure these options yourself. To do so, right-click your taskbar, select Properties, and change the options on the Navigation tab.
You Can Shut Down in Two Clicks
Press Windows Key + X or right-click the Start button to open the power user menu. This menu contains shortcuts with quick access to commonly used options like the Control Panel, Task Manager, and File Explorer. On Windows 8.1, you can now shut down from this menu — it takes just as many clicks as it did on Windows 7.
Default File Associations Are Still Frustrating
RELATED: How To Make Images, Music, Video, and PDF Files Open On The Desktop in Windows 8
Windows 8.1’s file associations are still obnoxious for desktop users. When you open an image from the desktop, you’ll be whisked away to the full-screen Modern interface with your taskbar and entire desktop hidden. It would make sense for each environment to have its own file associations, so you’d see a desktop program when you opened a picture from the desktop, but Microsoft hasn’t done this.
If you use the desktop, you’ll need to head into the Default programs control panel and change the default file associations for images, PDFs, music, and video files.
Bing Integration Can Be Disabled
Microsoft’s Bing search engine is integrated in Windows 8.1, allowing you to easily search with Bing from the system’s search feature. To accomplish this, searches you start typing on your computer will be sent to Bing’s servers. If you’d rather not have the searches you type sent to Bing, you can disable Bing integration from the Search and apps panel in the PC Settings app.
Tiles Aren’t Created By Default
Windows 8 automatically created tiles on your Start screen when you installed a Windows 8 app or desktop program. Windows 8.1 no longer does this, allowing you full control of your Start screen layout. To add tiles for newly installed programs, click the arrow button or swipe up on the Start screen. Right-click or long-press an application shortcut and select Pin to Start to create a tile for it.
SkyDrive Only Syncs Files in the SkyDrive Folder, Mostly
RELATED: How to Sync Any Folder With SkyDrive on Windows 8.1
Windows 8.1’s SkyDrive integration will only synchronize files and folders in your SkyDrive folder at C:\Users\NAME\SkyDrive. You can’t synchronize folders outside of this folder, and the old symbolic link trick won’t work either. SkyDrive will also sync the photos in your Camera Roll folder, but it won’t sync other images in your Pictures folder.
To sync another folder, you’ll have to try moving it into SkyDrive and creating a symbolic link elsewhere.
Libraries Are Hidden By Default
RELATED: How to Bring Libraries Back on Windows 8.1 and 10’s File Explorer
Libraries are now hidden by default, even though they’re still used heavily by Modern apps. For example, image applications have access to your Pictures library, while video players have access to your Videos library.
To make libraries visible again, right-click in the left pane of the File Browser and select Show libraries.
Internet Explorer’s Two Interfaces
Internet Explorer still offers two interfaces — the full-screen, Windows 8-style one and a desktop application. When you launch the Internet Explorer tile from the Start screen, you’ll see the Windows 8-style Internet Explorer.
If you’d rather use the desktop version of Internet Explorer when you click the Internet Explorer tile, open IE on the desktop, click the gear menu, and select Internet options. Click the Programs tab and set Internet Explorer to open “Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop.”
If Internet Explorer isn’t your default browser, it will always open on the desktop and you’ll be unable to change this setting.
Snap is Improved
RELATED: How the Modern Interface is Improved in Windows 8.1
Snap is an extremely important part of using Windows 8 apps, as it allows you to use multiple apps at a time. It feels fairly limited on a laptop or desktop, but it’s refreshing and powerful on a tablet.
To snap an app, swipe in from the left of your screen and position the app’s tile at the left or right sides of the screen. It will snap alongside the current app. With a mouse, move your mouse to the top-left corner of the screen and drag-and-drop the app’s tile onto your screen where you want it. You can now resize the apps to use as much space as you like or even view three or more apps on screen at once, depending on your screen resolution. Windows 8.1’s Modern interface is much more powerful than Windows 8’s.
Administrative Tools Are Hidden By Default
RELATED: How to Show the Administrative Tools on the Modern UI Screen in Windows 8
The system tools found in the Windows Administrative Tools folder — applications like the Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, Services, and Computer Management tools — are normally hidden. They won’t appear in your All apps list and you won’t be able to find them by searching your installed applications, either. If you need them, head to the Start screen, press Windows Key + C, select Settings, select Tiles, and enable the Show administrative tools option on the Tiles pane. They’ll show up in All apps and appear when you search for them by name.
We mostly focused on the desktop here, but tablet users aren’t left out. If you use Windows 8.1 on a tablet, check out our list of new features Windows 8.1 brings for tablet users.
Image Credit: Rodrigo Ghedin on Flickr
