Windows 8

Windows 8.1 F.A.Q.

Windows 8.1 Accessories

Windows 8.1 comes with the usual sort of accessory programs to play around with and these are listed under Programs, Windows Accessories and we have various utilities and programs to create documents, manipulate pictures, play sounds, games and so on. These programs are listed below with more information for the new stuff.

Windows Ease of Use

Magnifier Program allows those with sight difficulties, to magnify portions of the screen to make it more readable
Narrator Program to speak out selected text and buttons and whats on screen to you
On-Screen Keyboard Program to allow you to use the mouse to type in characters and numbers instead of the keyboard
Windows Speech Recognition Program to record and recognise voice differences. Requires a microphone.

System Tools

Character Map Displays character set from given Fonts and allow you insert them in your documents for the hard to find characters
Private Character Editor Allows you to create, copy, modify or delete characters which can be inserted into documents via Character Map tool

Tablet PC

Shape Collector
This provides personalised handwriting recognition for tablets to reduce errors.
Tab Tip Brings up a virtual keyboard to allow you to enter letters, digits and characters.
Windows Journal Special program to write notes using the tablet features.

 

Other Tools

Calculator Program to work out simple or complex calculations. It a scientific mode for more complex calculations.
Maths Input Panel Allows you to enter special maths equations.
Mobilty Center Feature for laptops only. Allows you to change brightness, volume, battery levels, wireless connections, screen mode, external monitors, sync settings and projectors
Command Prompt Displays a simple text based command environment like DOS (this is Cmd.exe) for MS-DOS environment go to Start, Run and type Command.com.
Notepad Simple text program to write notes or view log files, readme files and so on.
Paint Program to create or manipulate pictures or photos you have taken to your tastes
Remote Desktop Connection Program to allow you to connect to another PC to take over control to diagnose problems
Snipping Tool Program to grab and copy snapshots of screen, window or selection into clipboard.
Sound Recorder Allow to record sound from a microphone into your computer and save it as a sound file.
Steps Recorder Program to record steps or actions and replay them.
Sticky Notes Program to temporarily record notes.
Windows Fax and Scan Program to manage Facimilies and scan documents ready to be faxes to other users via a fax. Requires a Fax Modem installed.
Windows Media Player Program to play, record or burn to disk sound files or Audio CDs.
WordPad A simple word processor program to quickly write some documents. Does not have any advanced stuff such as Spelling, Mail Merge and so on for advanced Word Processors such as Word, WordPerfect, Works which are available seperately.
XPS Viewer Program to view documents in the XPS format.

More Tools

ClearType Text Tuner Turns on or off Clear Type Text (cttune)
Command Prompt Windows command prompt to enter DOS type commands (cmd)
Colour Management Sets monitor colour profiles (colorcpl)
Credential Wizard Backups and restore usernames and passwords (credwiz)
DirectX Properties Display scope, debug layer, message, break and device settings (dxcpl)
DirectX Diagnostics Display directx device devices and settings (dxdiag)
Disk Cleanup Delete old temporary files, logs and other unwanted file (cleanmgr)
MSConfig Program to change startup programs, the boot.ini file, win.ini files, services and so on.
Notepad Simple text editing tool
RegEdit Program to directly view or modify registry entries (Warning! Use this program with care)
Progman Brings up the old Program Manager (as in Windows 3.1 days)
Windows Powershell New advanced command line using .NET Framework API for powerful management
WinVer Display Windows version information

Control Panel and Settings