This Windows 10 part will include “how do I do” things that we must do but not often.

Connecting a printerConnecting to Wi-FiCreating a new Folder to better organize documents or photosMaking things on my screen a bit easier to read

Fonts and sizes. Moving icons around. Adding photos to a background.

Most of my research on Windows 10 is from the Windows 10 Field Guide by Paul Thurrott. Click below to purchase the book if you would like. It is very reasonably priced at $14.99.https://leanpub.com/windows10fieldguide

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The Desktop is where your shortcuts reside. If you had shortcuts on Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1, you will have the same shortcuts on Windows 10. Yes, really.

The Recycle Bin is still there.

The Start Button is back but it looks a little different. It looks like a small window.

The Taskbar is still there and if you had shortcuts on the taskbar, you will still have them. However, there are some new things on the Taskbar.

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First look at the left side.Virtually all of these items can be turned on or off at your discretion.

Go to Settings. More on Settings on a later date.

File Explorer is just like the old Windows Explorer. The name was changed to better describe what it is for. Files.

The right side here are tiles that you can have or not have. Tiles are simply larger icons for apps. Right click on them to change their size and even turn off the changing information.

Tiles can be small, medium, large or extra large.

My personal preference for shortcuts are:My most often used apps are on the desktop.I may also have these apps on the Taskbar. Since the taskbar space is

limited…I have my next most used apps on the Start Menu.

When shutting down, if you see Update in any of the phases, let it do this but know that the shutdown and then restart process will take a little longer.

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Control Panel, Internet Explorer, etc. are found in these Windows Folders. Detailed slides follow.

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You can scroll up and down using the scroll wheel of your mouse or click at the right hand border of this window to see the vertical scroll bar.

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All apps shows EVERY app on your computer. It doesn’t show documents or files…just apps.

Another tip is that you can Uninstall an app from this screen by right clicking the app and choosing Uninstall. No need to go to Control Panel as in previous versions of Windows.

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To find Control Panel, type Control Panel in the Search box and the lower left corner of the screen. Control Panel will be the first item. You can click it to start it or right click to create a short cut.

I’ll show where Control Panel is kept on a later slide.

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The Control Panel has been a necessary part of Windows to perform required tasks like adding a printer, connecting to Wi-Fi, customizing the computer itself.

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One level into the Control Panel.

Lots here.

Not frequented by most.

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Larger icons for one make the Settings app less intimidating

You don’t have to click deep down to get things down.

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Previously, and now still, these things were done in Control Panel. Control Panel will go away in the future but this is just a transition period.

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Settings has 9 sections with an icon and brief description of the contents. Click on one to see what is accomplished within.

Virtually Everything is only 2 clicks away!

Connect to Wi-Fi – Network and Internet. Select Wi-Fi

Connecting a Printer – Devices. Choose Printers and Scanners. Select Add a Printer or selected the printer if it is already installed.

Make the Mouse easier to see. – Choose Ease of Access. Select Mouse.

Make Text Larger – Choose System. Select Display. Notice the next slide.

Let’s click the first icon called System.

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Making Text larger if you have sight difficulties like me and performed in the first option called Display.

Choose System. Select Display. Move the slider to the right to increase text size.

Notice the list at the left of the many other things one can do in System.

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This, and the next slide, show the 9 sections of Settings and the sub-sections within.

Virtually everything thing one might need to do with their computer is only 2 clicks away.

I will not go into depth on each of these sections as much is just plan too technical, even for me.

There are articles about Windows 10 Settings and I very much like Windows 10 Field Guide by Paul Thurrott as he does a great job of explaining Settings in a clear and methodical way.

https://leanpub.com/windows10fieldguide

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Let’s talk about where all of your documents, photos, videos, etc. reside.

It’s File Explorer.

Previously called Windows Explorer in Windows 7 and before.

Think of File Explorer as a filing cabinet and this cabinet has many drawers (places).

Inside those drawers are file folders and inside the folders are documents or files.

Now your filing cabinet can be very organized or disorganized. You have control over this fact.

Your computers places and folders react in the same manner.

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Click the link below to see a bit more about how to use the File Explorer Ribbon Bar. Thankfully, this article is short, well written and has lots of pictures.http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-10-tips-tricks-secrets-and-shortcuts-file-explorer/

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Your computer is organized with a variety of places or locations to see files.

Think of these as the drawers of your filing cabinet.

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The locations are the blue box. Let’s go a little deeper.

Notice the Tabs at the upper Left. File, Home, Share, View, Manage.

The Ribbon Bar customizers itself based on the selected tab.

Frankly, we could spend an entire meeting on how to use all the features of File Explorer but I don’t think everyone would be interested in the details.

If you are interested however, click the following link for a terrific article and video tutorial on File Explorer.http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-customize-file-explorer-in-windows-10/

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Views allow one to see more or less about a file. This is all about personal choice here too.

Each view is “right” and none are wrong.

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This is how File Explorer shows files with the Details view

To some, more than the name if the file is enough. The date it was modified, that application that the document is used by as well as the size of the file.

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This is how File Explorer shows files in the List View

OK, maybe all you need is the name of the file as all you need to do is open it.

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This is how File Explorer shows files or Photos in the Extra Large Icons View

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Next, let’s notice there are types of folders found in File Explorer and you can set a unique view by these types.

These folders are automatically created by Windows and have been around since Windows XP.

They even have their own unique folder icon.

For instance, you can how the Pictures folders show the files as Extra Large icons so the photos themselves are seen.

Documents, on the other hand, might show the file name and details for the file.

It is a very, very good idea to utilize these folder types for your documents, photos, etc. It is NOT a good idea to create your own or move them around as Windows apps use them.

You can, however, create folders below or within each of these folders to allow for more organization.

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If the Ribbon Bar is too busy or complicated, turn it off by right-clicking on the white space above the Ribbon and choose Minimize the Ribbon.

Or click on the small up or down arrow in the upper right corner of the screen. Next to the blue question mark, which is the Help.

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Click the little up or down arrow to show or hide the Ribbon Bar

By the way, that blue circle with the ? In it is the Help icon. Click it to open a Help box for help with File Explorer of help with whatever app you are in.

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For file management, previous versions of Windows, and still with Windows 10, one can put Windows side by side.

Open the app. Click and hold on the top of the window and drag it to the left and notice that if attaches to the left side of the screen.

Open another app or hold down the Control key and double click on the same app, as I’ve done with this example of File Explorer, Click and hold on the top of the window and drag it to the right.

Then resize each window to file the screen.

I use this feature to drag and drop photos from one folder to another.

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Upgrading to a New Operating System is a Big Deal and Should Not be Taken Lightly.

If Your Computer Works Fine, then upgrading Should be Avoided.

If the Computer is NOT working nicely, then Upgrading to Windows 10 is a good alternative.

Or get a New Computer if the problem is the machine and not the operating system and it’s apps.

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