Just bought a windoze 8.1 laptop

November2

Only just got my new laptop and it's very confusing. The basic guide, help sections are pretty useless. Just opened an email and usually I can delete it without going back, but it is full page plus I have no idea how to go back to my inbox. Address/Search toolbar is at bottom of page (is this W8 or HP computer?) Either way it's annoying and it keeps disappearing too. All I seem to be doing at moment is going back to start page. Is there an 'idiots guide' I could read through?

ukcarper

November2 wrote: »

Only just got my new laptop and it's very confusing. The basic guide, help sections are pretty useless. Just opened an email and usually I can delete it without going back, but it is full page plus I have no idea how to go back to my inbox. Address/Search toolbar is at bottom of page (is this W8 or HP computer?) Either way it's annoying and it keeps disappearing too. All I seem to be doing at moment is going back to start page. Is there an 'idiots guide' I could read through?

Is this via internet explorer or using the mail app.

Weird_Nev

November2 wrote: »

Only just got my new laptop and it's very confusing. The basic guide, help sections are pretty useless. Just opened an email and usually I can delete it without going back, but it is full page plus I have no idea how to go back to my inbox. Address/Search toolbar is at bottom of page (is this W8 or HP computer?) Either way it's annoying and it keeps disappearing too. All I seem to be doing at moment is going back to start page. Is there an 'idiots guide' I could read through?

The Email 'app' supplied with Win 8 has 3 'columns' by default. On the left, the envelope at the top takes you to your inbox. The Star is your 'favorite' people and filters your email. If you click it, it will take you to your contacts where you can select your favorites, to filter their emails when it's selected. Flag shows only flagged emails, and then it has a go at categorising news letters and social updates.

The next column over should be a list of your emails, you click them to select.
On the right in the third 'column' is the 'preview' pane, which shows th email itself. To delete, press the dustbin. It will automatically then show the next email in turn. The return arrow replies, the plus allows you to type a new email.

It's important to remember that this is just a front end for your outlook email. You can still go to https://www.outlook.com in a web browser and log in as you did before, and use the more familiar controls.

Win 8.1 is a good improvement, IMO. Howeve,r if you ever get 'lost' then the windows key takes you to the start page, and importantly from there you can click on the desktop to get to the more familiar workspace from Win 7. You can also 'pin' your most used apps to the task bar or start page and launch them from there, as well as having tradional shortcuts on the desk top.

HAve a play, you can't break anything, and I've found it pretty intuitive so far.

Your basic commands are:

• Windows Key or bottom left corner with the mouse: Start screen.
• Right hand side swipe in, or mouse full right: 'Charms' screen where you can change options, search, or return to start screen.
• Mouse to Top left corner - list of recently used applicaitons.
• Swipe on screen from left: switch between the most recent applications. (i've been doing this between mail and the desktop to type this!).
• Win key + X Brings up a handy settings menu.

Get your favorite browser installed and use it from the desktop, and it's very much like the Win 7 experience, with a slicker user interface, IMO.

November2

Hi, thanks. Have been reading through various guides and having a play. Getting there, I think the most irritating thing is everything is hidden, much simpler when address, search, toolbar was just visible at top of screen. I suppose I'll get used to it eventually.

KxMx

It sounds like you're using an email app through Windows 8, rather than via a browser, am I correct?

If you use google chrome or internet explorer to get onto the internet, go to yahoo, hotmail, gmail etc, log on to your emails there.

The email apps are very basic IMO and not worth using over the internet version. I gave them a try, wasn't impressed and now just go via a browser as I did before Win8.

Stonker

Using W8.1 and IE whateveritis, my yahoo mail keeps logging itself out and I have to keep re-entering my password

rockin_plumber

I got a new PC last week with windows 8 on it,Updated to 8.1, old PC had XP...


No touch screen monitor, and personally I couldn't put up with the finger prints on a touch screen!


After a week using it I can say although quite different you can still have the desktop and use things as you did.
It took me about three days on and off to figure it all out what I needed but I have to say, I don't see what all the fuss is about, all these Windows 8 haters must have just looked and left
All seems fine and I am very happy with it.


Didn't like the inbuilt email app, using Mozilla Thunderbird, seems very good, and pretty straight forward.


My only real annoyance was my 14 year old scanner wouldn't work, but then again did have a problem getting drivers for XP

rockin_plumber

November2 wrote: »

Hi, thanks. Have been reading through various guides and having a play. Getting there, I think the most irritating thing is everything is hidden, much simpler when address, search, toolbar was just visible at top of screen. I suppose I'll get used to it eventually.

I assume you are talking about internet explorer???


If you are the one on the start screen is probably the one you are talking about.


If you have it on the desktop it is pretty much the same as it always was really.

rockin_plumber

Stonker wrote: »

Using W8.1 and IE whateveritis, my yahoo mail keeps logging itself out and I have to keep re-entering my password

Cookies disabled maybe??

Stonker

rockin_plumber wrote: »

Cookies disabled maybe??

I closed IE and reopened. It seems OK now