Back Up Information Using File History in Windows 8

1. For reasons known only to Microsoft, File History is not turned on by default so you have to do this yourself. Right-click in the bottom left corner of the screen (in either Metro or Desktop modes) and select “Control Panel”.

2. In Control Panel look under the “System and Security” heading for “Save backup copies of your files with File History” and click on it.

3. To turn on File History either plug in an external storage device (such a USB stick) which will be automatically detected by Windows and set as your File History Storage location, or navigate to a network folder you wish to use for this purpose.

4. In the example below I have chosen a network drive folder as my backup location.

5. To restore files, click on “Restore personal files” to the left of the main File History screen, and you are presented with a easy to navigate recovery interface. Simply navigate to the folder your file is in and use the arrows at the bottom of the screen to go forward and back in time. When you find the file you want, you can right click on it to see all previous versions before hitting the big green button to restore the version you want.

6. To increase how often Windows backs up your files, click on the "Advanced settings" tab to the left of the File History window. Change the "Save copies of files" setting

7. To access files offline, check out the File History in the Advanced Settings window. This is great for people on the move as files you work on when away from your backup source (for example, when on the road with your laptop). These files will be backed up locally and synced with the backup location on your return.

8. To exclude folders from the automatic backup, click the "Exclude Folders" dialogue to the left of the main File History window.

Associate File Types in Windows 8

1. Search for "associate" by typing it into the Windows 8 Start menu. Hit the "settings" option.

2. Select "Change the file type associated with a file extension" in the top left corner.

3. Scroll down through the file extensions until you find the one that you want.

4. Click on the file type, such as the movie extension MOV. You'll see the current program associated with it on the right. Click "Change program" at the top of the window.

5. Select a new program to open the file extension automatically, such as VLC.

Arrange App Groups in Windows 8

1. Click on the "-" sign in the bottom right corner of the Start screen.

2. Click and hold an app group that you want to rearrange on your screen.

3. Move the app group over to where you want it.

4. Drop the group into its new location.

5. Right-click on an app group and select "Name group."

6. Type in a name for the group and then click "Name" to name it.

Adjust Visual Effects in Windows 8

1. Search for "Adjust visual" in the Windows 8 Start menu.

2. Click "Settings," then select "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in the Settings area in the top left.

3. Select "adjust for best appearance" in the Performance options box that appears.

4. Click "Custom" if you want to choose particular options to have and particular ones to not have.

5. Check the boxes of the options you want, such as "Enable Peek," or "Slide open combo boxes."

Automatically Adjust Sound During a Windows 8 Phonecall

1. Search for "Sounds" in the Windows Start menu. Select the "Settings" option with the gear symbol.

2. Click on the "Sound" option when it appears in the upper left of the new screen.

3. Click on the "Communications" tab in the Sound window.

4. Select the option you want in the new tab, such as lower all other sounds by 50 percent, or muting them entirely.

5. Click "Apply" to keep the setting, and then click "OK" to exit the screen.

Adjust Cleartype Text in Windows 8

1. Type in "Cleartype" on the Start Menu in Windows. Select the "Settings" option with the gear icon.

2. Click on the "Adjust Cleartype text" option when it appears on-screen.

3. Check the "Turn on Cleartype" box if it's not on already.

4. Click "Next" through each screen of the setup. This will involve selecting which box has text that is the most clear to you on your particular monitor.

5. Click "Finish" to complete the Cleartype setup process.

Add a Printer to Windows 8

1. Go to the Windows 8 Devices screen. This is accessed by pressing “Windows key + C” to bring up the Charms bar, then click on “Settings” followed by “Change PC Settings” at the bottom right of the screen.

2. Click on the Devices tab and check through the list to see if your printer is already installed. If its not there then click on “Add a device” and wait while Windows tries to detect your printer. If detected, Windows will proceed to install the printer automatically.

3. If the printer is still not found then tap the “Not finding what you are looking for?” text, which will bring up the Windows Help and Support page.

4. This page lists a number of possible reasons why Windows might not be detecting your printer, but if you have set your printer up properly then you need to head to Advanced Setup.

5. At this point Windows Should detect your printer, so select it from the list.

6. One the printer driver is installed you have option to set it as your default printer (very advisable if, like most of us, you only have one printer!)

7. Your printer should now be installed, but you can check by returning to the Devices page and looking through the list.