Starting Out: User Accounts

Starting Out: User Accounts

Hi guys. ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ Welcome back to my blog. The topic for this post is how to start out navigating around Windows 8 and using the Interface. Please note that at the time I create this article, I would already have upgraded to Windows 8.1 Update so my GUI (Graphical User Interface) will be different to what you may be using.

  As I stated in my last post, the Start Screen is one of the main reasons many have chosen to turn away from Windows 8 as their work platform. Unfortunately, it is the first thing that will hit you when booting up your computer. Another thing you will be prompted for is the setting up of user accounts on your computer; the two options being a local account or a Microsoft Account.

  So what is a Microsoft Account? This account is basically an account that ties in an array of services to your email account, features like Outlook, Xbox, OneDrive and Skype (Similar to a Google Account). A local account acts like any ordinary account on a Windows computer without the convenience of being logged in to apps. Be reminded, you do not require a Hotmail account to use a Microsoft Account. Gmail accounts can also be used, something which I have experimented with.

As a university student, having constant access to features like OneDrive for cloud storage is useful for easy access to my files from my tablet. Another reason to use the Microsoft account is to avoid annoying prompts such as

You can swap between a local and a Microsoft Account easily from the Settings page. So if you want to settle down before using a Microsoft Account, that is an option. For context, I only utilized my Microsoft Account 2 weeks into using my laptop. Local settings for the most part remain the same between the two.

  For this segment, I will assume that the user has no knowledge whatsoever about how to use Windows 8 gestures and the GUI layout. Just follow the instructions presented to switch between accounts.

1.       Press the “Windows Key + C”. This will bring up a menu to the right side (Called the Charm Bar. This will be explained in a future post.)

2.       Click on Settings. After that click on “Change PC Settings”.

 3.       Click on “Accounts” and select the desired account accordingly.

 

 

  

4.    Follow the instructions for the specific account.

5.       You can also change/add settings (like Account Picture) to your account accordingly.

With that, you should be able to understand the basics of User Accounts on Windows 8. The next post will be about using the Start Menu. I hope you found this tutorial useful.

(Please leave feedback in the comments about what can be one to improve this blog and what is good about the blog so I can continue to deliver quality tutorials. I do apologise about the limit in the content for this post as I originally did not expect the User account portion to be as long as it currently is.)