After seeing the 10 main functions of Windows 8.1, let's go deeper on the question by finding out what is hidden under the hood and what changes in the system settings panel compared to Windows 8. Windows 8.1 is much more than a service pack, it is just a new operating system with many changes compared to the previous version which are also evident in PC settings, a modern control center similar to the Control Panel, to customize the computer and its configuration .
Below is a quick review of the PC settings in Windows 8.1, especially seeing the new options compared to Windows 8, to understand what can be done more in the new Microsoft system.
Then open the charms bar by moving the mouse to the right, press on Settings and then on Change PC settings at the bottom.
1) SkyDrive
Skydrive is now inside the system and you can also see it by opening any folder on the desktop, in the left column.
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage for accessing the same personal files from multiple computers and also via the internet browser.
In the PC Settings of Windows 8.1 you can check the space available in your account and configure the automatic uploading of documents, photos and videos so as to have a safe online copy.
For photos you can set the quality of the images to be uploaded to the internet which can be useful in order not to waste the entire space by uploading photos at their original size.
There are also all the synchronization settings between the Windows computers linked by the same account so that Windows 8 is always the same on all the computers.
The last option allows you to check connections on consumption to save bandwidth in case you connect with a limited mobile internet connection plan.
2) PC and devices
In this menu two or three (depending on how you look at it) unified previous categories in Windows 8 settings are unified.
Under this heading there are several sub-categories that allow you to edit the image on the lock screen, configure Bluetooth, change power and sleep energy settings, view installed devices, keyboard settings (spelling errors), mouse and screen .
3) The Angles and borders screen in PC and devices allows you to activate or deactivate the actions or menus that appear and are activated by moving the mouse to the corners of the screen.
For example, you can deactivate the fact that moving the mouse to the top right the charms bar appears or that the list of open applications appears at the top left.
If you are not using the Start screen apps but only the desktop programs, it is worth turning off everything.
4) Change product key
Also on PCs and devices, under the PC Info item there is the button to change the product key of the license, which was previously only in the control panel of the desktop, and to buy a license.
This makes it easier to resolve product key activation issues in Windows 8.1
5) Default saving positions
In PCs and devices, under Devices, the last option was created for Windows 8 tablets, in order to configure the saving of photos, videos and music on the external memory.
However, this option can also be activated on a normal computer to tell the PC to save the next video files, images and music on an external drive or a USB stick.
6) Research and App
From this menu it is possible to clear the search history, whether to activate or deactivate the internet search from the internal search bar of Windows 8, the sharing options or how the apps interact with each other and pass information from one to the other (the menu sharing appears from the charms bar for some open apps), control notifications (including the option to configure a time where not to disturb through the time in non-interactive mode ) and set the default apps, such as web browser and reader musical.
7) Privacy
By default, all options under Privacy are activated.
If you want to restrict your computer privacy a little, you can disable various options such as permission for apps to use our name, the smartscreen filter, and text suggestions that send data over the internet.
It is not a complete menu, but better than nothing for those who care.
8) Network
Much more similar to the network settings of the Control Panel, you can see all the details of the networks to which you are connected even if you cannot change the parameters from here.
However, you can set up a wifi connection on consumption from here and configure a proxy for all system connections.
Homegroup is a convenient way to share files and folders with other computers on the network, easily and securely.
9) Accessibility
Microsoft has included this menu in Windows 8.1 PC Settings for those who need assistance using the computer.
In particular, the voice assistant can also be activated even if the Italian voice must first be downloaded to make the PC speak.
There are also options to enlarge the screen, change the mouse and keyboard configuration, and you can also change the visual and tactile perception.
10) Update and recovery
In this section we find the options to restore, reinstall or reinitialize Windows 8 .
Now there is also a convenient option to activate file history so that you can recover a deleted file or the previous version of a modified file at any time.
However, File History is disabled by default and requires the presence of an extra hard drive or external flash drive.
In Recovery there is the option to start the computer in advanced mode, choosing, for example, to use a USB stick or a CD.
As you can see, even if the PC settings are still few compared to the classic Control Panel and something is missing, this control center starts to be more usable and easier to navigate.
This is just one of the many improvements that Microsoft has made for this version and should ease the many users who have been confused by Windows 8.
