What’s on your mind?

Three common questions (and answers) from readers: What’s the deal with a Microsoft Account? Can I fix the type size in my browser? How do I print in Windows 8?

 

A Microsoft Account is an email address and password that you use to sign in to a Windows 8 computer, and to access certain Microsoft services even when you’re not on a Windows 8 PC. Microsoft provides this video explanation: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/sign-in-what-is-microsoft-account.

A Microsoft Account is what used to be called a “Live ID” and you might already have one. If you use a Live ID in Windows Live Mail, that’s your Microsoft Account. If you have an Xbox you probably have a Microsoft ID. If you have a hotmail email address, an outlook.com address, a live.com or live.ca address, that’s your Microsoft Account. Did you ever get around to merging your old Messenger accounts with Skype? You have a Microsoft Account.

Your Microsoft Account gives you access to the Store app. You can’t even download free apps from the Store without a Microsoft Account. You need it for Office and OneDrive (used to be SkyDrive).

If you’re setting up a new Windows 8 computer, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft Account. If you don’t have one, you can create one. Check this page for instructions: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/sign-up-create-account-how. You can create a brand new address for this or you can just use one that you already have. Fill out the form completely and as accurately as you can, and do not lose your password. Write down your password. Do not lose it. You’ll thank me for this advice some time in the future!

This comes up from time to time, and the email is almost equally divided between people who want to make the browser content bigger and those who want to make it smaller. If your Firefox or Internet Explorer isn’t displaying things just right, that is easy to fix.

The procedure is almost the same in either browser. Click on “View” (If you don’t see the menu bar with “View” on it, press the Alt key one time. That will display the menu bar. THEN click on “View”.) Next, click on “Zoom” and depending on which browser you’re using you’ll see how to make things bigger or smaller by zooming in or out.

 

Windows 8 apps fill the entire screen. On purpose. There is no little bar or square you can click on to resize the window. That’s how Microsoft intended it to be, and it takes some getting used to.

So when a customer opened up a PDF document in the Reader app that’s built into Windows 8, it filled the whole screen. “How do I print this,” she asked, and I admit to being stumped for a minute.

It turns out there are several ways. What I actually did was use the keyboard shortcut that has instructed Windows to print since Windows 95 (or maybe earlier than that): Ctrl + P. Holding down the CTRL and the P keys at the same time opened the printer dialog, and we printed her document.

Another way is to move the mouse cursor to the upper or lower right corner of the screen (both work) and display the Charms bar. Select Devices, click on the printer and you’re ready to print.

Later I found out the pressing the Windows Key and the K at the same time will also display Devices.

There you have it.

Bonus tip: To bring you the screen shot, I had to learn how to take a screen shot in Windows 8. Hold down the Windows Key and the E. The screen will dim for a second, and your picture will be saved in a folder called Screen Shots in your Pictures. That’s kind of cool.

 

Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna (http://computercarekelowna.com/) a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send email to [email protected].

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This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.