Windows 11 Inside Out

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
About the author
Introduction
Who this book is for
How this book is organized
Stay in touch
Errata, updates, and book support
Part I: Windows essentials
	Chapter 1: Everything you need to know about Windows 11
		What’s new in Windows 11?
		Setup, updates, and upgrades
		User experience
		Windows 11 and the web
		Cloud connections
		Windows 11 apps and the new Microsoft Store
		Security
		Windows 11 and hardware
	Chapter 2: Setting up a new Windows 11 PC
		Backing up data and settings
		Downloading and creating installation media
			Using the Media Creation Tool
			Working with ISO files directly
		Windows 11 minimum hardware requirements
			Bypassing hardware compatibility issues
		Installing Windows 11
			How Windows 11 Setup works
			Upgrading from Windows 10
			Performing a clean install
			Performing an edition upgrade
		Activating Windows
			Windows licensing options
			Do you need a product key?
			Managing Windows activation
			Troubleshooting activation problems
			Product activation and corporate licensing
			Advanced Windows license management
		Using multiple operating systems on the same PC
		Tweaking and tuning your Windows installation
	Chapter 3: Using Windows 11
		An overview of the Windows 11 user experience
		Using and customizing the Start menu
			Customizing the contents of the Start menu
			Arranging pinned apps into folders
		Using the Start menu to search
		Using and customizing the taskbar
			Pinning apps to the taskbar
			Changing the order of taskbar buttons
			Using Jump Lists for quick access to documents and folders
		Customizing the Quick Settings pane
		Managing notifications and eliminating distractions
			Customizing notifications
			Eliminating distractions
		Managing and arranging windows
		Switching between tasks and desktops
			Using Task View to switch between windows
			Switching between virtual desktops
		Using a keyboard and voice input in Windows 11
			Customizing and using a physical keyboard
			Using the Touch Keyboard
			Using voice commands and dictating text
			Using a pen with Windows 11
	Chapter 4: Personalizing Windows 11
		Customizing the look and feel of Windows
			Selecting the desktop background
			Selecting colors
			Customizing the lock screen and sign-in screen
			Assigning sounds to system events
			Customizing mouse pointers
		Using themes to save and apply personalizations
		Fine-tuning visual options
			Configuring desktop icons
			Making other small visual tweaks
		Setting date and time, currency, and other regional options
		Overcoming challenges
		Working with fonts
			Making text easier to read
			Using font smoothing to make text easier on the eyes
	Chapter 5: Installing and configuring apps
		Understanding the Windows app landscape
			Legacy desktop apps
			Windows apps
			Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
		Installing, managing, and uninstalling apps
			Using and managing Store apps
			Managing legacy desktop apps
			Managing Progressive Web Apps
		Managing apps and processes with Task Manager
			Terminating an app with Task Manager
			Finding detailed information about an app
		Managing startup apps
			Suspending or removing startup items
			Advanced tools for managing startup items
		Setting default apps and file-type associations
		Turning Windows features on or off
		Setting AutoPlay options
	Chapter 6: Using and managing built-in Windows apps
		Apps included with Windows 11
			Windows system apps
			Provisioned Windows apps
			Installed apps
		Mail, Calendar, People, and To Do
			Managing online accounts
			Reading, composing, and managing email messages
			Setting up and using Calendar
			Adding or editing contacts with People
			Managing tasks and lists with Microsoft To Do
		Using Microsoft Teams
		Music, photos, and movies
			Using Media Player to play music and video files
			Using Photos to view and edit image files
			Using Movies & TV to watch purchased media files
			Using Clipchamp to edit video clips
		Performing screen captures with Snipping Tool
		Using Maps
			Searching for places and services
			Getting directions
			Downloading maps for offline use
	Chapter 7: Using Microsoft Edge
		An overview of Microsoft Edge
			Choosing an Edge release channel
			Managing updates
		Managing Edge profiles and sync
			Using the built-in password manager
			Syncing and filling in other information
		Customizing browser settings
			Changing the browser’s appearance
			Installing and managing browser extensions
			Customizing the new tab page
			Customizing the startup page
			Fine-tuning browser performance
			Undoing all customizations
		Working with tabs
			Using vertical tabs
			Pinning tabs for quick access
		Making webpages easier to read
		Finding and organizing information
			Changing the default search provider
			Finding previously visited pages in History
			Saving, editing, and organizing Favorites
			Saving and sharing your research as Collections
		Managing privacy and tracking prevention
			Preventing online tracking
			Using InPrivate browsing to suppress your history
			Controlling site permissions
			Clearing your browsing history and other personal information
			Managing cookies
		Opening incompatible pages in Internet Explorer mode
		Using Microsoft Edge to read and edit PDFs
	Chapter 8: Managing local and cloud storage
		Setting up hard disks and other storage devices
			Running Disk Management
			Managing disks from the command prompt
			Setting up a new hard disk
			Using Storage Spaces to combine disks
		Connecting OneDrive to your Windows PC
			How OneDrive and OneDrive for Business work
			Setting up and using OneDrive
			Using Personal Vault
			Advanced search tools and techniques
		Managing disk space
			Changing default save locations
			Cleaning up unneeded files
		Managing existing disks and volumes
			Assigning or changing a volume label
			Assigning and changing drive letters
			Mapping a volume to an NTFS folder
			Shrinking or extending an NTFS volume
			Converting a FAT32 volume to NTFS
			Deleting a volume
			Permanently wiping all data from a disk
		Working with virtual hard disks
Part II: Managing Windows 11
	Chapter 9: Using File Explorer
		Mastering File Explorer
			Using the navigation pane
			Navigating faster with favorite files and folders
			Layouts, previews, and other ways to arrange files
			Managing file properties and metadata
			Using compressed (zipped) folders
		Organizing personal data with user profile folders and libraries
			What’s what (and where) in your user profile
			Relocating personal data folders
			Using libraries
		Integrating OneDrive with File Explorer
			Syncing files and folders
			Sharing OneDrive files and folders
		Recovering lost, damaged, and deleted files and folders
			Restoring files and folders
			Purging the Recycle Bin
		Sorting, filtering, and grouping in File Explorer
			Sorting a folder’s contents
			Filtering folder contents
			Grouping folder contents
		Searching from File Explorer
		Configuring the Windows search index
			Which files and folders are in the index?
			Monitoring the index and tuning indexer performance
		Advanced search tools and techniques
			Searching by item type or kind
			Changing the scope of a search
			Searching for item properties
			Using multiple criteria for complex searches
			Using wildcards and character-mode searches
		Saving searches
	Chapter 10: Managing user accounts, passwords, and credentials
		Creating and managing user accounts
			Choosing how you sign in
			Administrator or standard user account?
			Changing account settings
			Deleting an account
		Making the sign-in process more secure
			Adding security with multifactor authentication
			Using Windows Hello
			Using a picture password
			Setting or changing a password
			Managing a physical security key
		Signing out, switching accounts, or locking your computer
			Using Dynamic Lock
		Sharing your PC with other users
			Adding a user to your computer
			Controlling your family’s computer access
			Restricting use with assigned access
		Introducing access control in Windows
	Chapter 11: Configuring Windows networks
		Windows 11 networking essentials
			Checking the status of your network
			Network management tools
			TCP/IP configuration
			Mobile hotspots and other metered connections
		Enabling network discovery
		Setting the network location
		Connecting to a wireless network
			Connecting to a hidden network
			Wireless security
		Connecting to another computer with Remote Desktop
			Installing Remote Desktop client software
			Enabling inbound Remote Desktop connections
			Using the Microsoft Remote Desktop app
			Using Remote Desktop Connection
		Sharing files, printers, and other resources over a local network
			Understanding sharing and security models in Windows
			Configuring your network for sharing
			Sharing files and folders
			Sharing a printer
			Blocking intruders with Windows Defender Firewall
				Using Windows Defender Firewall with different network types
				Managing Windows Defender Firewall
				Restoring default settings
		Finding and using shared resources on a Windows network
			Working with mapped network folders
			Connecting to a network printer
		Connecting to and using cloud-based apps and resources
		Troubleshooting network problems
			Network troubleshooting tools
			Troubleshooting TCP/IP problems
	Chapter 12: Windows security and privacy
		Understanding security threats
		Monitoring your computer’s security
		Keeping Windows up to date
			What you get from Windows Update
			Choosing when and how updates are installed
			Deferring and delaying updates
			Finding technical information about updates
			Troubleshooting update problems
		Configuring privacy options
		Preventing unsafe actions with User Account Control
			What triggers UAC prompts
			Dealing with UAC prompts
			Modifying UAC settings
		Blocking malware
			Using Microsoft Defender Antivirus
			Manually scanning for malware
			Dealing with detected threats
			Blocking ransomware with controlled folder access
			Protecting Windows from exploits
		Stopping unknown or malicious programs with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen
		Encrypting information
			Encrypting with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go
			Using BitLocker To Go
			Using the Encrypting File System
	Chapter 13: Managing hardware and devices
		Adding, configuring, and removing hardware devices
			Installing a new Plug and Play device
			How device drivers and hardware work together
			Getting useful information from Device Manager
			Enabling and disabling devices
			Adjusting advanced device settings
		Setting up Bluetooth devices
		Managing USB devices
		Updating and uninstalling drivers
			Managing automatic driver updates
			Updating a device driver manually
			Rolling back to a previous driver version
			Uninstalling a driver
		Printers and print queues
		Configuring displays and graphics adapters
			Changing display settings
			Controlling scaling on high-DPI displays
			Using multiple displays
			Night Light
		Speakers, microphones, and headsets
	Chapter 14: Performance and power management
		What causes performance problems?
		Viewing details about your system
			System Information
			Systeminfo
			Windows Management Instrumentation tools
		Monitoring performance with Task Manager
			CPU
			Memory
			Disk
			Network
			GPU
		Using Resource Monitor to pinpoint performance problems
		Managing services
			Using the Services console
			Starting and stopping services
			Configuring services
			Managing services from Task Manager
		Managing battery life on portable PCs
			Battery Saver and other power management options
			Monitoring long-term battery life and capacity
			Configuring power options from the command line
		Power management on desktop systems
	Chapter 15: Troubleshooting, backup, and recovery
		Getting to know your troubleshooting toolkit
			Built-in troubleshooters
			Windows Error Reporting
			Feedback and diagnostics
			Reliability Monitor
		Event Viewer
			Types of events
			Viewing logs and events
			Customizing the presentation of tabular data in Event Viewer
			Filtering the log display
		Dealing with Stop errors
			Customizing how Windows handles Stop errors
			What’s in a Stop error
			Isolating the cause of a Stop error
		Troubleshooting in Safe Mode
		Checking disks for errors
		Offering remote support with Quick Assist
		Windows 11 backup and recovery options
			Using a recovery drive
			Using File History to protect files and folders
			Using the Reset option to recover from serious problems
			Using the Windows 7 Backup program
		Configuring and using System Restore
			Rolling back to a previous restore point
Part III: For IT professionals and Windows experts
	Chapter 16: Windows Terminal, PowerShell, and other advanced management tools.
		Using and configuring Windows Terminal
		An introduction to PowerShell
			Interacting with PowerShell
			Scripting with PowerShell
			Finding additional PowerShell resources
		Working in a Command Prompt session
			Running with elevated privileges
			Starting Command Prompt at a particular folder
			Starting Command Prompt and running a command
			Using AutoRun to execute commands when Command Prompt starts
			Editing the command line
			Using command symbols
		Editing the Windows registry
			Understanding the Registry Editor hierarchy
			Registry values and data types
			Browsing and editing with Registry Editor
			Backing up and restoring parts of the registry
			Automating registry changes with .reg files
			Registry virtualization
		Automating tasks
			Task Scheduler
			Automating command sequences with batch programs
			Automating tasks with Windows Script Host
		Using Microsoft Management Console
	Chapter 17: Running Windows 11 in a virtual machine or in the cloud
		Virtualization in Windows 11
		Creating an instant VM with Windows Sandbox
		Setting up Hyper-V on Windows 11
		Creating and managing virtual machines with Hyper-V Manager
			What’s in a VM?
			Using Quick Create to download and run a preconfigured VM
			Building a custom VM with the New Virtual Machine Wizard
		Running a virtual machine
			Working with Virtual Machine Connection windows
			Using enhanced session mode
			Working with checkpoints
		Changing settings for a virtual machine
			Firmware
			Security
			Memory
			Processor
			SCSI Controller
			Network Adapter
			Automatic start and stop actions
		Importing, exporting, and moving Hyper-V VMs
		Running virtual machines from the cloud
	Chapter 18: Using Android and Linux on Windows 11
		Linking an Android phone to your PC
		Running Android apps on Windows 11
		Using the Windows Subsystem for Linux
	Chapter 19: Managing Windows PCs in the enterprise
		Using a domain-based network
		Managing an Azure AD-based network
		Managing hybrid networks
		Managing computers with Group Policy
			Using Local Group Policy Editor
			Changing policy settings
		Deploying Windows 11 in the enterprise
			Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager
			Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
			Windows System Image Manager
			Windows Autopilot
			Windows Server Update Services
			Windows Update for Business
		Managing Windows 11 in the cloud
			Microsoft 365 and Windows Enterprise licensing
			Azure Virtual Machines running Windows 11
			Windows 365 cloud PCs
			Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
		Microsoft Intune
			Managing apps with Intune
		Managing special-purpose computers
			Using shared PC mode
			Setting up a kiosk device
Part IV: Appendixes
	Appendix A: Windows 11 editions and licensing options
		Windows 11 editions at a glance
		Retail and OEM editions
			Windows 11 Home
			Windows 11 Pro
			Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
		Editions for organizations
			Windows 11 Enterprise
			Windows 11 Enterprise E3 and E5
			Microsoft 365 E3, E5, and F3
			Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC
		Editions for educational institutions
			Windows 11 Education
			Windows 11 Pro Education
			Windows 11 SE
	Appendix B: The Windows Insider Program
		How the Windows Insider Program works
		Enrolling a device in the Windows Insider Program
		Keeping track of what’s in each preview build
		Submitting and tracking feedback
	Appendix C: Help and support resources
		Online help
		Online reference material from Microsoft
			Microsoft Support
			Microsoft Docs
			Resources for IT Pros
			Microsoft Learn
		Getting technical support
			Microsoft Q&A
			Free and paid support from Microsoft
		What’s next for Windows
Index
	A
	B
	C
	D
	E
	F
	G
	H
	I
	J
	K
	L
	M
	N
	O
	P
	Q
	R
	S
	T
	U
	V
	W
	X
	Y
	Z