Switching made easy: From Windows 7 to Windows 8

Some of us move from one OS to another with ease. But others find it a bit more difficult, especially when the new OS is a huge navigation and UI leap from what they’ve been using for nearly two decades — as in the case of Windows 8. I’ve been teaching people at the local Microsoft Store how to make the leap from Windows 7 to Windows 8, as well as to the Windows RT-based Surface RT tablet. Based on their real-world questions and issues, let me share with you how to make the move from Windows 7 to Windows 8 as smooth as possible.

Before you upgrade to Windows 8, I recommend you run the Upgrade Assistant, a free download from Microsoft that scans your system and tells you if it’s ready for the Windows 8 upgrade. It’s a very useful step, as it will identify issues that could haunt you later if you proceed with your upgrade blindly. Keep in mind that if you upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, you have until Jan. 31, 2013, to get it for a significant discount from Microsoft: $40 for the download and $70 for the DVD, versus its normal price of $200. The upgrade will install Windows 8 over your existing copy of Windows 7, retaining your apps and data. (If you’re running Windows XP, you’ll need to wipe out your PC and start from scratch. It’s probably better to buy a new PC instead.)

[ Get more Windows 8 tips from InfoWorld’s J. Peter Bruzzese: Windows 8: 8 tips and tricks, 8 cool new features. | Stay abreast of key Microsoft technologies in our Technology: Microsoft newsletter. ]

The Upgrade Assistant will let you know if you really need to buy a new PC instead of upgrading your own. (You might want a new PC anyhow, such as to get a touchscreen or simply faster, better hardware.) If you get a new PC with Windows 8, you can easily move your files — documents, pictures, music, videos, settings — from your old PC to your new one. Built into both Windows 7 and Windows 8 is the Windows Easy Transfer application, which makes the process very straightforward. You’ll need to have both PCs on the same network, or you can use an external hard disk or USB flash drive as the transfer medium. You can also get a transfer cable, but why bother?

Once Windows 8 is up and running, here’s what you need to know to make the mental transition to the new Windows 8 user interface:

• The Start screen is where you access your apps and go to the traditional Windows Desktop. The fastest way to get to the Start screen is to press the Windows key. But you can also get to it through the Charms bar, a tray of icons that opens on the right side of the screen when you click in the upper-right or lower-right corner of the screen or swipe in from the right edge of the screen. (Even easier: Press Windows-C to open the Charms bar.) One of the Charms bar’s icons is the Start button, which looks just like the Windows key.
• To get to the Windows Desktop, find the desktop’s tile on the Start screen and click or tap it. Or even easier, press Windows-D.

• Many people have trouble finding the controls to shut down or restart Windows 8. You access them through the Charms bar: Click or tap the Settings button at the bottom, and in the pane that appears, click or tap the Power button, which lets you then choose between restarting and shutting down the PC. A faster way to get the pane with the Power button is to press Windows-I.
• To log out from your current account, go to the Start screen, click your avatar at the upper-right corner, then choose Sign Out. If you want to lock your computer so that a password is required to use it, such as when you leave your desk, press Windows-L.
• Working with multiple monitors can be fun — or awkward with the new user interface, because the Windows Destop’s taskbar may not appear on the monitor you expect them to. One really cool feature is the ability to put your taskbar on both monitors. To do that, right-click the taskbar and choose Properties from the contextual menu. In the Multiple Displays pane, select Show Taskbar on All Displays, then determine how you want taskbar buttons to display; the options are All Taskbars, Main Taskbar, and Taskbar Where the Window Is Open.
• Windows 8 apps take up processing power, so you should close those you’re not using. You can of course go through the traditional Task Manager to close running apps (the shortcuts is the same as in Windows 7: Ctrl+Shift+Esc). But an easier way in the Start screen is to simply drag their tiles to the bottom of the screen; the app’s tile will shrink and disappear.

Once you grasp how to navigate Windows 8, your next step should be to personalize the PC. After all, our PCs are extensions of who we are. Que Publishing was kind enough to provide some free content from my latest book, “Using Windows 8,” for all to see on how to personalize the desktop background, taskbar settings, and Start screen options. After opening that link, click Sample Content and TOC, and choose Download the Sample Pages.

That should get you started. You might also want to check out a few free videos posted on the ClipTraining website under the Windows 8 Essentials series or the Windows 8 for Power Users series. You can also download a free, two-page ClipStart Guide, which will help you get up to speed with Windows 8. If you want to go deeper, check out my “Using Windows 8” book (paperback or iBooks), as well as the books from my InfoWorld colleagues: Woody Leonhard’s “Windows 8 All-in-One for Dummies” (paperback, Kindle, or iBooks) and Galen Gruman’s “Exploring Windows 8 for Dummies” (paperback or iBooks).

This story, “Switching made easy: From Windows 7 to Windows 8,” was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more of J. Peter Bruzzese’s Enterprise Windows blog and follow the latest developments in Windows at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.