Windows 8 required users to learn a handful of concepts to get around and perform basic tasks. When you know what those concepts are—swiping from the edges, clicking in the corners, and a few ...

Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on ...

For most, there are only a few essential things their device needs to do for them to stay productive. The first is give them access to their email account and Microsoft’s Mail app for Windows 8.1 does ...

While Windows 8 was Microsoft's idea of what the Windows platform should evolve into, the next version could be tailored to what users actually want from a modern operating system. According to the ...

Windows 8 stunk. It might have helped cost chief executive Steve Ballmer his job. Windows 8.1 was a bit better — but if you love it, you have only a month or so left to enjoy it. Microsoft will kill ...

System Restore is a recovery feature in Windows 8 that allows you to restore your computer to a previous state. This is useful if your computer starts to function poorly or crashes and you cannot ...

Windows 8 has the ability to create a bootable USB flash recovery drive that can be used to troubleshoot a Windows 8 computer that is unable to start. A recovery drive is the same as a startup repair ...

After nearly a year’s worth of rumors and months of dabbling with the Developer Preview, the much-ballyhooed Windows 8.1 update finally—finally!—lands in the Windows Store Thursday. Microsoft’s ...

We may have a new version of Windows, but one story is still the same: buying a new Windows 8 PC means that you’re also buying a bunch of OEM-installed software that you didn’t ask for. This software ...

Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" ...