If you have a computer or tablet that runs Windows 8, you really should upgrade to Windows 8.1. If you’re starting out fresh, moving from Windows XP or Windows 7 (or an earlier version), be forewarned that Windows 8.1 is nothing like the Windows of yore. Whether you have a touch screen or use the traditional keyboard and mouse, you'll want to find your way from the Metro Start screen to the desktop and back, uncovering the new Windows 8.

One of the biggest complaints that Microsoft heard about Windows 8 was the lack of a Start Button. Well, the Start Button has come back in Windows 8.1. Here's how the Windows 8.1 Start Button works.You gave instant access to the Start Screen.If you left-click or tap the Windows 8.1 Start Button, you’ll open the Start Screen and have access to all of your apps.

Windows 8.1 enables you to change the background and colors in your Start screen. Although you have the ability to control the colors in Windows 8, it’s much easier to change them in Windows 8.1. To change the background and colors, follow these steps:Choose Settings to begin.Swipe in from the right of the screen (or drag the mouse pointer down from the upper-right corner) and choose Settings.

If you want to wipe your computer and install Windows 8.1 from scratch, do that by booting from a DVD or USB drive and running a clean install. If you’re going to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1, and want to keep your data and programs intact, perform the online upgrade. As long as you stick to upgrading 32-bit Win7 to 32-bit Win8.

If you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty, the next time you think about running Refresh in Windows 8.1, see whether you can roll your PC back to a previous restore point, manually, and get things working right. System Restore is a nifty feature that works very well. The folks at Microsoft figure it’s too complicated for the general computer- and tablet-buying consumer public.

Modern PCs running Windows 8 aren't just for work, they also provide a number of excellent entertainment options. Just one example: you can watch a DVD movie on your laptop, if you've installed the VLC media player. Take a look at how you can use VLC media player to play your favorite DVDs: At the Windows 8 start screen, type VLC.

In theory, connecting your Windows 8 tablet to a monitor is quite simple: Connect a cable between your tablet’s video port and your monitor’s input port. The challenge is finding the right cable. No single cable works in every situation. That’s because tablets and monitors contain different types of video ports, and your cable needs the correct jack on each end, or it won’t work.

You can write by hand on your Windows 8 tablet anywhere that Windows accepts typing. You can handwrite a letter in Microsoft Word, for example, or write in the name of a newly created folder. As you write, Windows converts your handwriting to words and drops them into the appropriate place. To convert your handwriting to text on your tablet, follow these steps: Tap where you’d like to enter text.

The Camera app was new with Windows 8. If your laptop has a camera (in the case of a computer, what you have may be a webcam), you can use the Camera app features to take both still photos and videos. Click the Camera app tile on the Start screen. Aim your laptop towards your subject matter and click the Camera button.