Quickly access Windows 8 Control Panel: How To Video

Hey. I'm Donald Bell for CNET.com. If you're new to Windows 8, it can be a little confusing to figure out how to access the system control panel, now that the start menu was gone. In this how to, I'll show you seven easy ways to get to the Windows 8 control panel, where you can customize your system just the way you like it. All right. Let's say you're on the start screen. Now, the quickest way to jump into the control panel or really anything is just start typing what you're looking for. So, in this case I'll type Control Panel. Before I even get the Control done, the icon for the Control Panel pops right up. Click it and there you go. So, that's the first way, but if you wanna make it even easier, do that same search but right click on the icon and you'll get the option to pin it to your start screen. From here, you can tap and hold and put the tile wherever you want. Now, what about getting to the Control Panel from the desktop view? While using that same search and right click technique, you can also pin the Control Panel to your Taskbar, which is that strip that runs right across the bottom of your desktop. Once it's down there, you can access it whenever you want. Another option is to drag your cursor down to the lower left corner where the Start menu used to be, and you can give that a right click. You'll see a kind of master list of a ton of useful options including the Control Panel. Now, another shortcut for pulling up the same menu is to hold on the Windows key and the letter X, which is right next to it. Also, Windows and a letter I will review many that comes off to the side and also has a Control Panel option. And if you wanna get really old school, Windows R will bring up a command line window, you can just type in Control Panel, and it'll up right up. So, there you go, that seven techniques that will all lead you to the same Windows 8 Control Panel. Just take your pick. For more Windows 8 tips, head over to howto.cnet.com. Until next time, I'm Donald Bell.