#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 how to#
#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 install#
#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 upgrade#
#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 windows 8.1#
#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 windows 8#

My desktop is upstairs and my laptop downstairs. I have recently bought a new desktop which runs Windows 8.1. This is not to be despised, it's the future. Further, as part of the Microsoft ecosystem, it's increasingly being integrated with Windows Phone, Xbox One and Azure//SkyDrive so you get familiar operations, apps and services across 'three screens and a cloud': smartphone, PC, and TV. It does have a learning curve, but if you can be bothered to learn it, it's excellent. Windows 8/8.1 is very innovative and, in Microsoft's favourite phrase, 'fast and fluid'. They work very well with a mouse with a scroll-wheel, as hundreds of YouTube videos attest. Since these 'modern' apps are quick and convenient, I can't see any reason not to use them. Most of the 'tablet' apps have been improved, including the Bing-based apps (Weather, Finances, News Sports etc), Xbox Music (which now has a free radio feature), and Xbox Video. There are many other improvements to Windows 8.1, including Internet Explorer 11 with WebGL support, deeper integration with SkyDrive, and Skype. This pop-up menu also provides easily accessible restart and shutdown options. You can, for example, run the Task Manager, Control Panel, File Explorer, Windows PowerShell (for a command line) and various other things. However, you can bring up a useful menu by pressing the Windows key and X, and this offers more functions in Windows 8.1. This does not remove the Start screen, nor does it bring back the old menu system, so you may want to stick with Classic Shell. Alternatively, you can do it via the Control Panel: look for 'Appearance and Personalization' or 'Taskbar and Navigation'. The old-fashioned desktop approach is to right-click the Taskbar, select Properties, go to the Navigation tab, and check the box that says: 'Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in'. To do this, type nav into the Search box and click the top option.

#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 windows 8.1#

If you don't like the Start screen, you can configure Windows 8.1 to boot straight to the desktop. This is one area where the Start option is quicker and cleaner, and you're not doing yourself any favours by ignoring it. In 8.1, the Start screen's 'PC settings' menu covers more settings, so there is less need to use the old Control Panel. (Windows XP users could do this by installing Launchy.)

#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 windows 8#

In this respect, Windows 8 and 8.1 work just like Vista and Windows 7, only better. Of course, you can still run apps or programs just by typing a few characters, then picking a result from the search list. This provides a more harmonious shift when toggling between the two, as well as adding a bit of nostalgia.

I have the Bliss wallpaper from Windows XP set as both the desktop wallpaper in Windows 8.1 and the Start screen background. You can also pick from a number of Start screen backgrounds, or use a photo. You can group your programs in sets with headings - the equivalent of folders - and give your most-used programs bigger tiles. There are now four sizes of tile: small, medium, large and wide. The most obvious changes have been made to the Start screen, which works as both a program menu and a notification system. It's therefore a Good Thing for people on both sides of the argument.

#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 upgrade#

If you like Windows 7 more than Windows 8, the upgrade to 8.1 provides controls that make it more like Windows 7. The benefits include improved multitasking and multi-monitor support, better apps, and 'universal search'. If you like Windows 8, then 8.1 makes it faster and better. An easy way to tell if your white screen is caused by a port 80 conflict is if you also get a white screen when you click on the вЂњSitesвЂќ button on the main menu of DesktopServer.ДЇor those that simply wish to follow written instructions, we have provided them.Either way, it's a good update. This is also caused by your port 80 conflict.

#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 how to#

In this short video, we will demonstrate how to turn off this functionality within Skype and resolve the Port 80 conflict error.ДЄlso, it sometimes happens that once you have upgraded your Skype, you will find that your locally installed websites only display a white screen. Many times, this issue is caused by Skype taking over control of Port 80 in order to make it accessible to people behind corporate firewalls. In order for any local development environment to work, this port is needed and should anything be utilizing this port, your local web service will not work.

#How to download skype on pc windows 8.1 install#

On occasion, when you go to install DesktopServer on a Windows-based PC, you might run into an error telling you that another service is running on Port 80.