Preparing Your Windows 8 PC : Adding Devices in Windows 8 (part 2) - Connecting a Device, Removing a Device

>>>step-by-step: Connecting a Device

You can also add a device by simply connecting it to your Windows 8 computer and letting Windows 8 do the setup for you. For example, you might want to connect your Windows Phone so that you can easily sync your files, contacts, and media.

1. With the Devices category selected in the PC Settings screen, connect your phone.

2. After a moment, Windows 8 displays the device in the Devices list. In this case, Windows 8 displays a message that setup needs to be finished in the Action Center.

3. Press the Windows key to return to the Start screen, and type Action.

4. Just below the search box, tap or click Settings. The Settings results shows Action Center displayed at the top of the list.

5. Tap or click Action Center. The Action Center shows you that one of your devices needs installation software.

6. Tap or click Install. A Windows Phone popup appears (assuming you’ve connected a Windows Phone).

7. Tap or click Get Software.

8. On the Zune web page that appears, tap or click the Download Now button.

9. A message box appears, asking whether you want to Run or Save the software. Click Run.

After you click Run, the Windows 8 download process takes over. The process will prompt you to unplug your phone from your computer before the software is installed. When the download is finished, Zune will display the Microsoft License Terms; click Accept to continue and then click Install to install the Zune software.

After the install is complete, the Zune software launches and your phone synchs automatically with your Windows 8 computer.

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It’s Not all Good: Hanging on the Download

The first few times I tried to download the Zune software to Windows 8, the whole process hung up and sat lifeless on my computer screen. If this happens to you, you can try to get the download moving again by clicking the Pause button on the Downloads screen and then clicking Resume. If that doesn’t start the download process, clear the Zune download by clicking Clear List in the Downloads dialog box, close your browser, and start the process again. As an alternative, you may want to wait until a later time until web traffic (if that’s the problem) could be lighter.

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>>>step-by-step: Removing a Device

You can also remove a device you no longer need from the Devices list if you choose. Having extra devices in the Devices list doesn’t do any harm, but if you want to keep the list short so that you can find what you need easily, you may want to take any unnecessary items off the list.

1. Click the device you want to take off the list.

2. Click the Remove button. Windows 8 displays a confirmation message asking whether you want to remove the device.

3. If you want to continue, click Yes. The device is removed and the list is shortened by one device.