Gadgetory

hey i'm donna 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 is gone this how-to i'll show you 7 easy ways to get to the windows 8 control panel where you can customize your system just the way you like it alright let's say you're on the Start screen now the quickest way to jump into the control panel or really anything is to 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 want to make it even easier do that same search but right click on the icon and you'll get an 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 well using that same search and right click technique you can also pin the control panel to your task bar 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 down the windows key and the letter X which is right next to it also windows and the letter I will reveal a menu that comes off to the side and also has a control panel option and if you want to get really old school windows are will bring up a command line window you can just type in control panel and I'll pop right up so there you go that's seven techniques that will all lead you to the same windows 8 control panel let's take your pick more windows 8 tips head over to how to cnet com until next time I'm Donald Bell you