W8 is very, very diff from XP, and yes you can screw it up if you don't know what you are doing. are you talking about IE browser on one of the tiles on boot up? or are you going to desktop mode? what is it you are trying to do exactly?

Sure, you can prune pretty much anything. Or you could just leave it, and let nature take it's course. If the plants are close enough together that the root systems are competing, pruning won't help a lot. To the extent the root systems are competing, and there is mutual shading, the plants will just be less productive. If you pull or prune, they will also be less productive, because there is less of the plant left.

how to plant...: https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub i figured it was a builder deal ... based on looking seep into the pic .. as to my pic ... i had a kids pool to the left.. i wnated to sit under the tree.. in the shade ... hence the pruning ... its now about 10 years later. ... and the bottom branches.. are about 3 feet from the ground.. the major part of the branches did not go down.. but the branchlets off such.. did .. the bottom line.. how i remember it... roots like to be cool and moist.. to do their job... bark is meant to be DRY ... by putting park underground.. you will rot it ... and the vascular system of the tree... the cambian layer.. is just below that bark ... rot the bark ... kill the tree ... dig down.. give us a few pics... maybe we can come up with some ideas ... like an wall of one or two or 3 retaining blocks.... to hold the soil back ... there has to be a term for that.. but its escaping me.. to google you a pic ... ken

As pip hints....now is a great time to feed! Also, almost all knowledgeable avo growers use mulch. It is beneficial in many ways...including keeping the weeds at bay. This time of year avocado trees can look a little rough....especially because of drought/lack of water. Don't fret about the cardboard...I am sure you will be fine.