windows 8

[javasirc]

I use win 7 + rain meter + onomino anyway. Shouldn't be too far a change.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/ck5r3xaxkgqod2o/Untitled.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8iuek7rg3zcj3i/Untitled1.png

Is it worth making the change to Win 8 ?

Could I dual boot Win 8 and Win 7 ? And then make a move permanently?

Yes you can dual boot W8 and W7. I am right now, although i havnt logged into W7 in a few days. I think it is worth the change, not only because of the Metro UI, but because W8 is simply faster in loading and processing time.

Do you mind if i ask which program the mini Metro UI is on the screen shots? And where can i download it please? I did a google search for Onomino and Rain Meter but couldnt find anything related to Metro UI.

 

[Mehta23]

Yes you can dual boot W8 and W7. I am right now, although i havnt logged into W7 in a few days. I think it is worth the change, not only because of the Metro UI, but because W8 is simply faster in loading and processing time.

Do you mind if i ask which program the mini Metro UI is on the screen shots? And where can i download it please? I did a google search for Onomino and Rain Meter but couldnt find anything related to Metro UI.

Onmino is what I used...

It's just the faster boot times and performance that interests me...
Are the same programs compatible in win 8? Gaming?
How would I go about dual booting win 8?

 

[Atma]

Maybe its because I didn't format and do a clean install. I made the mistake of not downloading the iso. I found the files that were downloaded and burned them to a dvd but apparently I need to make the dvd bootable. The Win 8 files included boot files and autostart, how do I make the dvd a bootable dvd?

I finally found the solution for getting the iso without paying again. When you get the email receipt with the product key, there is a small line of print that says, "If you need to download Windows, write down your new product key and enter it here." That link will download Windows8-setup.exe. Open it and that will start the download process of getting a bootable ISO. You will need to enter the product key from your email so have it handy.

If anyone else wants to do a clean install and didn't get the ISO, here are more instructions.

 

[javasirc]

I havnt tried any games on Windows 8 yet. I havnt been gaming lately. But judging by Youtube reviews of games on W8, they run faster on W8 than W7. Im not sure about compatability, but you may need to install .NET, DirectX, Java, Flash, or any other library thats required. I think .NET and DirectX are preinstalled, i cant remember.

If your actually upgrading/buying your W7 and not installing the Consumer Preview, just follow the Upgrade Assistant on Microsoft's website. Its very easy. When you choose how to install choose option 2, (i forget the exact options but there are 3):

Option 1 is to replace W7 with W8. You dont want this option to dual boot.
Option 2 is to install ISO to DVD, which also installs to USB if you choose. You do not need a separate ISO-USB tool like you would for the Consumer Preview, Upgrade Assistant handles everything for you. This is the option you want.
Option 3 is "Do Nothing" i believe. The W8 files are saved locally, so you can install at a later time.

You will need a partition ready to install W8. W7 has a partition tool built in, or you can use a third party tool, such as Partition Magic. When your ready to install, reboot your system, and enter the boot menu with the Function keys. Im not sure what key it is for your computer. Here you will choose to boot from your USB device. Installing W8 is a breeze.

 

[Mehta23]

So after I get / make the iso... What do I do? Make a partition and then go into the bios to install it?

Is there much difference between the consumer preview and the full one?

 

[javasirc]

Yes you will need to make another partition, your choice of size. I suggest at least 40GB. You can always increase later. Restart PC and use whatever Function key takes you to the bios, and choose USB for your bootable device (it will probably be listed as "San Disk" or something similar). Windows 8 installer should start unpacking, then install itself.

Im not sure what differences there are between Consumer Preview and Windows 8 itself. CP is more of a beta/trial deal. I think its also a bit unpolished/buggy. For $40 (or $15 if you meet the terms) i would just upgrade to Windows 8 since Windows 8 will likely be the future.

 

[Xyro]

I haven't had any trouble with games so far. Everything I've tried has run fine.

I can't say I've noticed any effects on in-game performance though, but then I haven't really gone looking for that.

 

[javasirc]

I recently found out that Xtrap, the anti-hack program that is used by some online games, currently is not supported in Windows 8. Some users say they have no problems with it. I cant play Crossfire on Windows 8 until Xtrap is fixed =(

 

[Speed Daemon]

It also has all of the features of Microsoft Security Essentials built into the OS, which is great.

Considering that you can get Microsoft Security Essentials for free to use on Windows XP and up anyway, I'd say "convenient" but not "great".

(bolded for those who might not know)

 

[TheKalle]

I hate it!

 

[Mehta23]

I think I'm gonna try a free version , unless the difference is so bad , that I might not get the same experience as a full version might .

Does this seem like an ok method?

How To Download and Install Windows 8 - YouTube

 

[donec]

I tried the preview and I think MS has done a big favor for Linux. A lot of people have said they don't want to go through the learning curve needed to learn Linux and so many Linux distributions have tried to get closer to the Windows experience to the degree that Linux is now less of a learning curve for Windows users than switching to Win8. The easiest I have found and the one I use is Linux Mint 13 KDE.

 

[Xyro]

I think I'm gonna try a free version , unless the difference is so bad , that I might not get the same experience as a full version might .

Does this seem like an ok method?

How To Download and Install Windows 8 - YouTube

Yes, that's what I tried. That is the final version of windows 8, so you won't me missing out on anything, but it will auto expire in 90 days.

 

[Rolo42]

Cumbersome and difficult? Its the same as Windows 7 with the added "Metro UI".

If that were the case, I wouldn't have said what I did. G'head, click on the start orb.

I got it set up to nearly match my Windows 7 desktop. Everything i did on Windows 7, im now doing on Windows 8.

But you already had all of that and thus proves my point: many get Windows 8 and then contort it into Windows Frankenseven.

Im 90% set on buying a Windows 8 tablet

I may have a need for one in the future--an Android tablet won't cut it for Windows development--and in this instance (tablet/touch-screen), Win8 is a good thing.

(as long as Microsoft doesnt disable me from booting to Desktop or disable me from using a third-party start menu.

Yeah now that's scary. It's also why I don't buy e-books.

From what i understand, i should be able to use an Xbox controller to play W8 metro games. That will be a blast.

I already use an Xbox controller on Win7.

It's funny that Win8 is usually compared to what it can do that Win7 already does--not what Win8 does that Win7 doesn't.

I have WinXP Tablet Edition on my tc1100 and it's touch (stylus) isn't any less friendly than Metro, especially since it's the same UI we've been using for 17 years.

 

[javasirc]

Ive used an Xbox controller before, but for most games it didnt work properly, as far as beening optimized for the specific game, at least when i used it. Im hoping Metro games will be designed to directly support the Xbox controller, touch, and mouse+keyboard. Having an option of what i use for input would be great, as i can choose my input device(s) for my current situation, such as laying in bed (touch), playing on the desk (mouse+keyboard), or kicked back in the chair (controller, or touch).

Many compare W8 to W7 in terms of downgrading, or change. People dont like change, so switching from using the classic desktop to something else (especially with the same name) is concerning, and most dont do any research on the product. They just go by hear-say, both in real life and on the web. People decide that a product is lousy when theyve never tried it. I bet 4/5 people that hate Windows 8 has either never tried it, or installed it, saw there was no start menu, and never returned. And i admit, thats exactly what i did when i tried Consumer Preview a few months ago. Once i found out i could install a start menu, i returned to W8, configured my Desktop to be like my W7 desktop, and now i boot to W8 when i log onto my PC. Everything i could do on W7 i am doing on W8, except for playing Crossfire, which uses Xtrap.

The number one complaint i hear about W8 is the lack of start menu, but in reality, you can choose from a number of start menus.

Another complaint is that W8 is optimized for touch, not mouse+keyboard. Well in Metro of course its designed for touch, but mouse + keyboard work, and fairly well for that matter, once you get used to it. Ive even been using my laptop's touchpad, which works very well in Metro. In Desktop mode, mouse+keyboard work as its always worked, and i can switch to Metro if i choose with a hotkey or using the top-left corner of the screen.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

OK, I took the plunge and so far I have to say I don't see why so many are griping. All you have to do is download Start8 to add the start button back in and it automatically defaults to desktop mode if you want the Win 7 desktop. I'm still undecided, it will take some playing around so for now I have Start8 installed. Having used a tablet for some time I find it familiar enough to not be aggravating and is actually set up logically if you stop and think about what you are doing.

I'm still playing with it, but so far I am liking it. The new photo app is cool and I for one like the addition of the ribbon toolbar across the board. There is a lot of catch-up that the software companies are going to have to do however. One example, Roboform is useless when running in app mode but I am sure they will come up with a new version soon.

One puzzling item, I have a UEFI equipped board but I do not get this blistering fast boot they talk about, it takes about the same amount of time as 7 did.

 

[mikedt]

One puzzling item, I have a UEFI equipped board but I do not get this blistering fast boot they talk about, it takes about the same amount of time as 7 did.

Did you install Win 8 on top of Win 7 or was it a fresh install? Also are you running it on an SSD or a HDD?

 

[Davdi]

I've got a Win 8 Pro upgrade to Vista onan old celeron E3300 pc with 4Gb CCD2 800. As many others have said, startup & shutdown are very much quicker. WIndows inbuilt security still not the best. The firewall in particular, why not include the Win server firewall with advanced security - a proper bi-directional firewall,not that hard to set up really secure rules for. I use Comodo A/V Firewall and Dragon (Chrome based) browser.
I've used Win8 Developer and Consumer previerws, and the final product is slicket than either.. Actually, the new Metro/Modern start screen is pretty handy 1-click access to desktop apps, what's not to like. I *almost* prefer Win 8 to Linux XFCE or E17 desktops for useability.

 

[SamuraiBigEd]

Did you install Win 8 on top of Win 7 or was it a fresh install? Also are you running it on an SSD or a HDD?

I broke my hard rule and upgraded, only because my grand kids have gotten into my software and my CS5 Master Collection is nowhere to be found!

I am running an OCZ Vertex 3 and I went in and made the UEFI first on boot priority but it still isn't working.

Not really an issue, 20-30 seconds to boot is not going to kill me.

 

[Caloy]

Just installed W8 on my laptop yesterday. After a whole day of head-aches like my fn key functionality doesn't function (okay that sounds redundant), my keyboard back light wasn't working. And it took a fair amount of time to find a working driver and get full functionality on my keybaord. A bit of a learning curve on how to use W8, but for the most part I already got it figured out. I just hope there would be more apps in the store. :/

 

[Xyro]

I just hope there would be more apps in the store. :/

They are trickling in, and it's noticeably better than the selection was at launch. But, yeah, currently it's still very thin on the ground.

 

[Rolo42]

Ive used an Xbox controller before, but for most games it didnt work properly,

To clairfy: I have a Logitech F710 that has an Xbox mode and a DirectX mode and its fully programmable to do about anything.

People dont like change,

Not when the chances of an unfavourable change far exceed the chances of a favourable one. Basically, what is the upside and is it worth the hassle?
Upside: Metro tile games or whatever (I imagine the games I have on my phone)
Downside: Some existing real games are incompatible with W8

and most dont do any research on the product. They just go by hear-say, both in real life and on the web. People decide that a product is lousy when theyve never tried it. I bet 4/5 people that hate Windows 8 has either never tried it, or installed it, saw there was no start menu, and never returned

I'm not going to assume that or speak for "most". Personally, though, I have tried W8 and, for the desktop, I think it sucks. For a tablet, I think it has potential but it is ugly. For a regular laptop/notebook...not sure there's any upside.

Everything i could do on W7 i am doing on W8, except for playing Crossfire, which uses Xtrap.

There's that standard I mentioned.

Another complaint is that W8 is optimized for touch, not mouse+keyboard. Well in Metro of course its designed for touch, but mouse + keyboard work,

If Microsoft wanted to design a platform for both, desktops and portables, then they should have made it work just as effectively with touch and mouse/trackball/touchpad+keyboard (those things we've been using since the '80's) but it doesn't. That's like removing the steering wheel from the automobile and giving the option of handlebars (because bikes use them) or one of these:

 

[brads27]

There was an option to download the ISO when I first upgraded, which I didn't do, but I can't find a way to do it now without paying again. The upgrade assistant thing didn't have the option for formatting first.

http://www.aheil.de/2012/10/28/because-youve-been-so-impatient-with-the-upgrade-as

this should help

 

[Atma]

http://www.aheil.de/2012/10/28/because-youve-been-so-impatient-with-the-upgrade-as

this should help

Thanks.

I already did this below and have it installed. I like it. Its faster than Win 7 and with Classic Shell I don't even see the metro start.

I finally found the solution for getting the iso without paying again. When you get the email receipt with the product key, there is a small line of print that says, "If you need to download Windows, write down your new product key and enter it here." That link will download Windows8-setup.exe. Open it and that will start the download process of getting a bootable ISO. You will need to enter the product key from your email so have it handy.

If anyone else wants to do a clean install and didn't get the ISO, here are more instructions.

 

[Demache]

Yeah, the boot up speeds are a lot better, especially. They have made it so that 'shut down' is really a semi-hibernation mode, so booting back up is really quick. (Although this means that only a deliberate restart will let you install windows updates). I also found that, with the actual hibernation mode, my PC is responsive almost instantly, whereas it would be really sluggish for several minutes after coming out of hibernation on windows 7.

It also has all of the features of Microsoft Security Essentials built into the OS, which is great.

That ability to snap different programs is one potential way I can see metro apps being useful - once some more interesting apps are released. Essentially, you can devote 1/4 of your screen as a sidebar to a metro app, and most of them support a narrow version of the UI for this. In the remaining space, you can either load another full scale metro app, or the desktop. The desktop can then be split 50/50 between two windows, as per normal in windows 7.

Windows 8 from what I found, boots incredibly fast if you have an SSD. Using the semi-shutdown function, your computer goes through POST, and then you wait about 5 seconds (the boot animation barely appears), and your at the login screen. Even on a conventional hard drive, its maybe 30-40 seconds to the login screen on a slow laptop drive.

Seriously, that's a great feature. And I agree that coming out of sleep/hibernate is much more responsive too.