windows 8

[niteNarmor]

You can get the start orb back with plenty of menu options to set it up with.
The program I found is by iobit - start menu. Brings back the start orb at the bottom left screen in your toolbar with win7 looks.

 

[mikedt]

I don't get why it was such a big fuss over where the computer boots up to.

Because on my 25inch desktop PC monitor the UI formerly known as Metro looked like huge Fisher Price style building blocks IMO. With moving the mouse over a large area along with the sideways scrolling to select things, I just didn't find that appealing and not a good way to work. And it was worse when I projected it on a large screen, which runs at quite a low resolution 1024x768, although the students found it interesting because they'd never seen Win 8 for real before.

 

[Xyro]

Yeah, I believe they had to bump up the minimum resolution requirements just because metro doesn't scale down well.

 

[MacFett]

Update: found a cute program that gives me a Macintosh-style "dock" for my shortcuts, which allows me to clean up the desktop clutter

I just use the built in (albeit hidden) quick launch toolbar. I keep only my recycling bin on my desktop.

 

[Thatdad]

Windows 8 was a complete failure.
Don't waste your money!

If you want a blazing fast laptop get one that can either be upgraded to or already has 4-8 gb of RAM, and install Ubuntu, Mint, or any other flavor of linux. Much much more secure, faster, and clean.

Also gets updates constantly.

 

[mikedt]

Windows 8 was a complete failure.
Don't waste your money!

If you want a blazing fast laptop get one that can either be upgraded to or already has 4-8 gb of RAM, and install Ubuntu, Mint, or any other flavor of linux. Much much more secure, faster, and clean.

Also gets updates constantly.

I've just not seen much of Win 8 here in China, especially given that it was launched a year ago. Still seems to be very few Win 8 PCs in the stores, they're nearly all Win 7. In fact there's more low-cost Ubuntu Kylin OS machines than Win 8 PCs and laptops, which from what I've seen so far are really quite expensive, not far off the level of Apple pricing.

 

[unnamedny]

People are being forced to go with Windows 8. (at least in USA) I bought a refurbished Laptop (because it had 30 day return policy) which had windows 8, I downgraded it to Windows 7. Let's put it this way, 80% of regular users probably don't know how to downgrade and rest 10% out of 20% left would not even bother anyway. So everything went fine, but it was a pain the bottom head to find a drivers for all the devices Windows 7. So I've returned it, because it was not functioning properly. I looked around and there are practically no Windows 7 laptops out there, at least not at the low price. Most of the deal laptops are Windows 8 laptops. Just so, if you want to get a Windows 7 system, you need to pay a little extra for the same spec Laptops as windows 8.

 

[Thatdad]

People are being forced to go with Windows 8. (at least in USA) I bought a refurbished Laptop (because it had 30 day return policy) which had windows 8, I downgraded it to Windows 7. Let's put it this way, 80% of regular users probably don't know how to downgrade and rest 10% out of 20% left would not even bother anyway. So everything went fine, but it was a pain the bottom head to find a drivers for all the devices Windows 7. So I've returned it, because it was not functioning properly. I looked around and there are practically no Windows 7 laptops out there, at least not at the low price. Most of the deal laptops are Windows 8 laptops. Just so, if you want to get a Windows 7 system, you need to pay a little extra for the same spec Laptops as windows 8.

Go on Amazon and look up cheap windows 7 laptops, or you can get a Windows 7 cd from Amazon, whichever suits you most.

 

[unnamedny]

Go on Amazon and look up cheap windows 7 laptops, or you can get a Windows 7 cd from Amazon, whichever suits you most.

Staples-Toshiba Satellite C55-A5285 Laptop: Core i3 3120M 2.5GHz, 6GB DDR3, 750GB HDD,15.6" 1366x768 LED, $230 AR+F/S



try getting the same laptop with Windows 7 for $230. Good luck on that.

 

[Thatdad]

Okay. Buy the laptop, then but the Windows 7 CD then wipe the hard drive and boot up the Windows 7 cd

 

[nickdalzell]

That is easier said than done when you have to find some method to disable EFI or whatever that locked down bootloader is called. otherwise you won't see the 'press a key to boot cd' prompt.

 

[Thatdad]

That is easier said than done when you have to find some method to disable EFI or whatever that locked down bootloader is called. otherwise you won't see the 'press a key to boot cd' prompt.

I used Ubuntu to reformat my friends. It only took about an hour to wipe windows 8, I through the Ubuntu installation, the drive was empty, then we stuck the Windows 7 CD in.

Followed the prompts and boom. Windows 7 Home Edition.

 

[Thatdad]

That is easier said than done when you have to find some method to disable EFI or whatever that locked down bootloader is called. otherwise you won't see the 'press a key to boot cd' prompt.

I don't think I've ever seen that. Normally going in through BIOS does trick..

 

[Xyro]

I don't think I've ever seen that. Normally going in through BIOS does trick..

Don't know the finer details, but UEFI is a BIOS replacement that many 8 devices come with.

 

[Thatdad]

Don't know the finer details, but UEFI is a BIOS replacement that many 8 devices come with.

Really? Idk then. I just did the Ubuntu set up and erased it.

Maybe it was the actual computer?

I guess you could always make a separate partition with Gparted or something similar.

Or read this:

http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/appl...onid=8BC3IQ+Ag9IwmCsZvDtk0A**.ecappj02?pgno=2

 

[Thatdad]

There was probably hoops I had to go through, but it's been a while since he downgraded so I forgot what exactly we did.

 

[unnamedny]

Okay. Buy the laptop, then but the Windows 7 CD then wipe the hard drive and boot up the Windows 7 cd

dude. drivers issues. I'd rather save a few hours on reinstalling windows & that might not function properly. It's rather easier to buy a Windows 7 laptop. All new hardware is being designed for Windows 8 and they do not push drivers for Windows 7. Good luck buying NEW gaming laptop and trying to install windows 7.

 

[Thatdad]

dude. drivers issues. I'd rather save a few hours on reinstalling windows & that might not function properly. It's rather easier to buy a Windows 7 laptop. All new hardware is being designed for Windows 8 and they do not push drivers for Windows 7. Good luck buying NEW gaming laptop and trying to install windows 7.

Never was a problem for me or anyone else. Pretty sure most laptops still support 7. It's not THAT old. Microsoft still has support for Millennium and XP for crying out loud.

 

[unnamedny]

Never was a problem for me or anyone else. Pretty sure most laptops still support 7. It's not THAT old. Microsoft still has support for Millennium and XP for crying out loud.

Touch screen will support Windows 7?. Ok, nice try. Laptops soon will not be supporting Windows 7. Even if it does you need to look for drivers from different models. Basic way of saying it, it's a pain.

 

[Thatdad]

Touch screen will support Windows 7?. Ok, nice try. Laptops soon will not be supporting Windows 7. Even if it does you need to look for drivers from different models. Basic way of saying it, it's a pain.

They have programs for it..

It's only as hard as you make it.

 

[niteNarmor]

Okay. Buy the laptop, then but the Windows 7 CD then wipe the hard drive and boot up the Windows 7 cd

I actually went to win8 on all seven of my computers. What I found was all my laptops could not handle win8 for one reason or another. 3 different manufacturers. My desktops where the only systems that could handle them. My laptops have been downgraded to win7 by way of CD. No issues with drivers.

 

[Thatdad]

I actually went to win8 on all seven of my computers. What I found was all my laptops could not handle win8 for one reason or another. 3 different manufacturers. My desktops where the only systems that could handle them. My laptops have been downgraded to win7 by way of CD. No issues with drivers.

That's what I'm saying.

 

[niteNarmor]

That's what I'm saying.

I do know win7 will no longer be supported by Microsoft (when?). That's what win8 is for. "They" stated no other service packs will come out for win7. But that didn't stop me from downgrading. Win7 is about as good as its going to get for laptops. Performance is outstanding and memory is not being taken by the metro screen.

 

[Thatdad]

I do know win7 will no longer be supported by Microsoft (when?). That's what win8 is for. "They" stated no other service packs will come out for win7. But that didn't stop me from downgrading. Win7 is about as good as its going to get for laptops. Performance is outstanding and memory is not being taken by the metro screen.

Look at XP. There is still support for it.

I'm thinking 7 will have a while, considering it's the most popular windows version.

 

[niteNarmor]

Look at XP. There is still support for it.

I'm thinking 7 will have a while, considering it's the most popular windows version.

True.

From PC world - Microsoft will stop mainstream support on January 12, 2015. But the company will keep providing extended support until January 14, 2020.

www.pcworld.com/article/2010820/how-long-will-microsorft-support-windows-7.html