windows 8

[Thatdad]

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

I figured. I think XP is just about done with their extended support.

 

[niteNarmor]

I figured. I think XP is just about done with their extended support.

More than likely. It doesn't make sense unless you talk about money. I will continue to use 7 on my laptops and 8 on my desktops.

 

[Thatdad]

More than likely. It doesn't make sense unless you talk about money. I will continue to use 7 on my laptops and 8 on my desktops.

There are reasons to keep using XP. (really only one for me, old pc games)

But now you can run xp through VM.

But for the less computer savvy it would be easier to have an old laptop with xp if you want to run old games.

 

[niteNarmor]

There are reasons to keep using XP. (really only one for me, old pc games)

But now you can run xp through VM.

But for the less computer savvy it would be easier to have an old laptop with xp if you want to run old games.

I can see that. My preference is more for performance and visual style along with ease of use. I do a lot of phone programming too and 7 is just easier for myself to get to everything I need quickly. Even on my 8 machines I have it skipping the metro screen and going straight to desktop. I have it almost 7 like.

 

[Thatdad]

I can see that. My preference is more for performance and visual style along with ease of use. I do a lot of phone programming too and 7 is just easier for myself to get to everything I need quickly. Even on my 8 machines I have it skipping the metro screen and going straight to desktop. I have it almost 7 like.

Windows 8 was just a fail.. :/

 

[niteNarmor]

Major

 

[unnamedny]

I can vouch for VPN software working just fine in 8 - you just have to click through to the desktop first

I'll be honest I don't know which software business my girlfriend weeks in can't run, but its a medical facility with more than 100 employees and they try to stay away from Windows 8.

 

[unnamedny]

They have programs for it..

It's only as hard as you make it.

and whats the point?

 

[Thatdad]

and whats the point?

The point is that what you said didn't have a point. If you can click one button and have all the drivers updated and working.. It's not hard.

It also only takes less than 20 minutes so it's not time consuming.

If somebody wants windows 8 then it's their choice, but you shouldn't have people under the impression it's hard when it's not.

 

[unnamedny]

The point is that what you said didn't have a point. If you can click one button and have all the drivers updated and working.. It's not hard.

It also only takes less than 20 minutes so it's not time consuming.

If somebody wants windows 8 then it's their choice, but you shouldn't have people under the impression it's hard when it's not.

We were talking about people being forced to go with Windows 8 and not about someone who prefers Windows 8. I have no issue with someone using Windows 8, be my guest, I have issue with Microsoft limiting us to Windows 8 only.

Source How to Uninstall Windows 8, Install Windows 7 on Your PC | PCMag.com

Start by opening the device manager in your control panel. It will provide you with a list of all the different devices found on the system, from touchpad and keyboard to networking and Wi-Fi adapters. Don't skip this step, because you can't use the device without a working driver—meaning that without the proper drivers, you can easily find yourself stuck with a nearly unusable machine.

Be aware, however, that for some newer devices, drivers may not be available for Windows 7 and older operating systems. If this is the case, you may be out of luck—which is why you're looking all of this up beforehand.

 

[nickdalzell]

UEFI boot is about standard on Win8 machines. when they turn on they bypass the BIOS completely and almost insta-boot into 8. you won't get the option to 'press xx for setup' anymore. my Toshiba (which now runs linux) needed an exploit CD ROM to give Windows 8 the option to enable BIOS setup. it was a bit of a headache too. now i got access to it and the UEFI partition is gone. i am sure though that more recent machines are likely to make such exploits harder in the long run.

 

[NGD1]

Locked boot loader PC addition lol

 

[DanishDevil]

I got a promotional copy of Windows 8 Professional from my work. Installed and had no issues, working with the latest Classic Shell beta. I wanted to get Media Center on it as well to watch recordings from my HDHomeRun Prime. I purchased the Media Center Pack upgrade through the System Settings > Upgrade Windows menu. It freaking BROKE my activation! I have spent over an hour on the phone with MS Support to try to explain what happened, and nobody seems to be able to help me, nor are they willing to give me a refund on the $10 I spent that broke my activation and makes me get alt-tabbed out of whatever I'm doing twice a day. YAY MICROSOFT!!!

 

[mikedt]

I got a promotional copy of Windows 8 Professional from my work. Installed and had no issues, working with the latest Classic Shell beta. I wanted to get Media Center on it as well to watch recordings from my HDHomeRun Prime. I purchased the Media Center Pack upgrade through the System Settings > Upgrade Windows menu. It freaking BROKE my activation! I have spent over an hour on the phone with MS Support to try to explain what happened, and nobody seems to be able to help me, nor are they willing to give me a refund on the $10 I spent that broke my activation and makes me get alt-tabbed out of whatever I'm doing twice a day. YAY MICROSOFT!!!

That's a bit crap isn't it? MS is now charging extra for something that used to be a standard feature of Windows, Media Center. And it breaks your activation....not good...not good.

Myself, I've given up with MS and Windows, and just won't have anything to do with them any more.

 

[Xyro]

8.1 has been released. You won't be notified automatically like a normal update, however - it has to be downloaded from the app store of all places.

 

[EarlyMon]

How intuitive.

Thanks for the news though.

 

[Xyro]

Now with cutting-edge start icon technology:

 

[EarlyMon]

No comment.

 

[nickdalzell]

Make mine Linux!

 

[Seanette]

OK, smaller tiles are nice (although I'd be happier with more layout flexibility), but my custom start screen background (courtesy of Decor8) is broken and I can't figure out fixing it until their help people are available.

No other differences I've noticed so far, since I pretty much live exclusively on the Desktop side.

 

[mikedt]

Now I like my icons when I Start.

 

[Xyro]

OK, smaller tiles are nice (although I'd be happier with more layout flexibility), but my custom start screen background (courtesy of Decor8) is broken and I can't figure out fixing it until their help people are available.

No other differences I've noticed so far, since I pretty much live exclusively on the Desktop side.

There's boot to desktop now too, available if you right click on the taskbar > properties > navigation > start screen.

 

[Seanette]

There's boot to desktop now too, available if you right click on the taskbar > properties > navigation > start screen.

ClassicShell achieves that . OTOH, I might turn that off temporarily to see if the 8.1 changes make that add-on unnecessary.

BTW, got the Start screen background sorted out. Just needed to reboot.

 

[nickdalzell]

Let me know when the Flat UI fad is gone for good. i hate being reminded of the 1980s era of computing.

 

[mikedt]

Let me know when the Flat UI fad is gone for good. i hate being reminded of the 1980s era of computing.

Not likely, it's Flat UI with no icons now. What's next VT100 UI?

We'll all be wearing Members Only jackets and listening to Duran Duran again.