Windows 8

Gary · Oct 30, 2012, 10:35:34

Quote from: Simon on Oct 30, 2012, 10:02:08
About time too.

With windows 7 you could just download Security Essentials and it became pretty much what you see in Windows 8. Works well, after using it I cant really see the point in huge bloated paid for security suits. The trouble is with new computers the manufactures have deals with Symantec and the like, so you end up with bloatware you don't need. I detest how much cr@p comes on laptops tbh

Simon · Oct 30, 2012, 11:06:58

Indeed, and once something like Norton has been installed, although the uninstallation of these suites has got better, it's still difficult to remove all traces of it.

J!ll · Oct 30, 2012, 12:00:57

Quote from: Gary on Oct 30, 2012, 09:34:20
That's the only think I don't like about windows laptops is the bloatware, I wonder if the 'surface' will come laden with all that too.

this is the software installed on it.
Adobe Flash Player 10.3
Internet Explorer 9
McAfee Internet Security trial
Acer clear.fi
Skype

Will have fun removing stuff I don't want/use.

psp83 · Oct 30, 2012, 12:55:42

If you miss the start button / menu and/or can't get on with the new start screen, you can install a program called "Start8" from here : http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

This will give you the start menu back as well as other advanced options like booting straight to desktop.

Technical Ben · Oct 30, 2012, 14:34:33

Quote from: Gary on Oct 30, 2012, 09:34:20
That's the only think I don't like about windows laptops is the bloatware, I wonder if the 'surface' will come laden with all that too.

Yep. Done a fresh instal over the weekend for someone. The junk on it I needed to deactivate just to get to a normal screen was ridiculous. It actually got it's self stuck in a loop. Only 2 or so years old, but of cause the company changed their website location. So the first boot up it checks for their page, loads up IE and then gets a "page does not exist error", mean while the "greetings and help assistance software" notices the error, and tries again. Que a couple of hundred IE windows opening and a dash for Ctrl Alt Delete to kill the process that's calling up the website, and I'm unsure who to put against the wall first. The programmers, or the manager for asking for such a "feature" in the first place.

J!ll · Oct 30, 2012, 14:42:55

Quote from: psp83 on Oct 30, 2012, 12:55:42
If you miss the start button / menu and/or can't get on with the new start screen, you can install a program called "Start8" from here : http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

This will give you the start menu back as well as other advanced options like booting straight to desktop.

I'm sure I will miss the start button! so thanks for that.

Technical Ben · Oct 30, 2012, 14:53:51

You've done well if it's not got too much junk on it Jill.

The one I just fixed even pops up asking if you want to buy the internet of AOL.

pctech · Oct 30, 2012, 15:20:46

The good news is MS seem to have retained the ACPI power button function support so you can set the power button on the machine to start a normal orderly shut down when pressed.

On the keyboard I have I also have a key labelled power that when pressed does exactly the same thing.

Have the same keyboard at work now and its my favourite key on that keyboard.

J!ll · Oct 30, 2012, 15:22:43

Quote from: Technical Ben on Oct 30, 2012, 14:53:51
You've done well if it's not got too much junk on it Jill.

The one I just fixed even pops up asking if you want to buy the internet of AOL.

AOL

Well I dare say it will have games on it that I don't want and many other things! I will see how I manage before I try and break anything!

J!ll · Oct 30, 2012, 15:29:19

Quote from: pctech on Oct 30, 2012, 15:20:46
The good news is MS seem to have retained the ACPI power button function support so you can set the power button on the machine to start a normal orderly shut down when pressed.

On the keyboard I have I also have a key labelled power that when pressed does exactly the same thing.

Have the same keyboard at work now and its my favourite key on that keyboard.

I had put this on my new toy thread

Windows Key-I — This pops up the new system tray, which slides in from the right. If you hit Space or Enter, the Metro control panel opens. If you hit Up then Enter, you can shut down the computer. (This is the fastest way to shut down or restart!)

pctech · Oct 30, 2012, 15:34:38

I'm back at work tomorrow for the first time since Friday and I expect a lot of people will have picked up new PCs/laptops over the weekend and early in the week.

I expect our remote assistance solution will get a lot of use over the coming weeks

J!ll · Oct 30, 2012, 15:41:45

I bet they will! I will just struggle on my own

Technical Ben · Oct 30, 2012, 17:18:04

Quote from: pctech on Oct 30, 2012, 15:34:38
I'm back at work tomorrow for the first time since Friday and I expect a lot of people will have picked up new PCs/laptops over the weekend and early in the week.

I expect our remote assistance solution will get a lot of use over the coming weeks

You know the best thing about Windows 8 and remote assistance? No going "press the ~~start~~, I mean swipe the button" responded after 15 mins later "It's not working, do I need a touch screen to get my finger to move it?".

cavillas · Oct 30, 2012, 19:08:44

I have come across one problem that seems pretty widespread. It seems that some sata dvd drives are not picked up by windows 8 and ther eis no work around that is universal. I supppose I will just have to buy a usb dvd rather than muck about with sourcing a new ide dvd read/write drive.

Technical Ben · Oct 30, 2012, 21:48:32

Really? That's pretty basic functionality. I guess they are trying to hint that they want people to drop optical disks... nah, just coincidence.

Keep the SATA one, it should work as Win 8 is win 7 under the hood AFAIK. Although, a mini DVD external drive comes in handy for Netbooks.

pctech · Oct 31, 2012, 18:29:08

They want you to run everything from Azure (their cloud platform) as they must recover the billions they spent on those data centres.

Glenn · Oct 31, 2012, 20:38:46

If anyone is thinking of buying the W8 upgrade from Microsoft, go via Quidco for a 15% cashback http://www.quidco.com/microsoft-store/?ac

Polchraine · Nov 01, 2012, 12:47:19

Having read this and other real user comments I will confirm my new laptop order with Win 7 - with a free/cheap Win 8 upgrade pack. But it leaves on question ... Win 7 in 32 or 64 bit config? It will generally be used for MS Office Applications including Visio along with various image processing apps.

psp83 · Nov 01, 2012, 13:00:30

if it has 4gb RAM or more you will need 64bit to use it all. 32bit only see's 3.5gb

I would chose 64bit anyways, I've been using win7 64bit since it came out and no problems.

Technical Ben · Nov 01, 2012, 13:55:38

I'd agree. For those with existing hardware, no point in an upgrade. New hardware it's practically a necessity.

Den · Nov 01, 2012, 20:36:21

I downloaded Bullguard Security V13 tonight and it loaded straight away (more than v12 did) and seems to run very well in W8. All my settings were intact and the system has not crashed once.

J!ll · Nov 02, 2012, 13:31:03

pctech · Nov 02, 2012, 23:05:29

4GB or more will make Win 7 work much more fluidly so 64-bit is a must.

psp83 · Nov 03, 2012, 00:06:52

Quote from: pctech on Nov 02, 2012, 23:05:29
4GB or more will make Win 7 work much more fluidly so 64-bit is a must.

Not true, I have Win7 running on an old machine with 2GB RAM & 32bit and it's fluid, no slow downs/lag.

Technical Ben · Nov 03, 2012, 07:14:56

I'll say it depends PSP. If just for internet ect, 2gb is ok (it's what I put in this rig to begin with). But 4gb helps for things like movie making, games etc.