Gave windows 8 a proper try, still sucks

[Tom]

How do you find and launch a program in W8 that you have no idea what the name of it is ?

 

[alpha88]

How do you find and launch a program in W8 that you have no idea what the name of it is ?

I'm not entirely sure how you've installed programs that you don't know the names, but I can't imagine it being that hard to find on Win 8 vs Win 7.

1. Just look for it on your start screen. I like being able to organize all my commonly used apps in the front, which for me, works better than having a bunch of commonly used ones pinned to start menu in Windows 7. All the other random programs are still on the start screen, but off the screen on the right.

2. Try searching for it.

3. Look in Program Files

 

[TheSlamma]

can anyone point me to a good Windows 8 walkthrough?

I'd like to give it another shot but I really have no idea what I'm doing.

This is exactly the problem,

We've all been running Windows for a long time now, shouldn't each one be more and more intuitive? Instead it's become a need to go back to training for many people.

The last thing enterprises want to do is train from the ground up on a UI. Going from Windows 95 to Windows 7 is a smaller step in the UI then going from Windows 7 to Windows 8

 

[HeXen]

I asked this question before in another thread but no answer. I'm confused by the SKU's. like i can't find any information about a "full version" it seems all there will be are "upgrades"
which historically to me meant i had to have a previous OS installed first before i could use the "upgrade edition"

My question is, what if i have a brand new, blank hard drive and i wanted the regular W8 with the possibility of installing it on future hardware upgrades (i assume i can't do OEM version if i want that)...then which version of Windows do i want?
All i'm seeing that will be available is W8 OEM or W8 upgrade. Even Paul Thurott's new book didn't seem to give me a specific answer when using a blank HD. I really don't want to buy W7, install it just so i can install W8.

 

[Subyman]

The OEM or builder copies are what you want to look for. I don't know what the actual upgrade checks for in win 8, but previous versions had you put in an older windows install disk to prove you had a copy. They are usually pretty lax with upgrades as long as you've ever previously purchased windows.

If you have multiple computers it may be worth looking into technet.

 

[rgallant]

I asked this question before in another thread but no answer. I'm confused by the SKU's. like i can't find any information about a "full version" it seems all there will be are "upgrades"
which historically to me meant i had to have a previous OS installed first before i could use the "upgrade edition"

My question is, what if i have a brand new, blank hard drive and i wanted the regular W8 with the possibility of installing it on future hardware upgrades (i assume i can't do OEM version if i want that)...then which version of Windows do i want?
All i'm seeing that will be available is W8 OEM or W8 upgrade. Even Paul Thurott's new book didn't seem to give me a specific answer when using a blank HD. I really don't want to buy W7, install it just so i can install W8.[/QUOTE

-not sure with W8 ,but with the Win7 upgrade you could do a double install ,first install Win x on the empty disk do not enter key, second install enter key .if it's a issue with terms I do have a unused win2000,xp,vista,win7 laying around.
-to me I found win7 upgrade cheaper than oem and I can use it as many times as I want ,but only in one system at a time = retail.

 

[HeXen]

The OEM or builder copies are what you want to look for. I don't know what the actual upgrade checks for in win 8, but previous versions had you put in an older windows install disk to prove you had a copy. They are usually pretty lax with upgrades as long as you've ever previously purchased windows.

If you have multiple computers it may be worth looking into technet.

that is what i'm trying to avoid. i'd rather just just keep it simple. So the only optional one is the OEM? So if i upgrade my hardware i'd have to buy another key right? i don't have Windows 7, rather not mess with it to be honest.

 

[Dominato3r]

How do you find and launch a program in W8 that you have no idea what the name of it is ?

Like you would in Windows 7 and before?

There's an "all apps" option which will allow you to see all apps you've installed on your system.

Also all newly installed applications will have their icon added at the end of your Start Screen.

 

[hhhd1]

How do you find and launch a program in W8 that you have no idea what the name of it is ?

right click on start screen, then click all apps.

 

[HeXen]

I got these books on kindle, its very good and even long time enthusiasts will find plenty of new tricks and things they can do in W8 along with info on design decisions..etc.
So now i finally know what the share in charms is for and learned that charms is context sensitive, which i didn't realize when using the consumer preview

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Inside...ref=pd_sim_b_2
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1118204131

 

[ViRGE]

that is what i'm trying to avoid. i'd rather just just keep it simple. So the only optional one is the OEM? So if i upgrade my hardware i'd have to buy another key right? i don't have Windows 7, rather not mess with it to be honest.

Correct; if you upgraded your motherboard you'd have to get a new copy of Windows 8.

Otherwise you need to wait until Microsoft releases a retail version of Windows 8 (and there's an unconfirmed rumor that they won't have a retail version this time around).

 

[HeXen]

Correct; if you upgraded your motherboard you'd have to get a new copy of Windows 8.

Otherwise you need to wait until Microsoft releases a retail version of Windows 8 (and there's an unconfirmed rumor that they won't have a retail version this time around).

Ok, thanks for the *not what i wanted to hear* info lol

So if i got upgrade, i'd have to install W7 first, But i could install it on future hardware?
if so, that is quite the conundrum, i have like this OCD thing about clean installs, like i fear previous files will get reused and cause slowdowns or something. I think had a bad upgrade experience years ago. Can't remember if was ME or XP, but since then i have to manually format my drives before i install anything, as long as i can see it and know its done i'm fine.

 

[rudeguy]

This is exactly the problem,

We've all been running Windows for a long time now, shouldn't each one be more and more intuitive? Instead it's become a need to go back to training for many people.

The last thing enterprises want to do is train from the ground up on a UI. Going from Windows 95 to Windows 7 is a smaller step in the UI then going from Windows 7 to Windows 8

I'm actually getting the hang of it.

I am going to stick it out for a while I think. My hope is that W8 desktop will lead to many more apps for Windows 8 Mobile. My dream is for my PC, tablet and phone to seamlessly sync allowing me to view photos, watch movies, play games and pick up my web browsing on any of the three.

I've got a little over 30 days before I upgrade my cell phones. Lets see how this plays out.

 

[rudeguy]

Ok, thanks for the *not what i wanted to hear* info lol

So if i got upgrade, i'd have to install W7 first, But i could install it on future hardware?
if so, that is quite the conundrum, i have like this OCD thing about clean installs, like i fear previous files will get reused and cause slowdowns or something. I think had a bad upgrade experience years ago. Can't remember if was ME or XP, but since then i have to manually format my drives before i install anything, as long as i can see it and know its done i'm fine.

yep I learned my lesson on that. I bought the W7 family pack a while ago. I didn't realize I could only upgrade with it. If I tried to install from boot, it would shut me down. I had to install from inside Windows and I was good. I could do a clean install but only if I inserted the disc while Windows was running.

Its not a bad thing right now since there are some programs that are not ready for 8. So upgrading and keeping your programs and files is a good thing...right now. Later on that might be a pain.

 

[jhansman]

Well, just for giggles, I put the spinner I installed the Preview on back in my system over the weekend and had another go at it. Oddly, I like it even more than I did the first go round. I was perplexed by a few things, but on the whole it's faster. I think the learning curve will be surmountable. Kinda the same reaction I had to the ribbon in Office 2007.

 

[rudeguy]

Well, just for giggles, I put the spinner I installed the Preview on back in my system over the weekend and had another go at it. Oddly, I like it even more than I did the first go round. I was perplexed by a few things, but on the whole it's faster. I think the learning curve will be surmountable. Kinda the same reaction I had to the ribbon in Office 2007.

Yeah I'm liking it better seconds time around too. I'm not in love but I'm not disgusted

 

[NetGuySC]

Yeah I'm liking it better seconds time around too. I'm not in love but I'm not disgusted

I just loaded it the third time and I must admit that I like it much more. I watched a couple of YouTube tutorials and it helped allot.

I really do not like the fact that the metro app for videos and pictures always display in full screen. After looking at the tutorials I finally discovered how to exit a full screen metro app That one issue was quite frustrating.

I loaded the stardock and it made it better so I'm moving away from the metro start screen, perhaps I will move back once I get more familiar with it.

I really want the security upgrades that comes with windows 8 so I will order the upgrade and make it work. I have a feeling that a year from now I'm really going to like windows 8.

 

[gus6464]

If Jesus was alive, he would use Windows 8.

 

[Tom]

Like you would in Windows 7 and before?

There's an "all apps" option which will allow you to see all apps you've installed on your system.

Also all newly installed applications will have their icon added at the end of your Start Screen.

Thanks. I assumed there must be a way to see all apps but hadn't heard how you get to it.

I assume its organized the way Start menu all aps is ? For example my printer came with 6 or 7 programs, I know this because they're in a folder named BROTHER.

I wouldn't have any idea how to search for them since I don't know what they are named or even that they are there, other than looking for the BROTHER folder in all apps.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Correct; if you upgraded your motherboard you'd have to get a new copy of Windows 8.

Otherwise you need to wait until Microsoft releases a retail version of Windows 8 (and there's an unconfirmed rumor that they won't have a retail version this time around).

I've called MS with my OEM key that didn't activate and told them I had a bad motherboard that needed to be replaced. They just gave me a new key to put in and I was all set.

They are pretty lenient about this for consumer OSes if you can prove you actually bought the OS.

 

[jhansman]

They are pretty lenient about this for consumer OSes if you can prove you actually bought the OS.

Correct. If they can validate your copy, you're good to go.

 

[slow_poke]

If you like W8 but not metro then here is a way to completely toss metro out of the picture. Works a treat and you can go back and forth between w7 and w8 explorer

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/35189-Windows-7-explorer-for-Windows-8

Does exactly what is says it will, replaces w8 explorer with w7 explorer, no Metro, straight to desktop.

 

[NetGuySC]

That sounds very interesting, but to be honest I want to add the stardock start button application and use the start button like I am accustomed to, but I also want to ease into the metros start screen. I believe that I will have to learn it in the future at some point, so I'll try to learn it and become comfortable to it at my pace.

I have been critical of windows 8 thus far, so I am surprising myself with my not want to toss out metro. I am curious to the reviews of people that have done what you described in the above post..

 

[HeXen]

Doesn't look too good in the forecast, "expectations plummets"

The sentiment around Windows 8 was overwhelmingly negative

http://www.businessinsider.com/micr...tations-low-says-topeka-2012-10#ixzz29bWgwGGi

 

[sm625]

I just dont get the point of ranting and raving against microsoft for taking away the start menu, but then refusing to install one of the many simple 3rd party tools that give you back your classic desktop, and more. ?? The whole point of using windows is so you can hack it and mod it and make it more how you want. Why not just use apple if you refuse to tweak?