The Official Windows 8 User Thread

[Infraction Jack]

I am liking windows 8 so far. I installed the 90 day evaluation version. The actual install seemed like it took quite a bit longer than windows 7 does. This evaluation copy should last me until I can get the $40 upgrade.

 

[tornadog]

I have upgraded all the computers at home to Windows 8,e xcept my wife's laptop. She does not want it. I have not seen or used the metro ui other than when it boots up.

 

[Dominato3r]

So I am guessing the transparent windows are gone too?

Yes. IMO Aero was always ugly anyway.

 

[Trader05]

I have both Windows 7 legacy backup set to do a system image and File History turned on. I turned on the legacy backup first and then File History and both ran without errors. Can you try turning them both off then back on in that order, and make sure the legacy backup is only doing an image and not files?

Maybe i'm getting the error because i'm doing it over the network? I have to find a spare hard drive to see if I can do it locally. I tried just doing a system image, it almost immediately fails, but the regular file backup is fine.

 

[joe_H]

It appears there may be some privacy concerns with Windows 8:

"Windows 8 tells Microsoft about everything you install"
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/08...-tells-microsoft-about-everything-you-install

 

[lopri]

It appears there may be some privacy concerns with Windows 8:

"Windows 8 tells Microsoft about everything you install"
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/08...-tells-microsoft-about-everything-you-install

Wait until MS apologists chime in and lecture you how trivial such thing is - How unremarkable.. Everyone else does it.. It's in the EULA.. You will not know it's happening.. No one will know/care.. If you don't like it then go away.. Etc., etc.,..

On topic: Can MS lock down an user-installed app, via "Secure Boot" feature in Windows 8, if a situation arises? Oh, of course I am talking about malwares. :biggrin:

 

[hclarkjr]

i disabled that from the start, looks like good thing i did

 

[Kerry56]

I've been testing the 90 day evaluation version. After installing Classic Shell, using the Win 7 emulation, it became a useable operating system.

For $40 it won't be a bad investment, and it is possible to use the system without going into the Start crapola at all.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

This link tells you exactly how to disable smartscreen, FYI

http://www.howtogeek.com/75356/how-to-turn-off-or-disable-the-smartscreen-filter-in-windows-8

 

[jhansman]

and it is possible to use the system without going into the Start crapola at all.

That's what desktop folders and shortcuts are for. I rarely use the Start menu, if at all. BTW, I apparently qualify for the $15 upgrade, so I am looking forward to dual-booting for a while. I Win8 works for me, I'll stick with it; if not, no biggie.

 

[Dominato3r]

Wait until MS apologists chime in and lecture you how trivial such thing is - How unremarkable.. Everyone else does it.. It's in the EULA.. You will not know it's happening.. No one will know/care.. If you don't like it then go away.. Etc., etc.,..

On topic: Can MS lock down an user-installed app, via "Secure Boot" feature in Windows 8, if a situation arises? Oh, of course I am talking about malwares. :biggrin:

Secure boot has nothing go do with applications, its a feature designed to secure the pre-boot process where malware/rootkits can wedge themselves before Windows is loaded.

 

[blurredvision]

Wait until MS apologists chime in and lecture you how trivial such thing is - How unremarkable.. Everyone else does it.. It's in the EULA.. You will not know it's happening.. No one will know/care.. If you don't like it then go away.. Etc., etc.,..

Visa knows my entire credit card purchase history. My bank knows everything I've ever purchased with my debit card. My cable/satellite provider knows everything I've ever recorded and watched for the past 4 years. My wireless provider knows every phone call and text I've made/sent in the past 4 years. Any potential loaner of money to me can see a good portion of my credit history.

DON'T GIVE A FUCK IF MICROSOFT KNOWS WHAT I INSTALL.

 

[ViRGE]

It appears there may be some privacy concerns with Windows 8:

"Windows 8 tells Microsoft about everything you install"
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/08...-tells-microsoft-about-everything-you-install

Meh, much ado about nothing. It's the next generation of AV; check all binaries against a central server in real-time, that way you aren't at risk of your few hours old AV defs not catching something. In all seriousness this is probably one of the smartest AV features they've ever implemented. They can stop malware and they can stop it very quickly.

Anyhow, the world didn't end with SmartScreen on IE9, and I don't think it will with Win8 either.

 

[abaez]

If I have a Win7 Pro technet install am I eligible for the $40 Win8 upgrade or will I just have to get technet again for Win8?

 

[BlackTigers]

I got it with Dreamspark two days ago, and so far, I don;t have a problem with it.

On my laptop (older Dell D430) it is faster than 7 by quite a bit, and makes the laptop much easier to use.

On my desktop, there is a noticeable speed increase over XP, but the XP install was three years old so that might have something to do with it.

The only problem I have is screwing with apps, I always forget how to close them properly...the video app for example. Sometimes a little bar on the left opens up and shows my (running)? apps....but I can only ever bring it back on a fluke.

I feel like an idiot, but the OS is fine for what I nee.d

 

[ViRGE]

If I have a Win7 Pro technet install am I eligible for the $40 Win8 upgrade or will I just have to get technet again for Win8?

Technet would be the only thing that doesn't count. It's neither OEM nor retail, it's evaluation software.

With that said, the keys themselves are technically OEM-type, so it would probably work. But it wouldn't be a legitimate upgrade.

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

It appears there may be some privacy concerns with Windows 8:

"Windows 8 tells Microsoft about everything you install"
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/08...-tells-microsoft-about-everything-you-install

I've seen this on the web a few times today and I'm not sure what to make of it. I mean, we've all known about this feature for months and the way I've seen it described is exactly how I thought it would work. If you're going to make a database of "safe" or "unsafe" applications across an ecosystem, you're going to want application information. I can see why some people won't like this feature and will disable it, but why are people getting upset now?

The only problem I have is screwing with apps, I always forget how to close them properly...the video app for example. Sometimes a little bar on the left opens up and shows my (running)? apps....but I can only ever bring it back on a fluke.

Click bottom-left corner
Navigate to Start Screen

Click top-left corner
Cycle through modern apps in order they were accessed

Mouse into either lefthand corner and move towards center of left edge (Win+Tab or Win+Shft+Tab
Display switcher for modern apps

Mouse into either righthand corner and move towards center of right edge (Win+C)
Display charms bar to access system settings, more

Mouse to top of screen and, when cursor turns to hand, drag to bottom of screen (Alt+F4)
Close app

 

[antef]

My Store app is already broken. The live tile shows updates are available but there are none when you open the app. Then when you go to Your Apps and click on an app, it shows an Install option even though it's already installed.

 

[piasabird]

The business I am in will never replace our desktops for a silly tablet. Tablets are great for people on the move, but try to type a term paper on one. Tablets are underpowered pieces of junk.

 

[Pretty Cool]

With any of these hacks it would be a good idea to find out how they're doing it before using them. Microsoft is purposely trying to make this hard; if these hacks are changing registry entries that's one thing, but if they're modifying system files that's a great deal riskier.

Microsoft is not making it hard for people to create their own Start Menu. You just cannot retrieve the old Microsoft one. Anybody can make their own Start Menu. Plus, Classic Shell is technically not booting to the desktop. It is actually going to Metro and then sending you to desktop without the user doing anything. So, there is no crazy hacking here.

Within desktop, Classic Shell can also hide the charms bar and the Metro Start screen preview on the bottom left. Thus, you probably do not even need that 2nd program.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

I can't find the start menu. There appears to be two interfaces: the classic look and Metro. In Metro, apps appear to be in fullscreen which is f useless on a widescreen monitor. I have no idea how to bring up the start screen besides pressing the windows key. I was not impressed with the short time I spent with windows 8. I should not have to spend to much time learning this nonsensical UI

 

[smakme7757]

Windows 8 was a massive PITA the first few days, now it's ok. It's just a change in paradigm so frustration is to be expected.

Som decent shortcuts are:
Win button + X - Opens a nice meny from either Metro or UI. Cmd as Admin and so on. very useful
Win button + C - Open the "Charm" menu. Used to bring up settings for apps and also used in the desktop.

 

[lopri]

Did MS change the font rendering in Windows 8 as well? (presumably for tablet and performance reasons) I spent some time with Metro today and shocked to learn how bad text looks.

 

[lopri]

I first thought it might be the video card (NV.. ), but AMD cards did not make difference. Also, IE 10's font-rendering is so bad. What exactly did MS do with fonts in Windows 8?

 

[ViRGE]

I first thought it might be the video card (NV.. ), but AMD cards did not make difference. Also, IE 10's font-rendering is so bad. What exactly did MS do with fonts in Windows 8?

I haven't noticed any differences.