Windows 8 who's buying/upgrading

George Hincapie · 20 Jan 2013 at 17:15

Downloading W8 now - will give it another go. Don't think I'm happy about it

DanF · 20 Jan 2013 at 17:28

Well I've gotten so sick of the Metro part of W8 I've uninstalled all metro apps and then installed Classic Shell. I've then customized it to disable the left and right mouse panels from showing up as well. Woohoo feels like a nice modern desktop OS again.

vorticalspace · 20 Jan 2013 at 19:10

desires said:
Just drag the app from the top centre downwards, as if you were throwing it on the floor. Closes the app. Pretty simple.

Hi
I don't use the Metro start screen, immediately switching to desktop upon startup.

I just cannot see the point of Metro as with the exception of Metro Apps, all other normal apps(programs) leave you back on the old style desk top upon closing.

Why would I then choose to switch back to Metro, which gives me no added functionality, when I can do everything from desk top.

For me, the easiest solution is to not use the Metro specific apps which solves the problem.

theheyes · 20 Jan 2013 at 21:47

George Hincapie said:
That would be absurd, but immediate proficiency wasn't my expectation. Intuitive = logical and obvious (visually and mentally). W8 isn't to me. Failing to have a tile for Admin on the tiled screen is a fail IMHO. They have tiles for all sorts of completely irrelevant crap there, but omit that. Moving my mouse to a corner of the screen to make the magnifying glass isn't intuitive or obvious.

Perhaps not for you, but that seems to be the expectation of many people who criticize the UI for lack of intuitiveness.

Intuition is based on existing knowledge. Invoking the charms via the hot corners on the right edge of the screen is demonstrated to you repeatedly when you sign in. That is something you should know.

You might find it inconvenient, awkward, or not the way you would personally organise it. But that doesn't mean it's broadly 'unintuitive'. Or rather, if that is true, then it is true for almost ALL computer interfaces and Windows 8 is no different in that regard.

PapaLazaru · 20 Jan 2013 at 21:49

Well after trying to use it all day I have given up. The tiles thing is awful. I appear to have trashed my Start screen and loads of tiles are missing, including the desktop tile. They are not available even to get back. So to get to desktop I now have to fire up Chrome. What is the point? I want my desktop back!

It seems to have picked up only about a tenth of everything on the PC as well. Why does it show eight random games of mine from Steam under my games list and nothing else?

Also, where can I bring up a list of my installed programmes?

This OS is clearly geared towards smartphones, not desktop PC's.

Seriously considering getting my money back.

prescott28 · 20 Jan 2013 at 21:55

Papa,

On the Metro Screen click right and the n select the 'all apps' link towards the right on the bottom bar. From there you will get a display of all the apps on the machine and can attach them to the Metro Screen (giving you a start menu), the quick launch bar and the Windows desktop. If you don't like Metro apps, don't put any on the Metro screen. Instead lay out the windows applications you use and there's your start menu jst 1 click from the desktop.

Elevon · 20 Jan 2013 at 21:57

PapaLazaru said:
Well after trying to use it all day I have given up. The tiles thing is awful. I appear to have trashed my Start screen and loads of tiles are missing, including the desktop tile. They are not available even to get back. So to get to desktop I now have to fire up Chrome. What is the point? I want my desktop back!

It seems to have picked up only about a tenth of everything on the PC as well. Why does it show eight random games of mine from Steam under my games list and nothing else?

Also, where can I bring up a list of my installed programmes?

This OS is clearly geared towards smartphones, not desktop PC's.

Seriously considering getting my money back.

Try this http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2410848,00.asp ,easy to get to desktop ie win+d key or desktop tile icon on Metro(I know yours are messd up) you can pin games to Desktop or taskbar or make your Metro tiles and Columns etc..Win8 does have a higher learning curve but you soon get use to it and how to customize both desktop and Metro etc...

Quick tip right click on any Metro tile to make a shortcut on Desktop taskbar(options appear at bottom),remember you can remove ones you don't need or make new ones of your choosing etc..

Tute · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:09

George Hincapie said:
I didn't say I find it difficult to adapt. I'm all for change if it results in an improvement, but change for the sake of change is retarded, especially when Windows 8 is the result.

I just don't like it. Simples.

That's about where I stand on it. I bought the licence, because things may improve in Service Packs - but i'm not holding my breath.

Then again, I use the Start Menu a lot. To me, the "recently opened items" on the Start Menu hold my most commonly used stuff, the Start Menu itself holds all my games, programs etc. and the taskbar is clean bar whatever is currently open.

That's how I've had it since XP, and that's how i'm most productive. I would bother to learn Metro if I could see any tangible benefit to it, but I can't. The cynic in me wonders if this is an attempt to push everybody into buying Windows touch devices by forcing the interface on us through desktops, but naturally Microsoft wouldn't do such a thing, eh?

At the end of the day, if the likes of Gareth, Glaucus and Theheyes want to use Windows 8, then use it and be happy.

Twirlywoos · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:15

I can't remember from when I upgraded to Win 8 last time, but does the Licence Key get emailed to you as I already have the ISO saved on my USB. I'm thinking of upgrading my laptop whilst I can still get it for £15. Or do I have to upgrade from the machine I intend to update?

Thanks

PapaLazaru · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:15

prescott28 said:
Papa,

On the Metro Screen click right and the n select the 'all apps' link towards the right on the bottom bar. From there you will get a display of all the apps on the machine and can attach them to the Metro Screen (giving you a start menu), the quick launch bar and the Windows desktop. If you don't like Metro apps, don't put any on the Metro screen. Instead lay out the windows applications you use and there's your start menu jst 1 click from the desktop.

This is the problem. it has hardly any of my installed programs there. I can't even find MS word.

Elevon · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:20

PapaLazaru said:
This is the problem. it has hardly any of my installed programs there. I can't even find MS word.

Use the search option ie type first letter or two on keyboard while in Metro,once you find it pin it to Metro or Taskbar etc..

hyperst · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:23

Papa, if you want the desktop back on the start screen, go to the start screen and start typing ''desktop'' right click it and pin it to start.

PapaLazaru · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:33

Elevon said:
Use the search option ie type first letter or two on keyboard while in Metro,once you find it pin it to Metro or Taskbar etc..

Can't find it. Nothing comes up.

hyperst said:
Papa, if you want the desktop back on the start screen, go to the start screen and start typing ''desktop'' right click it and pin it to start.

That does not do anything either.

I would refresh the install but I stupidly downloaded and installed it without putting it on a disc / stick first.

Where would one find a download for it?

Elevon · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:35

You looked in File Explorer?..email link you got for Win8 will have download link etc or you can make a Win8 from the ESD folder(its in there) http://www.pagestart.com/win8esdtodvd11041201.html

Another option is right click in left corner at bottom and look in "Programs and features",will tell you what you got installed,you can also find "File Explorer" by right click in left bottom corner as well.

George Hincapie · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:38

theheyes said:
Intuition is based on existing knowledge. Invoking the charms via the hot corners on the right edge of the screen is demonstrated to you repeatedly when you sign in. That is something you should know.

I don't recall seeing it once. The install was automated (new laptop) and AFAICR having entered a user name and password, I went off to make a brew. When I came back to my desk it was on the login screen.

hyperst · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:49

PapaLazaru said:
Can't find it. Nothing comes up.

That does not do anything either.

I would refresh the install but I stupidly downloaded and installed it without putting it on a disc / stick first.

Where would one find a download for it?

Well I just tried it, I unpinned my desktop from the start screen, I then typed ''des'' and it showed up, i then right clicked the desktop app and pinned it to start.

I have a feeling it is not searching the correct place, once you start to type you will get a menu come up on the right of your screen, make sure it is searching the ''apps'' menu, if it's not just click the ''apps'' menu.

Owenb · 21 Jan 2013 at 10:55

Upgraded from Vista at the weekend. Went from bad to worse- it's like using a Linux distro from 10 years ago.

Vista was crap, but at least I had it in a state where it would do what I wanted. I had problems getting my Linksys WMP54Gv4.0 working on Vista and I had the same problems with Windows 8 but was unable to get around it this time.

Not a single keyboard shortcut works. Ctrl+C/Window+E etc. Typing on the Metro window to launch the Run menu worked once, after that it just decided not to work. Having to Google 'How to shutdown Windows 8' just set of alarm bells in my head. Who designed this crap? Ok press 'Start' to shutdown wasn't the most sensible thing either but one knew that nearly everything could be accessed from there so it was a good place to start(no pun intended) looking. Having to move your mouse to the bottom right of the screen for an imaginary button and go to 'Settings' is just daft. Maybe there is a short cut for this, but damn, not 1 of them work for!

Metro is nice to look at, but it didn't add a single thing to my experience other than get in my way while I was trying to access the old menu's which is where all the useful stuff still is.

All in all, another crap desktop experience from Microsoft.

theheyes · 21 Jan 2013 at 10:55

George Hincapie said:
I don't recall seeing it once. The install was automated (new laptop) and AFAICR having entered a user name and password, I went off to make a brew. When I came back to my desk it was on the login screen.

You probably missed it then. You get a full screen that cycles through colours, and what used to be "preparing your desktop" is replaced with guidance and an animation showing you how to invoke the charms (this is different on a touch screen device - it tells you to swipe in instead of using the hot corners)

George Hincapie · 21 Jan 2013 at 12:00

theheyes said:
You probably missed it then. You get a full screen that cycles through colours, and what used to be "preparing your desktop" is replaced with guidance and an animation showing you how to invoke the charms (this is different on a touch screen device - it tells you to swipe in instead of using the hot corners)

Yes, no problem though. I bought Windows 8 Pro yesterday evening for my desktop PC and have e-mailed Samsung to get them to send me a W8 key for my new laptop, as they didn't supply one, just a recovery partition which I very helpfully nuked

TwsT · 21 Jan 2013 at 12:12

Owenb said:
Upgraded from Vista at the weekend. Went from bad to worse- it's like using a Linux distro from 10 years ago.

Vista was crap, but at least I had it in a state where it would do what I wanted. I had problems getting my Linksys WMP54Gv4.0 working on Vista and I had the same problems with Windows 8 but was unable to get around it this time.

Not a single keyboard shortcut works. Ctrl+C/Window+E etc. Typing on the Metro window to launch the Run menu worked once, after that it just decided not to work. Having to Google 'How to shutdown Windows 8' just set of alarm bells in my head. Who designed this crap? Ok press 'Start' to shutdown wasn't the most sensible thing either but one knew that nearly everything could be accessed from there so it was a good place to start(no pun intended) looking. Having to move your mouse to the bottom right of the screen for an imaginary button and go to 'Settings' is just daft. Maybe there is a short cut for this, but damn, not 1 of them work for!

Metro is nice to look at, but it didn't add a single thing to my experience other than get in my way while I was trying to access the old menu's which is where all the useful stuff still is.

All in all, another crap desktop experience from Microsoft.

I am speechless, I don't even know where to begin. You used vista? You actually used it?