Windows 8.1 Embedded, why is it so much faster than vanilla 8.1?

Boomstick777 · 19 Oct 2014 at 14:04

Recently installed Windows 10 to try it out, then was looking for a proper OS to go back to until W10 retail next year. Stumbled upon Windows 8.1 Embedded, thought I would give it a try. Noticed straight away how fast and responsive this OS is, I mean it literally feels like the fastest OS I've used, booting, desktop use , everything?

Why is this OS so fast? What are the difference between this and vanilla 8.1? Is this streamlined, less programs running in the background?

Boomstick777 · 19 Oct 2014 at 15:01

b0rn2sk8 said:
It's designed to be used on super low end hardware that goes into things like ePOS and cash machines etc.

It will have has no thrills bar the bare essentials.

Ah so that is why, it's streamlined. I'm using the Enterprise X64 version, it def had a smaller footprint when installed, like 8GB or something. It's so ridiculously fast

I'm going to stick with this until W10 retail without spyware is available.

Boomstick777 · 23 Oct 2014 at 12:31

Everyone should get on this, seriously fastest OS I've used totally stable. This is the one !!

Boomstick777 · 23 Oct 2014 at 13:36

FunkyCowie said:
What is missing from it though?

Nothing from what I can tell. It's the Enterprise version (Microsoft.Windows.Embedded.8.1.Industry.Enterprise.X64).

Don't take my word for it, try it. It is so fast at boot, desktop use, everything. Gaming is spot on. This is the best OS I have used, feels so fluid and responsive.

Everyone should give this a try imho.

Found this,

With this update, Windows Embedded brings the latest Windows 8.1 innovations in security, management and user experience to our partners. In addition to the full capabilities of Windows 8.1, Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry offers the flexibility and enhanced lockdown capabilities needed to power industry devices.

So it has full W8.1 capability..

Boomstick777 · 23 Oct 2014 at 16:13

markweatherill said:
Is it really faster than 'regular' Windows 8.1? Or just faster than Windows 10, which is to be expected at this stage in its development.

It's faster than them all..

It's faster than greased lightning, small footprint, this is the shiznit. Peeps should def try this one out.

Microsoft.Windows.Embedded.8.1.Industry.Enterprise.x64

Boomstick777 · 23 Oct 2014 at 17:40

KIA said:
I don't buy it.

You don't need to buy it, you can try it for free

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=40745

Boomstick777 · 24 Oct 2014 at 23:50

iviv said:
And can a home user buy a license for the Embedded version?

As mentioned above, I'm happy using my full version of Windows because it's been designed with a computer like mine in mind, rather than stripping things out that I would like to have in there.

Apart from apps like Windows store and guff like that the full Enterprise W8.1 is in this version, it just seems to have been streamlined / optimized to run on meager hardware +, so with anything else it's like butter. It has full W8.1 capability plus extras.. People should just give a try before voicing an opinion. Until you try it how do you know? Lol.

Tis awesome

With this update, Windows Embedded brings the latest Windows 8.1 innovations in security, management and user experience to our partners. In addition to the full capabilities of Windows 8.1, Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry offers the flexibility and enhanced lockdown capabilities needed to power industry devices.

Boomstick777 · 25 Oct 2014 at 01:36

iviv said:
And how would I go about obtaining a legal copy? And I mean a full version, not a trial as posted earlier.

Also, why would I want a copy of windows optimised to run on extremely basic hardware rather than one that is optimised to run on a much more powerful PC similar to what I am using?

Maybe it is faster, but without actually seeing some benchmarks (Plus the fact that I'm 99% sure you can't license a copy of it to run on a home PC) means I'll happily stick with what I currently have.

So you're not wiling to try it, and just posted here to let everyone know that and that your happy with your current OS.

Ok cool.

Boomstick777 · 4 Nov 2014 at 00:45

If you are a student or have been a student you can get this for free from here - https://www.dreamspark.com/Product/Product.aspx?productid=82

You will be given a key for activation and will be good to go.

Boomstick777 · 8 Nov 2014 at 00:43

RumbleBee said:
Does the trial version allow you to enter a serial number to remove the trial. It's just that I picked this up via Dreamspark and the only version available to download is the US Language version.

The trial version is just for testing purposes, the Dreamspark version can be fully activated you should have been given a key for activation when you downloaded from Dreamspark?

Boomstick777 · 9 Nov 2014 at 11:35

Th0nt said:
Thanks Boom. Will attempt to try this on the nephews laptop as his Win 7 has got corrupted and needs re-installing!

Def worth a try, I'm still using this as my main OS, it's so fast. This is my go to OS now lol.

Put Embedded on an AMD APU build a few days ago, boot up and desktop use so fast. Hopefully there is a Windows 10 embedded later next year.

Boomstick777 · 12 Nov 2014 at 00:55

V F said:
Boomstick777, how is the official 8.1 slow? Everything about the OS is fluid. Even bootup, power button with a split moment of the motherboard screen with a half spin of the dotted circle then the login screen. The longest part is when I have to actually type the password. After that everything appears instant and fluid.

Sometimes the UI of Windows 8 reminds me of Windows classic. How fast it is.

No one said vanilla 8.1 is slow? Embedded is just ridiculously fast, the fastest OS out of all I've used., I've tried them all. This is the best imho, all of the decent 8.1 features, but no bloat.

Best thing to do is if you're thinking of reformatting give it a try before loading your normal OS. Nothing to lose in trying it, I always prefer to do things hands on, so I get my own idea of something not just reviews / comments. Thought I would share my experience here, so others can try it for themselves.

Boomstick777 · 14 Nov 2014 at 12:57

R3X said:
I have tried it

But only in a virtual machine just as a test run, thing is pretty quick to install on an SSD I think it took like 5 minutes to install where as normal Win 8.1 pro took me about 10 minutes, so this industry copy took about half the installation time roughly.

Boots pretty fast and is about 8gig roughly installed, Its nice and zippy however I have not fully moved over to it or running it off full on hardware since its under a VM.

While it does appear at first to be faster and better it could just be that clean set up vibe, I do reckon once I install my firewall and anti virus and drivers it may just act like every other windows 8.1 and slow down but its just a theory, considering I can't use my Windows 8 key I don't think ill move to it full time.

Nice one, yeah always better to try things for yourself, that's why I put up the thread. Wasn't much info on this OS at all, so if someone can benefit than that's great.

I put Embedded on an APU system, ran like butter. I'm sold on this OS until Windows 10. Maybe even after lol.

Boomstick777 · 19 Nov 2014 at 00:08

Th0nt said:
Installed this now on my workbench laptop, seems good so far but have only done this today so will report back after some use and initial testing.

ObixConstant said:
I installed it a couple of days ago on my new laptop, more than happy with it, none of the unnecessary windows store apps installed and it runs a dream as you'd expect.

Premiere Pro CC / Photoshop / Ableton Live run a dream as do all the games I've thrown at it.

The size difference must be to do with the lack of apps/drivers/settings included with a normal install. It was pretty much a blank slate of an OS if I hadn't set it up with an e-mail I already used for windows apps beforehand.

Glad people are trying it and having good result. Mine is running like a dream as well

With regard to the size, this doesn't come with the mass amount of bloatware than the standard version of Windows 8/8.1 does. The reason the 'Standard' version comes with those things is Microsoft want people to use the apps / store and spend money. So obviously a streamlined, OS with none of the bloat wouldn't be standard, wouldn't benefit Microsoft as much.

You could remove some of the bloatware in the 'standard' Windows 8 albeit not without some difficulty, now there is a new tool to help > http://www.pcworld.com/article/2148...ess-of-dumping-windows-8-metro-bloatware.html

Put Embedded on a few machines now, everything just runs awesome on it

Boomstick777 · 19 Nov 2014 at 12:04

this_is_gav said:
How are you activating this?

pooley said:
+1 might give this a go on my lappy.

If you are or have been a student you can get this for free with activation key from Dreamspark > https://www.dreamspark.com/Product/Product.aspx?productid=82

There is also a free trial that lasts a long time but don't think it can be fully activated. You could run that to see if you like it, some might be tempted to run it until the trial runs out then just re format and start again. Not that I am condoning such behavior. Microsoft allows this though > http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=40745

If you are having issues with your key from Dreamspark, you can use Microsoft Toolkit to help with activation > http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Microsoft+Toolkit+mydigitallife