Windows 8 woes!

[jimgriff]

I went and upgraded to Windows 8- BIG mistake- Can anyone advise how to remove?
I now also cant read Pprune as it just comes up in IE as a "TYPED" page with no familiar formatting and functionability. Anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks in advance.

[maliyahsdad2]

Try using the desktop "app" then opening IE from there or downloading chrome/ firefox.

Windows 8 is fine when you get used to it.

[Tableview]

I have just bought a new laptop with W8 and am finding it very hard to get used to. I don't like the 'apps' layout on the opening page, but my 17 year old son thinks it's 'cool' and I suppose that's the market it's aimed at, people who use smartphones, tablets, etc. They are probably in the majority.

Even simple things like finding the 'power' options are difficult, but I am slowly getting used to it.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

Bit bleeding edge, W8. I recently got my first machine with W7 having decided it had probably just about settled down enough, other than that I'm using XP and W2k3. I think I'll let other people work the bugs out of W8 for a year or two before I try it.

[le Pingouin]

Tableview, you might find Classic Shell handy as it takes you straight to the desktop at log-in and provides a "Start" button. You can largely avoid the Metro interface if desired.

Welcome to Classic Shell (http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/)

[seacue]

Gertrude: But by then Win 9 will be on the horizon.

Will Win9 be "what Win8 should have been" ... similar to Win7 being "what Vista should have been".

[le Pingouin]

jimgriff, near as I can tell there is no easy or reliable way to roll back Win8 to a previous version. The safest way is to use your back-up to replace the Win8 installation.

Googling "roll back win8" without the quotes produces results that detail the steps required to attempt a roll back.

[hellsbrink]

I now also cant read Pprune as it just comes up in IE as a "TYPED" page with no familiar formatting and functionability. Anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks in advance.

Ok, running IE10 on Windows 7 to see if the problem exists, and everything looks "normal" and is functioning like it should (with the blooming ads I don't normally see. Grrr) so one is wondering if there is an issue with your installation or if there is a setting that needs to be changed in some way.

Oh, never used "compatibility view", site loaded in normally with no changes to IE from the original "Do not use recommended settings" option checked when IE10 first loaded up. If you did tell it to "use recommended settings", if such an option was available to you when you first used IE10, that could be where the problem is.

[Booglebox]

My brief guide to surviving Win8
0. Do not use "online" account! They suck. Local account is a must
1. Unpin all metro apps from start screen
1.1 Sensible colour scheme (blue on grey or something) makes it look less Fisher-Price
2. Change default file opening programs to non-metro apps (photos, audio, video, PDF, etc)
3. Win-X or right-click on start pop-up thing for power user menu!

I don't quite agree with Win8 as a concept, but overall it's pretty awesome once you get used to it. Lots of worthwhile upgrades. Server 2012 too / especially. Good luck!

[mixture]

I went and upgraded to Windows 8- BIG mistake- Can anyone advise how to remove?

Its Windows. Its tightly integrated everywhere.

You're going to waste away hours of your life trying to do an unsupported downgrade. You are obviously not that much technically minded when it comes to computers (otherwise you wouldn't be asking the question here).... therefore you can probably expect to spend days not hours !

Backup your files (just your files, not any software that you should simply be reinstalling). Then format and re-install the prior version you desire.

[RodfjH]

I have been using Windows 8 for about a month and find it faster and slicker than Win 7. I mostly use the desktop, where it is possible to pin your programs to the Start bar as in Win 7.
Yes the new interface is a bit glitzy but very customisable. My only gripe is the number of key presses to turn it off. However, CTRL-ALT DEL works as before.

[Loose rivets]

What's the deal with memory useage and general sucking up of the processing power? I supposed it's got to be better than Vista which I want to replace.


I have a HD out of my wife's old Laptop Similar spec machine. Could I instal 8 on that and hardware swap between the two until I get used to 8?


Would anyone at MS care if I did that? Vista came with the Sony.

What is the best way to get 8 ? Cheaply, that is.

[Bushfiva]

8 is a cheap download direct from Microsoft.

[Saab Dastard]

I have a HD out of my wife's old Laptop Similar spec. machine. Could I install 8 on that and hardware swap between the two until I get used to 8?


Yes, that's what I did with Win 7 / XP.

As long as you have the installation media and drivers, you can test without screwing up a working PC.

SD

[PowerDragTrim]

I assume that you have a Win7 CoA from your first installation but you lack an installation DVD.
You can download an official Microsoft Win7 SP ISO from here: Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life (http://www.mydigitallife.info/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/)
Then you can reinstall Win 7 again.
I must agree with you, I did not care for Win 8 and have gone back to Win 7 myself - put it down to old age especially as I started with 3.1!

[Booglebox]

Loose rivets: Whole OS is somewhat faster and more efficient, but memory usage is about the same. 2gb perfectly usable but realistic minimum.

[302B31]

Win 3.1: no issues, Win XP: fine, Win 7: okay after a while, Win 8: where is all my stuff??

By the way, (I'm still very happy with DOS 5.0 (yes, that is the pre-workgroup variety).

I now work (in the day job) with everything from DOS 2.0 to XP Pro x64 and am not a complete PC numpty (2x motherboard swaps, reinstall DOS 6.22/Win 3.11, multiple OS upgrades, multiple HDD upgrades, OS to SSHDD migration etc, etc.)

I'm sure the average 17 yr old has no problem at all. Unfortunately, I'm from the ZX81/Sinclair QL (remember those??) generation......

[Milo Minderbinder]

without trying to pry, what on earth do you do that needs DOS2?

As for DOS5, that had a few handy utilities that were missing from the DOS6 variants and were always worth copying onto 6
DOSSHELL comes to mind as one

[Saab Dastard]

Win 3.1: no issues, Win XP: fine,

What about the ones in the middle - Win9x and Win2K? I can't believe you jumped from Win 3.x to XP!

DOS 2.0 to XP Pro x64 That's a 23 year span right there!

Admittedly I get to use Win2K and Server 2012 concurrently, so that's 12 years, but 23?

Unfortunately, I'm from the ZX81/Sinclair QL (remember those??) generation......

So am I, but I didn't stay there! ;)

SD

[Milo Minderbinder]

Interesting to state that so far I've not been asked to either install or repair a Windows 8 computer.
When Win7 came out I was inundated with calls
Seems to me things aren't happy with Win8 sales

[Loose rivets]

I used to tell my CAD workstation customers to upgrade to 6.22. And to PLEASE not put Windows on their computers, saying it's just a colourful toy and won't catch on.

[BEagle]

Apart from Fortran at university, I didn't bother with computers until the Boss obtained a BBC Master for the squadron. I taught myself to write a couple of programs for that, including all the current ATP-56 rendezvous manoeuvre calculations.

Then came Win 3.1 which I only used for WordPerfect, although the PC was supplied for us to use for HMI evaluation of a Link16 proposal.

The first laptop I owned used Win95, which was fine. I skipped the next versions of Windows and went straight to WinXP which is also fine.

Win7 doesn't include Outlook Express, neither is it compatible with it. A silly thing for Microsoft to have done as the supposed replacement, 'Windows Live Mail' is truly awful.

As for Win8, advice I've had is not to bother with it.

[Keef]

I abandoned Outlook many years ago, when it crashed (as things do) and lost ALL my mail, ALL my diary appointments etc. It turns out it keeps everything in one giant file (unless you know to tell it to do otherwise). One hiccup, and it's all gone.

The backup was dud, too.

Enter Thunderbird and Pocket Informant, and I've been happy ever since.

I tried the "Customer Preview" of Win 8, fortunately with a dual boot. I removed it after a short time. I'm sticking with Win 7.

[Andu]

I've recently upgraded (though that's debatable) to Win8 and since doing so, cannot succeed in getting Bluetooth to work properly. I have two rather old Nokia mobiles, both of which are found and recognised by my (now)Win8 laptop, but both phones show as OFFLINE on the device list on the laptop, despite having been selected to 'visible to all' with Bluetooth ON.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do to make my phone(s) display as being ONLINE? I can't see any switching on either the phone or the laptop that leaps out and bites me.

[Mac the Knife]

Use a different Bluetooth stack from the rather poor MS one.

I suggest - BlueSoleil - Bluetooth Software,Bluetooth Driver,Bluetooth Dongle (http://www.bluesoleil.com/products/S0001201005190001.html)

Much better.

$27 but worth it.

Mac

:cool:

[Andu]

Thanks for the quick reply, Mac. However, the problem would seem to be with the phones rather than Microsoft. I've tried the same exercise with an iPad. The iPad recognises both phones, but the connection repeatedly drops out after maybe one or two seconds. (On the Bluetooth page, the phone shows as 'not connected'. Press/swipe on that, it shows 'connected' for one or two seconds, then 'not connected'.

Perhaps my phones are too old and therefore not compatible with Win8 or ipads? Are there software updates available for old Nokias to make them compatible with iPads and Win8? I'll take a look on the Nokia site.

[nathanroberts2K8]

Windows 8 for the desktop I shall avoid it like the plague. May aswell be windows 3.1.

[Blacksheep]

Windows 8 is the biggest pile of crap seen on this planet since Diplodocus became extinct.

In my case it has not only forgotten my password, it has forgotten my fingerprint as well. I can't get back in even to wipe the drive and start again... Urgh!

[Milo Minderbinder]

Blacksheep
Send it back under warranty or reject it
May well be a failed TPM chip in it
Trusted Platform Module - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Module)

[Gertrude the Wombat]

I'm from the ZX81/Sinclair QL (remember those??) generation......
Yes, I worked on the QL ... if nothing else there's a bug fix in one of the chips which is down to me!

The press launch in the Intercontinental was good fun too. I wasn't in too good a state, whilst sitting on the platform pressing buttons for the TV cameras, having not really sobered up from the previous night before starting on the Buck's Fizz for breakfast. But I only missed one cue.

Win7 doesn't include Outlook Express, neither is it compatible with it. A silly thing for Microsoft to have done as the supposed replacement, 'Windows Live Mail' is truly awful.
Thunderbird is only slightly different in most everyday uses to OE, and will import OE message bases. There are some minor UI irritations (things that are harder to do than with OE for no obviously good reason) but nothing serious that I've come across.

[Booglebox]

I abandoned Outlook many years ago, when it crashed (as things do) and lost ALL my mail, ALL my diary appointments etc. It turns out it keeps everything in one giant file (unless you know to tell it to do otherwise). One hiccup, and it's all gone.

That's also how Thunderbird works AFAIK. But in this day and age you should be using IMAP anyway.

[Keef]

That's also how Thunderbird works AFAIK. But in this day and age you should be using IMAP anyway.

No, Thunderbird has a full set of files/folders. Normally, it hides them in the User folder in the bowels of drive C, but they are there. There is a separate folder for each e-mail address, then separate ones within that for Inbox, Drafts, Sent, Trash, and any added folders the user sets up. Mine's got dozens. I also have a backup routine that creates a dated set of copies, just in case.

My diary is in a completely separate place (not run by Thunderbird anyway). That synchronises between PC, iPhone and iPad.

I don't use IMAP for most accounts because very often when out and about, there's no internet and no 3G connection. I like to have the mail and my diary available at all times. Accounts I only ever access from home are IMAP.

[Spitoon]

Interesting to state that so far I've not been asked to either install or repair a Windows 8 computer.
When Win7 came out I was inundated with calls
Seems to me things aren't happy with Win8 salesInteresting suggestion. The alternative that went through my mind when I first saw the post was that maybe Win 8 was just working well for anyone who wanted it.

At that point I hadn't played with it. Since then I've installed it on my laptop and, as others have mentioned, I think it can be summed up as 'a bit different from earlier versions, fine when you get used it and it's got some pretty good improvements and tricks when you dig around under the bonnet'. I bought it as a boxed upgrade for the equivalent of about £40 (where I am at the moment) and I started to think it might be good to have on my main desktop that I use for business and important stuff. I'm a little perturbed to find that the upgrade assistant tells me that a couple of programs that I use on the desktop are marked as 'Upgrade available' but, in truth, I'll have to buy a brand new version if I want to continue using them and the cost will run into hundreds of £££. And then I take a look at the Microsoft site to see how much Win 8 would be now that the introductory discount period has ended and find that it's a little under £200.

So the decision is easily made. The things that have impressed me are not worth the cost and the possible problems that might accompany the upgrades.

So, if Milo was right about sales when Microsoft was offering it at what was, for me anyway, a reasonable price, I suspect that they'll go down the plughole now.

Shame really.

[rans6andrew]

OK, I kicked out Zonealarm, enabled Winduz firewall and injested Avast. The machine now boots more quickly, will open attachments before I lose the will to live and closes down in some minutes.

BUT

it still goes around the "do not unplug, installing upgrades" bit on EVERY power down.

I think Adobe is the culprit, it fetches a new update on a regular basis but I think it fails to install properly.

I can live with it, for the moment, until I have time to fiddle with it unless anyone has a real quick fix up their sleeve?

Ta,

Rans6.

[Milo Minderbinder]

no, that will be a windows update problem

look at the windows update histories and you'll probably find the same ones failing. Which are they? Each should have a discrete KB reference number

[Mike-Bracknell]

Interesting to state that so far I've not been asked to either install or repair a Windows 8 computer.
When Win7 came out I was inundated with calls
Seems to me things aren't happy with Win8 sales

I already know they're worse than Vista.