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General discussion (archive)Your Windows 8 Experience(109 posts)(109 posts)
(109 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 19, 2014
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Adzeth: It came with a laptop.
Windows 8 was the first OS that I couldn't figure out how to turn off. After a few weeks, it ran out of memory because it wasn't shut off (which sounds crazy to me), just hibernating, and I had to deprive it of electricity to reset it.
I tried to install a GNU/Linux on the laptop to replace the Win8, but it really didn't want to let me do that. Even with a bunch of tutorials, I wasn't able to get past all the software and hardware nuisances on the laptop to boot into a live cd in a timely manner, so I gave up (mostly because the actual owner of the laptop gave up first). Hence I have to give Win8 technical support every now and then, and no matter how simple actions I'm supposed to do, I need to look it up on the internet ("I opened a .pdf file. How do I print it?" -"uhh, guess we'll have to look it up..").

So I seriously dislike it, and it made me finally decide to never buy a Windows OS or a product that comes bundled with one again (at least for personal use). Even if that makes buying laptops way more difficult.
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vicklemos: exactly the same deal here, adzeth
the thing for me still is this UEFI support which I can't get rid of
but I won't give up: I'll replace this OS, I promise
http://www.howtogeek.com/175641/how-to-boot-and-install-linux-on-a-uefi-pc-with-secure-boot/
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2011/05/31/installing-windows-7-on-uefi-based-computer.aspx
Posted March 19, 2014
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vicklemos: exactly the same deal here, adzeth
the thing for me still is this UEFI support which I can't get rid of
but I won't give up: I'll replace this OS, I promise
Wasn't it supposed to be super-easy to just switch off UEFI/secure boot from BIOS options in all PCs, if the need arises? At least that is what Microsoft used to promise to everyone who was concerned about it.

Then again, on "my" ASUS G75VW laptop, some BIOS update removed that option, so I have no idea whether I have secure boot now or not. And it is somewhat confusing to me anyway, I've understood the secure boot (UEFI?) is somehow connected to having your hard drive in GPT mode (instead of the old MBR mode). Ie. you can't have GPT without UEFI/secure boot?

I guess using MBR is fine for now, but it becomes a problem when HDD sizes go well beyond 2TB, because to my understanding that is the limit for MBR. With >2TB drives or partitions, you should use GPT, as far as I've understood.

Maybe there's some article out there which explains this whole UEFI/secure boot/GPT/MBR mess clearly... I just wish PCs didn't have any of that shit. Can't Microsoft just leave PCs alone now, and concentrate on smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles? At this point, I'm ready to trust even Valve more.
Post edited March 19, 2014 by timppu
Posted March 19, 2014
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vicklemos: exactly the same deal here, adzeth
the thing for me still is this UEFI support which I can't get rid of
but I won't give up: I'll replace this OS, I promise
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toxicTom: http://www.howtogeek.com/175641/how-to-boot-and-install-linux-on-a-uefi-pc-with-secure-boot/
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2011/05/31/installing-windows-7-on-uefi-based-computer.aspx
thanks toxicTom! :)
I'll check it again
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timppu: Maybe there's some article out there which explains this whole UEFI/secure boot/GPT/MBR mess clearly... I just wish PCs didn't have any of that shit. Can't Microsoft just leave PCs alone now, and concentrate on smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles? At this point, I'm ready to trust even Valve more.
It's outrageous when companies do that, pal. I know.
I'll try, once and for all, to format my windows 8 notebook and install mint/debian. I will!
Post edited March 19, 2014 by vicklemos
Posted March 19, 2014
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timppu: But for now it just feels easier to use the existing Windows 7 installation on it, which thankfully still works. I just had to teach the new owner of the PC what to do, if he sometimes mistakenly selects the Windows 8 boot up option in the boot menu (and ends up in the black screen).
You should be able to change the boot loader to default to the Windows 7 partition, and then no problems with forgetting to choose an OS.
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vicklemos: exactly the same deal here, adzeth
the thing for me still is this UEFI support which I can't get rid of
but I won't give up: I'll replace this OS, I promise
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timppu: Wasn't it supposed to be super-easy to just switch off UEFI/secure boot from BIOS options in all PCs, if the need arises? At least that is what Microsoft used to promise to everyone who was concerned about it.
UEFI/Secure boot is a cluster fuck. It should not be that hard for the owner to install an alternate OS. But some manufacturers made it damn near impossible to load another OS, and then some UEFI bricked the system if you tried to disable secure boot.
Post edited March 19, 2014 by jjsimp
Posted March 19, 2014
Sounds like I may be the only one who likes the metro start screen. When I first saw it, I didn't like it at all, but I uninstalled a bunch of it and then suddenly my favorites began to appear on it. So I did some rearranging and it suits me well. I actually like clicking on the news or my Firefox or desktop or GOG, or my other links.

The Con: Every so often this shows up, "Update to 8.1 free". And you Must click "Remind Me Later" or click "Update". Very annoying.

I installed Office 2013, but have not activated it as yet. Apparently, I need to do more research on that.
Posted March 19, 2014
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marianne: Sounds like I may be the only one who likes the metro start screen. When I first saw it, I didn't like it at all, but I uninstalled a bunch of it and then suddenly my favorites began to appear on it. So I did some rearranging and it suits me well. I actually like clicking on the news or my Firefox or desktop or GOG, or my other links.
I don't mind Metro per se, I actually think it can be quite solid when you learn to use it, but what I hate is the utter disconnection between Metro and Desktop modes. I mean, they're two completely separate screens, using completely separate applications and control schemes - come on, there's bound to be a way to unify that mess.
Posted March 19, 2014
Win 8 is bad. I had one that came with a laptop and I had to get rid of it. I tried to get used to it, but I couldn't.

Win 7 is definitely better.

Don't even get me started on all the changes that they've made to their office programs...

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
Posted March 19, 2014
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marianne: Sounds like I may be the only one who likes the metro start screen. When I first saw it, I didn't like it at all, but I uninstalled a bunch of it and then suddenly my favorites began to appear on it. So I did some rearranging and it suits me well. I actually like clicking on the news or my Firefox or desktop or GOG, or my other links.
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Fenixp: I don't mind Metro per se, I actually think it can be quite solid when you learn to use it, but what I hate is the utter disconnection between Metro and Desktop modes. I mean, they're two completely separate screens, using completely separate applications and control schemes - come on, there's bound to be a way to unify that mess.
Do you mean as on metro having to use the wee hand cursor way at the top to move or close a screen ? OR moving waaayyy right to get the settings gear to appear so you can get to Control Panel or Shut Down ? I'm laughing cause it can be annoying, except that I've done it so many times now, it seems to know I'm on my way there. Yes, desktop is like it was with Win7.
Posted March 19, 2014
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marianne: Do you mean as on metro having to use the wee hand cursor way at the top to move or close a screen ? OR moving waaayyy right to get the settings gear to appear so you can get to Control Panel or Shut Down ? I'm laughing cause it can be annoying, except that I've done it so many times now, it seems to know I'm on my way there. Yes, desktop is like it was with Win7.
I mean that metro generally handles differently than the desktop. You can get used to everything, I have gotten used to it as well no argument there, but that doesn't make it a very good design - what I'm talking about is that metro and metro apps behave, control and handle differently. For instance, you get TWO application selectors - one for metro, one for desktop. Every Metro app runs in fullscreen and can be separated using the separation thingy, but desktop uses windows exclusively which can't in any way be switched to the Metro interface. There's just no unification, I would actually use some of the Metro apps as I think some are solid if I could switch them from fullscreen to a window view, but as it stands, I can't.
Posted March 19, 2014
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Turjake: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
This is why I still use Windows 95.
Posted March 19, 2014
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marianne: Do you mean as on metro having to use the wee hand cursor way at the top to move or close a screen ? OR moving waaayyy right to get the settings gear to appear so you can get to Control Panel or Shut Down ? I'm laughing cause it can be annoying, except that I've done it so many times now, it seems to know I'm on my way there. Yes, desktop is like it was with Win7.
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Fenixp: I mean that metro generally handles differently than the desktop. You can get used to everything, I have gotten used to it as well no argument there, but that doesn't make it a very good design - what I'm talking about is that metro and metro apps behave, control and handle differently. For instance, you get TWO application selectors - one for metro, one for desktop. Every Metro app runs in fullscreen and can be separated using the separation thingy, but desktop uses windows exclusively which can't in any way be switched to the Metro interface. There's just no unification, I would actually use some of the Metro apps as I think some are solid if I could switch them from fullscreen to a window view, but as it stands, I can't.
Yes, I agree. While on metro, I see a news article I want to read and when I open it, my screen fills up to the brim and I even have to go to the next page to finish reading and then on-'n'-on. When on desktop, I can read the entire article just by scrolling. Metro is IMO much less efficient, less convenient and less sophisticated. I laugh cause I'm trying to imagine who dream't this thing up !!
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Turjake: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
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ChrisSD: This is why I still use Windows 95.
Yes, I remember good ol' Win 95. Released that very year - August 1995 (windows 4.0)
Post edited March 19, 2014 by marianne
Posted March 19, 2014
I absolutely hated Windows 8 when I first started using it. I was cursing Microsoft like a drunken sailor for what they made, but then I got used to it and now I don't hate it so much. OTOH I haven't used the start menu on a regular basis since Vista anyway so I don't have to venture in the atrocious Win 8 metro menu very often.
Posted March 19, 2014
My windows 8 experience....







....is non-existent. 8)
Posted March 19, 2014
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timppu: But for now it just feels easier to use the existing Windows 7 installation on it, which thankfully still works. I just had to teach the new owner of the PC what to do, if he sometimes mistakenly selects the Windows 8 boot up option in the boot menu (and ends up in the black screen).
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jjsimp: You should be able to change the boot loader to default to the Windows 7 partition, and then no problems with forgetting to choose an OS.
Yeah Windows 7 is the default now, but in case he accidentally chooses Win8.1 anyway... Maybe I'll check at some point whether I can get rid of the whole boot menu, but maybe I'm still hoping for the Win8.1 installation to magically fix itself.
Posted March 19, 2014
My experience is that I've been repulsed by the gaudy Metro UI and Microsoft's absolutely ego riddled approach to the OS.

It probably doesn't help that I take a 'garrote neck with piano wire' view to traditional 'marketing'.
Post edited March 19, 2014 by Darvond
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Your Windows 8 Experience(109 posts)(109 posts)
(109 posts)