MS Windows 8

[jmgratz]

I installed Windows 8 OS on my laptop a couple of days ago. What a mistake. It is radically different and looks more like a tablet operating system than a laptop one. I even set it up to keep all of the programs and settings and just upgrade the OS from Vista to Windows 8. Well after the installation I lost my bookmarks, Firefox, PDF Professional as well as several other programs and settings. I have spent the last 2 days recovering and reinstalling the lost items. What a PITA. Wish I would have kept Vista and left well enough alone. Just be forewarned if you decide to do it. Also the new OS works a whole lost diifferent. There is a learning curve as much looks the same but everything is different.

 

[mrcomer]

Actually Jim you should upgrade to Windows 7 instead. Vista not so good and Windows 8 ....well you know now. Good luck and hope things go better for you.

 

[pegmikef]

. . . and people wonder why I still use and like XP. Thanks for the warning.

 

[jmgratz]

Actually Jim you should upgrade to Windows 7 instead. Vista not so good and Windows 8 ....well you know now. Good luck and hope things go better for you.

I did upgrade the desktop to Windows 7. It is find without issues. But I thought (like a dummy) that I would be state of the art and upgrade to Windows 8 on the laptop. What a mistake. I actually liked Vista and didn't have any issues with it.

 

[Rrloren]

I did upgrade the desktop to Windows 7. It is find without issues. But I thought (like a dummy) that I would be state of the art and upgrade to Windows 8 on the laptop. What a mistake. I actually liked Vista and didn't have any issues with it.

I have the Vista OS and it locks up a couple times a day for a minute or so. I was told that has been a problem with Vista and I've been thinking of the full program for Windows 7 but have been afraid of getting issues that I 'm afraid will drive me nuts.
Have any of you converted from Vista to 7 and did you have to reload many of your programs drivers? Any other issues? Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[cookie]

I upgraded ???? to Win 8 a couple months ago.
Hate it!
Like Jim said, totally different.
I still have all my stuff, just had to look deeper to find it.
Oh, and replying to a post on the forum was a pain unless I used the 'Desktop Mode' with 'Compatability View'

Peace
Dave

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[TXTiger]

I upgraded to a Mac Book Pro. Never had any Apple products before. Its only been a week and I am still learning the new operation system but I think I will like it. Seems to be very user friendly. Also upgraded to an iPhone and iPad and all work together well.

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Good Info! Thanks Jim. I'll be keeping my Vista 64 bit. When I need a new laptop, I'll be negotiating with them to install Vista vs Windows 7 or 8. Lin has 7 on her netbook and I'm so used to Vista, I'm not a fan of 7 either.

 

[boatto5er]

Hmmm, I upgraded to Windows 8 from Windows 7 64-bit. I don't particularly like the new interface but it does add some nice freebies, like some newspaper subscriptions and other things. The games, like Mahjong, are also more dynamic and take full advantage of the graphics capabilities of my system. I still have full access to the Windows 7 environment. I just select desktop from the Windows 8 "boxes" and I'm taken into a full Windows 7 interface. All my programs still look and feel the same. I did lose my Widgets (liked my clock and CPU temp widgets). I would not recommend anyone upgrading who has a system that is not touchscreen capable.

 

[TandT]

I have Windows 7 on a laptop and it has been very good. After reading these comments, I think I will keep it.

My desktop computer has Windows XP and that has also served me well.

My brother has Vista and he has had nothing but problems with it. Trace

 

[boatto5er]

XP is a great system, but Microsoft will stop providing security patches for it soon (if they haven't already - don't keep up with XP news anymore). Also, add-on security like Norton and McAfee will outgrow it also. I would recommend an upgrade to Windows 7. You will not lose any data files, especially if you back them up to CD/DVD first. You could lose some programs however. If you don't have the software to reinstall these programs (e.g., MS-Office) then don't upgrade the OS. If you are using a laptop, it has a probable useful lifespan of 4-5 years. After that, heat will begin to cause memory and disk errors in many cases. Could be cheaper in the long run to get a new laptop.

 

[HappyKayakers]

Haven't played with Win 8 yet so I won't comment about it but I will say something about the folks who fall in love with a particular OS or program and absolutely refuse to upgrade.

You're just asking for trouble doing this. At some point, your hardware will die or your software will no longer be supported or it won't be compatible with anything else. When that day comes, the process to upgrade or recover data will normally be terribly painful.

As an example, I had some friends who liked a particular accounting program but it would only run on an ancient desktop computer. They had their entire financial history on it. One day that computer would not boot up. They had only old backup disks for the financial data but even those were useless without the original program. Fortunately I was able to get that old PC to boot one more time. They were able to get current backups and buy an updated financial program for their other (more modern) PC. They could have been looking at weeks or months trying to recreate all that data.

 

[JohnDar]

Haven't played with Win 8 yet so I won't comment about it but I will say something about the folks who fall in love with a particular OS or program and absolutely refuse to upgrade.

You're just asking for trouble doing this. At some point, your hardware will die or your software will no longer be supported or it won't be compatible with anything else. When that day comes, the process to upgrade or recover data will normally be terribly painful.

As an example, I had some friends who liked a particular accounting program but it would only run on an ancient desktop computer. They had their entire financial history on it. One day that computer would not boot up. They had only old backup disks for the financial data but even those were useless without the original program. Fortunately I was able to get that old PC to boot one more time. They were able to get current backups and buy an updated financial program for their other (more modern) PC. They could have been looking at weeks or months trying to recreate all that data.

Good reason to buy an external USB hard drive and duplicate all files to it as you use or create them. They're inexpensive and mine saved my bacon when my XP laptop croaked. Got a Windows 7 laptop, plugged the drive in and back to the races.

 

[SouthernNights]

We were forced into W8 a couple of weeks ago.

At first I didnt like at all, but after playing with a couple weeks I actually like it better. Depending on what programs you use, it is easier to navigate around. Actually set it up where I am running two screens at one time and I love that. Don't have to have two small screens on the same display.

As John mentioned, a good external hard drive is a must. Staples has them on sale right now. Got a Toshiba 1 TB hd for $59.00. Another option for back up is a cloud but we decided that wouldnt be good for us. BTW, W8 comes with MS Sky Drive iwhich is a cloud that could be used for back up or retrieving from several devices. The standard package just doesn't have a lot of memory-2 GB if I remember.

 

[DW_Gray]

Good to know this about Windows 8. Microsoft sent me an upgrade offer last week to purchase W8 for $39.99. Now I know why. I'll keep Windows 7.

 

[lwmcguir]

Started with the Beta 8 about a year ago and upgraded to 8 Pro. It is much faster ( if you have a fairly high end computer ) and so is IE10. Takes a bit of getting used however. I like the active tiles and can keep up on a lot of things on one the start screen. It isn't for anyone that don't like a bit of a challenge as it is much different than XP or 7. It is the way of the future so at some point in a few years all the OS systems will look much like it. It has a lot more power and capability of any previous version.

 

[jmgratz]

I have the Vista OS and it locks up a couple times a day for a minute or so. I was told that has been a problem with Vista and I've been thinking of the full program for Windows 7 but have been afraid of getting issues that I 'm afraid will drive me nuts.
Have any of you converted from Vista to 7 and did you have to reload many of your programs drivers? Any other issues? Any advise would be appreciated.

My laptop came with Vista. My wifes laptop came with Windows 7. I like it better than Vista but never had any issues with Vista on my Laptop. I have Windows XP on my Desktop. I may upgrade it to Windows 7 but haven't yet. I want to get the laptop squared away first. Sometimes computers are a PITA

 

[Rrloren]

Sometimes computers are a PITA

Ain't that the truth !

 

[Lynn1130]

I started with DOS and have been through every system Microsoft has put out. I built a number of computers over the year and installed the software going at the time. Vista was crap. ME was worse. They both crashed all of the time. XP was better but still crashed too much. I hated having to deal with the "blue screen of death" and trying to figure out what was causing it. I now have Windows 7 64 bit and like it much better than the others. I also don't trust it any more than any other OS and have three USB 1T backup drives between our two desktop computers. Nothing goes on either of the computer that is not also backed up on at least two other drives.

I will wait. Windows 8 will have a string of updates coming out over the next year and 7 works fine so there is no real reason to change other than having the latest and greatest and they will have to prove that it is the greatest.

 

[JohnDar]

Well, FWIW, my Windows 7 laptop has been locking up lately while typing replies. Yeah, I know...he talks too much anyways. But after a bit of research, I learned one cause might be overheating. Lo and behold, the cooling pad I set this thing on hasn't been plugged in since I redid the floor here in the den. Plugged the booger in and so far, no lock-ups.