Should I upgrade to Windows 8?

yowanvista

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I love Windows 7 and its non-touch UI but the fact that it'll gradually be left behind (as far as features are concerned) makes me wonder if I should upgrade.

I honestly don't care about all the touchscreen garbage/Metro nonsense/Store/Touch Apps etc.. If I ever install it those will be disabled or removed if possible.

Aero Glass is an absolute deal breaker for me, I also do not want to use that PC Settings (the touch control panel thingy) nor do I ever need to come across it. My PC isn't a tablet.

I hate the lockscreen but I can live with it (it'd be nice to disable/remove it too). I generally use this PC for gaming and I've heard that DX11.2 won't be ported back to Windows 7 but is that a reason to upgrade?

TL;DR: I basically need Windows 8 to be like Windows 7 but without all the touchscreen rubbish that cripples it, I want the UI to closely match the Aero Glass theme.

Some developers are working on Aero Glass for Windows 8 thus the Aero issue could be fixed but I need to be able to disable the hot corners, the Start Screen and that multitasking app sidebar thing and charms bar, in short everything related to touch must either be buried or hidden if not removed. I'll be using Start8 if that matters.

Is it possible to achieve such a setup? And would it make sense to upgrade? :think:

P.S I have installed and used Windows 8 (as well as 8.1 RTM) on another HDD but I never could appreciate it. I couldn't also see any performance improvements on my rather old rig. I hate Metro and always came back to Windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Core2 Quad Q8200 2.8Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Rampage Forumla
    Memory
    8GB DDR2 PC6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX460 2GB/Asus EN9600GT 1GB
    Sound Card
    Asus Supreme FX2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 22
    Screen Resolution
    1650x1080
    Hard Drives
    2X500GB+ 1x2TB
    PSU
    Cooler Master GX 650W
    Case
    Standard
    Cooling
    3X Fans
    Internet Speed
    1024Kbps(which is the average speed in my country)
If you are thinking of it, get it NOW, because it will be 8.1 by September and that's not as good. You can use either Classic Shell which is free, or Stardock Start8 which is 5 bucks, but it is the better one - To add a Start Menu. You can also add DesktopGagetsN to get your Gadgets back.

Start 8 can totally bypass the lockscreen and boot the system up straight to the desktop.

You should not lose any programs, I've got all of the programs I was running in XP and 7 running in here. With Start8 you hardly have to even look at the "Start Screen".

You should set it up into a stand alone station just to play with it, if you like it then you can upgrade from 7 right to 8. The version of 8 I installed here did not have Media Center, but i have it in my other system, you can only install that version as an initial install, it cant be used to upgrade 7.

Aero Glass is actually still in there, but the Transparency effects have been removed. I use a program called bLenD which gives me some transparency back.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I have installed and used Windows 8 (as well as 8.1 RTM) on another HDD but I never could appreciate it. I couldn't also see any performance improvements on my rather old rig. I hate Metro and always came back to Windows 7.

Looks like you answered your own question.

I don't feel disposed to use 8 as a main system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Maybe he didn't have friends like US who could help him set it up the way he wanted? :p :)

Windows 8 on ALL of my systems is much faster than 7 had ever been. But I did quite a bit of tweeking to get it that way, but I did the same tweeking on 7 to get THAT to run how I wanted.

As with all OSes if you overbloat your system with Startup Items, it will slow down. If you have Office 2010 and above, ya don't need the things that it adds to your startup. That's just ONE source of B L O A T. Most programs, little POS programs you may use here and there, add a STARTUP BLOATITEM.

Looking on my Tray, I see:

AnyDVD
One Note
Air/Mobile Mouse Server
Eset NOD32
Aida 64
iCloud
nVidia Control Panel/Gefarce Xperience
cCleaner Pro
Greedytorrent (necessary)
Quickslime Quickstart
Teamviewer
Unlocker Assistant
Open Hardware Temp Sensor
NO-IP DUC
Bittorrent Sync
Wifi Sendserver (for Windows 8 Remote Mouse)
bLenD
WinVNC for HippoRemote

and

ThePrompt - Which so far has come up as worthless.

That's 19 POS StartBloat programs that suck my Ram bone dry.


But I change that configuration daily. I used to have even mroe cack there hahaha.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
It isn't any faster for me as far as I can tell. 8 takes longer to boot, but that doesn't matter. I don't like it is all.

Sounds as if Yowan doesn't like it either . Fair enough.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I loathe and Despise the "StartScreen" - It's worthless. I think I have foudn a program that will excise ALL of it from my system. I'm not ready to try it here, I will do it on my Dell Precision 370 WS.

If I do it, I'll report it here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Bloatware shouldn't be a problem for me, I have around 45-50 running processes on this 3 year old install and nothing in my tray except for uTorrent.

It isn't any faster for me as far as I can tell. 8 takes longer to boot, but that doesn't matter. I don't like it is all.
I also noticed that, but it could perhaps be related to my slow HDD or the fact that I use SATA2. It seems that Windows 8 is optimized for SSDs so I'm either thinking or adding one or I could build a new rig then use Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Core2 Quad Q8200 2.8Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Rampage Forumla
    Memory
    8GB DDR2 PC6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX460 2GB/Asus EN9600GT 1GB
    Sound Card
    Asus Supreme FX2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 22
    Screen Resolution
    1650x1080
    Hard Drives
    2X500GB+ 1x2TB
    PSU
    Cooler Master GX 650W
    Case
    Standard
    Cooling
    3X Fans
    Internet Speed
    1024Kbps(which is the average speed in my country)
I loathe and Despise the "StartScreen" - It's worthless. I think I have foudn a program that will excise ALL of it from my system. I'm not ready to try it here, I will do it on my Dell Precision 370 WS.

If I do it, I'll report it here.


The good news is, Dino is interested again after a long lay off. Between him and Nik, we may have some way of neutralising the worst horrors of metro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
it grows on ya ,go for it ,im liking it, but then aging i hardly use it for anything but what im doing right now :sleepy:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
Bloatware shouldn't be a problem for me, I have around 45-50 running processes on this 3 year old install and nothing in my tray except for uTorrent.

...it could perhaps be related to my slow HDD or the fact that I use SATA2. It seems that Windows 8 is optimized for SSDs so I'm either thinking or adding one or I could build a new rig then use Windows 8.

I have all Sata 2 but my main HD on the other system is a Hybrid, 750GB - Performance Test rated it over 800, this system here rates about 350.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I loathe and Despise the "StartScreen" - It's worthless. I think I have foudn a program that will excise ALL of it from my system. I'm not ready to try it here, I will do it on my Dell Precision 370 WS.

If I do it, I'll report it here.


The good news is, Dino is interested again after a long lay off. Between him and Nik, we may have some way of neutralising the worst horrors of metro.

I can't find the page I saw about a week ago, which promised complete removal of Metro. I cant even remember what it was. I BMmed it, but now the link GNDN.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Do you mean you got everybody all excited, and now you have lost the link? LOL.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It may have been fake and was pulled down. Oh well, I'll keep looking.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
It is a start menu/shell replacement thingy. There are lots of them, including Classic Shell (free) and startisback , about 3 bucks for 2 pc's. They don't remove metro, but can make 8 somewhat less annoying.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
yeah ,thought so ,not much you can do with trial actually ,it did add a start button and a tablet view icon next to the start icon that opened metro apps like weather and such

but the website is a bit misleading .it did say
[h=2]How To Completely Remove Metro UI From Windows 8[/h]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
I think the retro ui program is somewhat similar to stardock start menu and stardock modernmix.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
As already mentioned, with Start8 you will not see Metro and can disable all the hot corners.

Start8.jpg

The way I have it setup now, I have to Ctrl+Click on the Start button to get to the Metro desktop. All hot corners are gone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
According to what you have written, I guess there is no reason to upgrade now. In the future, maybe, but not now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE G31M-ES2L
    Memory
    4 GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX550 Ti 1 GB
    Screen Resolution
    1980 x 1080
As already mentioned, with Start8 you will not see Metro and can disable all the hot corners.

View attachment 26946

The way I have it setup now, I have to Ctrl+Click on the Start button to get to the Metro desktop. All hot corners are gone.
Thanks, that kinda solves the touchscreen junk for me. More more question, it is possible to directly upgrade to 8.1 RTM from Windows 7 or should I first install Windows 8?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Core2 Quad Q8200 2.8Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Rampage Forumla
    Memory
    8GB DDR2 PC6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GTX460 2GB/Asus EN9600GT 1GB
    Sound Card
    Asus Supreme FX2
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 22
    Screen Resolution
    1650x1080
    Hard Drives
    2X500GB+ 1x2TB
    PSU
    Cooler Master GX 650W
    Case
    Standard
    Cooling
    3X Fans
    Internet Speed
    1024Kbps(which is the average speed in my country)
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