Working with the little icons at the bottom left

deric

New Member
Messages
1
I've had this new HP desktop from Best Buy for about three days and I'm having so much trouble with Win 8 I'm wondering if something is defective. I've read the start up guides, quick guides, watched the videos and all that more than once. This is getting very frustrating. I have a lot of work to do but basically I can't even use the computer other than for fun browsing but that's not what I need it for. I realize part of this is just learning the ropes of Win 8. I've used PC's since they were born and have no problem with earlier versions of Windows.

Most things are hit and miss on opening and using an app or program. I can go to search at the Charm lineup and find for example Note or Wordpad but it won't open the program. I've tried many times in different ways here.

Restarting the computer seems to help on some of this-sometimes. I couldn't even restart it last night with mouse clicks. I had to press the power button and wait probably 15 minutes. It kept saying 'updating Windows'. One thing that does work is that if I get to a website, for example Yahoo or YouTube then I can browse around at different things successfully. Yahoo Mail, That's a joke. Usually the cursor will lock up and I have to hit f4 or somehow close mail. Could there be a conflict in mail programs running? I don't even try to read my mail on the new computer.

Maybe my first concern- the little icons that appear at the bottom of the screen, and I'm not even sure what that particular screen is called, once I get them there won't open the file, app,program they represent. I don't care if I right or left click. When I do a small menu will appear above that row of icons saying minimize, maximize etc. but it will just revert back to the original icon if I click on it. Like I said 'usually'. There have been occasions where clicking on one of these icons will open the app or whatever it applies to.

I wanted to open Notepad earlier to make an addition to what I wrote yesterday and in the process I noticed Journal Writer in the list of about 140 apps. I thought okay i'll try that. It opened right up. I didn't use it because I can only find and use the pen and not text. :eek: On top of that I can't get it's icon off of the bottom of the screen. I gave up on trying to open Notepad. Thank you for any help. I've tried to be concise but...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Slimline

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    self build
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz
    Motherboard
    Asrock P55 Pro
    Memory
    DDR3 Team--Elite-1333 8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire R9 280x
    Sound Card
    Realtek Alc 855
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1020
    Hard Drives
    Samsung evo 850 SSd
    Seagate ST 320 gb
    Samsung HD 750 gb
    Seagate ST 3000gb
    PSU
    OCZ Stealth 600 watt
    Case
    Antec 300
    Mouse
    Speedlink Ledos and Nexus

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Another vote for Classic Shell, or Stardock Software's Start8 & Metro Mix.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
Windows 8 can be a bit difficult to use compared to Windows 7. It can be tamed though.

Start Button:
If you install Classic Shell (free) or Stardock's Start8 ($4.99) or similar software then you can have the Start button as it was in Windows 7 and boot directly to the Desktop. You can still play with Metro stuff but it's not forced on you.

Windows 7 Gadgets:
Windows 7 Gadgets are also available if you want them: 8GadgetPack - Gadgets for Windows 8

UAC:
I find UAC extremely annoying. If you do too then to (mostly) disable UAC, Press Windows key + R to open the Run window.
Type msconfig and press Enter.
Click on the Tools tab.
Select Change UAC settings and click Launch.
Move the slider all the way to the bottom then click OK.
Some parts of UAC will still be alive, so to completely disable it you need to change a registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Key: EnableLUA
Set the value to 0

You cannot use any Metro Apps or the App Store when UAC is disabled. If you've gone this far, you can also disable all hot corners so you will not get any of the Windows Charms popups. Just check the Classic Shell and Start8 options to do this.
 

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
Ztruker, 8 is not that difficult to use. It is actually easier to use for someone that may not be comfortable with the conventional desktop, or are say young children, or for people that are disabled. It is just that when you are so used to working in the desktop, and all of a sudden you are getting a interface meant for touch screens, some people do not grasp the concept of clicking on the icon that states "Desktop" or email, etc, will take you into the desktop.

Or even just pressing the Window key on the keyboard, will switch you from Desktop to Metro. Now with 8.1, you are in the desktop, but your All programs are presented as a touch screen type interface.

I hated the whole concept of having Metro when 8 came out. But as soon as I found out that Stardock Software had the Start8 interface along with Metro8, it made me more relaxed in using. I have also used Xubuntu on the same machine that I am on now, that is running Windows 8.1. I would say that Xubuntu's XFCE interface is like telling a person that it is like XP.

I personally though would not disable UAC. It is like going and taking the door locks & dead bolts off of your house, and just making it that you only have to turn the handle. UAC was implemented due to the human species has this thing called curiosity. It causes them to just start clicking on anything and everything. Having UAC adds an extra layer of security that needs to be there.

I never have had UAC come up on my machine, but have had the Smart Screen come up quite a few times. My UAC is set as it is out of the box so to speak.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
I was forced, kicking and screaming into learning how to subdue Windows 8 (and 8.1) because most of my old customers are upgrading from an XP PC that no longer runs.

As was mentioned, the very first thing to do with a new install of 8 or 8.1, is to install the "Classic Shell" then set up the desktop to look and act like whatever previous OS you desire....XP or Win-7.
Once a working Desktop is set up and loaded with all your old favorite programs, it's easy to forget that there ever was a Metro Screen.

Windows 8.1 is really better than 8.0, because they have added even more compatibility option to make it more acceptable to XP users. There is even the option to run old 16 bit programs, which I could not do in Win 7 or Win 8.

For those who like to tweak and tune their OS, almost everything that worked on Win-7, will work equally well on Win 8 and 8.1.

Cheers Mates!
:cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-8.1/Pro/64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer X-1200
    CPU
    AMD 2 Core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    Crucial, 4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 9200
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Acer
    Hard Drives
    Sandisk, SSD 500GB
    PSU
    Acer
    Case
    SFF Slimline
    Keyboard
    emachines 101 key
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    5 Meg
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Using Classic Shell on Win-8.1 /pro/64
I was too when we got these two Satellite's. First thing I did was install Start8 & Metromix, and I am fine now. Only reason I did not stick with Xubuntu was that the Realtek wireless adapters are not playing nice with the newer Kernel. Both units though now have the Intel 7260 Dual-Band Wireless-ac minicard in them, so 8 is here to stay.

I do nothing but work in the desktop all of the time. So to me Metro is not even something I see, unless I have to change PC settings, or advanced user properties. Then I get the Metro window for that, or with the store, which I never use, due to hate the fugly tiles that they use for the apps.

Hopefully when 9 comes out, MS will make the tiles on the desktop look like regular Icons, instead of the fugly Metro interface tiles.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
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