As a Windows 7 poweruser, what do I need to know going in?

coredumperror

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I've been using Windows since version 3.11 back in the early 90s, so I know my way around this increasingly sturdy OS. However, I'm somewhat terrified of Windows 8 due to all the ridiculous UI changes.

However, my Windows 7 install is starting to show its age, so I think it's finally time to move on. I've got an ISO of Windows 8.1 that I got from work (telecomuters are allowed to install it on our home machines), a legit CD key, and a willingness to do some expert fiddling to get my Windows 8 install working the way I want it, rather than the way Microsoft seems to think I should want it.

What third-party software should I get to let me use my machine the way I've become accustomed to? What's the best way to go about actually installing the new OS? Should I make a bootable USB stick from the ISO? Will that even work in my ~4-year-old machine which I'm pretty sure still runs on BIOS rather than that new-fangled thing (UEFI?).

What else should I learn before going through with the install? I'm not going to upgrade my existing install, as I have learned the hard way to always install an OS fresh. So I'm planning to re-partition my main SSD (which currently have Win 7 on it), into two parts. Can the windows 8 installer do that for me? I seem to recall the Windows 7 one being capable of that, though I'm not sure.

I really want to like Windows 8, so having the smoothest possible transition from 7 is going to be really important.

EDIT: And now I feel foolish, as mere seconds after posting this, I found this thread which appears to contain much of what I'm asking for here. Sorry for being such a forum noob, folks! But any specific advice you might have would still be greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I would install from USB as its faster

I don't find win 8.x to be substantially different to be concerned. I use a 3rd party start menu, and that is all.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
The whole start menu can be heavily tweaked so much that you will like it. Plus if you install 8/8.1 and even 10 on a machine which is connected to the internet, sign in with your outlook account (if you don't have create one). Once you tweak the OS Microsoft will save your user settings in their server forever. Just like you buy new android phone and sync it. Its amazing and this is the best part about 8,8.1 and 10. You can also remove password on login if you want. No third party software or tweak needed. I tried Windows technical preview (windows 10) and was amazed to find my favorite wallpaper already there on it despite the fact that I installed it for the first time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Assembled
    CPU
    Intel COre i5 4440
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H97M-DS3P
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Redeon R7 240
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar DX - Fiio E10 - Audio Technica M50
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Panasoniuc L42ET60D & Dell 2240L (Dual display)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 128 GB
    1 TB WD Green
    3 TB WD Green
    PSU
    Corsair VS350
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 400R
    Cooling
    Stock mostly.. Hyper 212 Evo in the pipeline..
    Keyboard
    Logitech Basic wireless.
    Mouse
    Logitech MX518
    Internet Speed
    Huh?
    Browser
    Waterfox (with sync one)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + My head.
    Other Info
    huhauahuahauha
For my own computers, I use Start8. Bought 3 copies.

I use Classic Start (free) on all of work machines.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Either ways the loved and hated start menu that came with 8 and 8.1 is gone in 10 so merry!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Assembled
    CPU
    Intel COre i5 4440
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte H97M-DS3P
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 4GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire Redeon R7 240
    Sound Card
    Asus Xonar DX - Fiio E10 - Audio Technica M50
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Panasoniuc L42ET60D & Dell 2240L (Dual display)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 128 GB
    1 TB WD Green
    3 TB WD Green
    PSU
    Corsair VS350
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 400R
    Cooling
    Stock mostly.. Hyper 212 Evo in the pipeline..
    Keyboard
    Logitech Basic wireless.
    Mouse
    Logitech MX518
    Internet Speed
    Huh?
    Browser
    Waterfox (with sync one)
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender + My head.
    Other Info
    huhauahuahauha
Which third party Start menu do you use?

Classic Shell-{free}---

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

Works Good. :)


screenshot_212.jpg
 
Last edited:

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
All the computers I've set up for folks got the Classic Shell install, belayed the fears they had about Win8/8.1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Win10, Linux Mint 20
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Customs and 12 OEM/Brands
    CPU
    AMD and Intel
Come on core, Win 8.1 is great you don't need start8 or the like (welcome to the future) :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy 700z
    CPU
    AMD 4.1 GHz quad-core
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Radeon HD 8670D
    Sound Card
    Integrated Sound, Envy Audio; Beats Audio
    Hard Drives
    1TB 7200 RPM SATA
    PSU
    460 watt
    Keyboard
    wired USB
    Mouse
    wired USB
    Browser
    IE11 / Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender aka MSE
When I first got 8.1, I installed classic shell, and it was almost like 7 with it. Then I started playing around with Metro to check
it out. It eventually made classic shell look so antique, I uninstalled Classic Shell and have never looked back. I love 8.1.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Pro 3
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Memory
    4 GB
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    Ccleaner from time to time. Not sure if this is necessary with 8.1??
@coredumperror

As a Win 7 poweruser, all you have to do is scrape away the Metro Apps laminate and you'll be on familiar grounds with a few landscape changes, like loss of Aero, font control and color preferences for some elements. Also, taskman wears a different dress, takes some getting used to. Like many dresses, the buttons or zippers are still on the back.

Win 8.1.1, at its core, is still Win 6, turbocharged.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
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