So, how is Windows 8 at the moment compared to Windows 7?

I'm not talking about the Metro thing, I'm talking about how is it in terms of stability, security, speed, usability, etc... Also, do the side menus get in the way, especially when using desktop programs?


It's that time again for me to reformat, so I might as well take the opportunity and install my PC with Windows 8, since I've liked it on other times I've used it before.


Also, I'd like to ask, as for partitions, currently with Windows 7 I have a 50GB C: partition for Windows 7 itself and programs, and on my D: partition (which is the rest of the HDD) I have all my files and games.


Now, I have it like that since it makes it easier to reformat, but from what I know Windows 8 has a reset thing where it cleans the OS and such like a normal reformat would. Does that work well enough? And would I be better in going with just 1 single big partition, if it works good enough?

Well, I'd like to welcome you to our forums dedicated for the Windows 8!

Firstly, yes, Windows 8 is better than 7. Overall, it's better for networked streaming of media like YouTube or Netflix, media encoding/decoding is improved, and overall just is better media oriented than 7. It also has uses less system resource, I've seen on 32 bit versions between 7 and 8 on the same machine of 1 gig of RAM, Windows 8 uses about 100 MB less RAM. Processor and disk usage is very flat, especially the hard disk usage.

Secondly, the UI doesn't get in the way for me on the Desktop. This has been argued for the past year or so, many find it doesn't, some find it does, some will use a combo of Start Screen and a third party start menu until they get used to the Start Screen. The side bar UI doesn't come up or get in the way unless if you actively evoke one, like Settings, or Search, or Devices, or Share. Search and Settings are the two sidebar menus you will use on the Desktop, as nothing really works with the Charms bar unless if you're in an app. You might be a little overwhelmed at first with it, especially when you open a picture or song and it takes you away from the Desktop. All you need to do is set program defaults for Desktop apps and pin Desktop locations to Start and you'll be fine.

As for your partitions, I don't recommend using them. The reason is (I'm going out on a limb as to say you have a laptop?) mechanically based. See, as you move performance files like games and programs on the part of the hard drive, like the middle of the disk to the inner part, speed decreases and latency increases so you wait a bit more. Having Windows on the faster part of the drive, the outer part is great, but you need your programs there too. User data can be in the slower middle-inner part. If you can (and should), copy ALL that you need onto an external hard drive, and do a VERY throughout reformat, not a quick one, and then install Windows 8. 3

There is a refresh and reset feature of 8, I tried it once a year ago with the Developer Preview, it kind of worked, but I don't know with the RTM build. It's basically because I haven't had to, and also I've installed a new release build every four months or so. But I can say for sure and for fact, boot time has been solid since day one. By that, I mean there literally hasn't been any boot time increase and there hasn't been ANY performance degradation that Windows 7 will end up doing. I think Automatic Maintenance takes care of that. Reset basically reinstalls Windows and wipes data off, refresh kind of does the same thing but keeps user data. Apps I believe remain, but Desktop apps are removed as that usually is the source of the issue.

So basically, Windows 8 is solid, stable, and better to use. The new UI can easily be used once you've tuned it to your liking. Do one whole partition as having multiple partitions on a hard drive these days is unneeded as hard drives are faster than 10 years ago. But do make a backup of your data, whatever you do, back things up.

Solid and stable for sure. Better than w7 will be up to the individual user. I don't find it any better than w7 at all. Certainly no way I would pay for it after free rtm version expires.

Coke Robot said:

Well, I'd like to welcome you to our forums dedicated for the Windows 8!
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As for your partitions, I don't recommend using them. The reason is (I'm going out on a limb as to say you have a laptop?) mechanically based. See, as you move performance files like games and programs on the part of the hard drive, like the middle of the disk to the inner part, speed decreases and latency increases so you wait a bit more. Having Windows on the faster part of the drive, the outer part is great, but you need your programs there too. User data can be in the slower middle-inner part. If you can (and should), copy ALL that you need onto an external hard drive, and do a VERY throughout reformat, not a quick one, and then install Windows 8. 3
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Hi there
Unless you have a smallish SSD I'd ALWAYS have at least 2 partitions on my HDD -- 1 for the OS / installed programs and the other for my own data etc.

The reason for separating the OS is that if you want to re-install the OS from scratch you only have to reformat and recover the OS partition which can probably be left to around 40 - 50 GB for a decent sized W8 install with things like Photoshop, Office etc.
Same reasoning applies if you need to restore the OS from your last image backup.

If you have a 1 TB spinner (you can get 1 TB spinners in 2.5 ins format for laptops if you want) -- although I'd always prefer an SSD) then if you have to re-install your OS / re-format your partition - you have to recover the whole 1 TB or your data is GONE. !!!!!

I'd actually on disks of 1 TB (or more) split these into say 3 or 4 DATA partitions as well as one for the OS. I'd have 1 say for Video / photos etc , 1 for office type docs / scans of tax records etc etc, 1 for music (or maybe even 2 -- might split music up over several different physical disks too).

(Note also Max partition size is 2TB on MBR disks - with some 3 and 4 TB disks appearing now this restriction is not ignorable. GPT disks are another issue especially when using "Non BIOS" boot methods -- EFI etc).

Makes backup and recovery a lot simpler -- you can devise a strategy on whatever you want - but I'd backup the OS nightly (with a decent backup program should only take around 15 mins on a decent computer), and then backup things like Music every once in a while -- no way am I want to rip several 1000's of older CD's again -- some are so old they might not even read properly - and in any case I only have an external DVD / CD device that is fairly infrequently used.

(It's quicker and simpler imaging Partitions for backup than by actual DATA and most decent backups have an "Image Explorer" which enables you to "Mount" the imaged partition so you can recover an individual file / directory etc if you need to).

Access to USER DATA doesn't need really fast disk access - but FAST DISK is ESSENTIAL for the OS and for scratch or work areas for things like Photoshop.

Other than that W8 is a solid and reliable performer -- the built in ISO mounting capability together with the vastly improved security built into W8's kernel makes it a sensible upgrade - especially if you can get one of these 48 USD types of "Upgrade offers" I seem to have seen recently on the Forum.

Whether you like the new GUI is purely your choice -- people will argue this for probably longer than the estimated lifetime of the universe so you have to make your own mind up.

It takes a bit of getting used to and some work to organise things in a decent manner if you essentially use your computer for Desktop stuff so don't make a quick decision until you've given it a reasonable test.

The start desk and metro tiles could be "tarted" up but I'm sure as W8 hits the streets people will develop the mechanics for doing this.

(If you can afford it - get an SSD -- the performance you get is WELL worth it -- perversely enough it's even more noticeable when an SSD is used on an older machine -- breathes a new lease of life into it).

Cheers
jimbo

I have 2 x 750GB spinners in this laptop, and
have them each partitioned into 2 x 350GB.

OS is on C, work disk is D, and E & F are for storage,
system images and 'son' backups.

There are another 3.5TB or so of external drives for
long-term backups and archiving...

Partitioning a lot does have a noticeable speed penalty, but it makes backups and file organization a lot easier. I would personally do it.

Thanks guys, I'm still going to think about it, but I think I might be giving it a try.