Should I install Windows 8

Hi there
I can't see why not - W8.1 has some features in it you might like. It's a ridiculously fast install too on most machines.

BACKUP your current system first --use something like FREE MACRIUM rather than the manufacturers method. That way if you decide you don't like W8.1 then it's a 15 min job to restore -- could be less.

Keep the OS separate to your data partitions too -- even on a laptop split the HDD to a "C" and "D" partition.

Note -- UEFI boot -- DISABLE PROTECTED BOOT. Leave UEFI but allow / enable legacy boot in BIOS.

Now - this is what GOOGLE doesn't tell you easily = some laptops manage legacy boot via a CSM built in module in the BIOS BEFORE attempting to boot from the particular device you've specified in your BIOS in Boot order.

To avoid using this module which can screw up proper booting of different devices see if your BIOS allows a POPUP boot menu without having to save changes to the BIOS -- this then will force boot the device you specify and bypass the CSM module.

For example on an HP envy sleekbook laptop I press ESC to "interrupt" the boot.

It then gives me some choices like memtest but the one I want is F9 which is BOOT menu. You will then see something like OS Bootloader, Notebook HDD, and other devices connected at boot - a USB stick for example. If you choose the USB stick then the system will boot from that.

If the device is already UEFI enabled then it probably will boot from the BIOS by changing the boot order in the BIOS - however the popup menu system IMO is always the best as it will FORCE boot from your specified device and let the BOOT on the device handle all the UEFI bits and pieces.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
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    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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