Re-visit: New Frustrations.

[musiclover7]

Well, I thought I would jump on board again yesterday, as my wife's computer downstairs had a hard drive crash 2 days ago and needed to be reloaded. I went ahead and loaded Windows 8 on her machine, as after all, her machine is primarily for entertainment.. ie watching movies, music, games, facebook, etc.. We don't do a ton of multi-tasking on her machine. It is our play computer. So I loaded it up, and was looking forward to being wow'd. Here is what I am facing. I am hoping these problems are just my own ignorance, and are easily solve-able.

1) Our Netflix account is based on my email, but I tried to base the downstairs computer off of my wife's email. Unfortunately, Microsoft will not even let me install the netfix app on my wife's computer, as her email is not associated with it. That's it. No option for me to use my email and load the app on my wife's computer. So eventually, I tried changing her to an offline account, and using my email as a microsoft account, just so I could get get the netflix app loaded. This worked, but it really caused a host of other problems, like now the mail app is all associated with me, etc. What a stupid mess.

2) After getting netflix app installed, my wife and I settled in last night to watch a Grey's Anatomy. Unfortunately, try as I might, I could not get the app to move over and display on our large 60 inch screen rather, than on our 22 inch pc monitor. I tried making the 60 inch the primary monitor under screen resolution settings. This did not even work. I am going to assume this is something simple, but I will simply say this. I make my living supporting computers for a very large international corporation, and I could not figure this out... I am not sure where this will leave the avg user.

3) So let me get this straight, unless I am willing to sign up for a Microsoft account and give the company access to all of my online life, I really can't do much of anything different in Windows 8 aside from the occasional bang my head against the wall in frustration? Is this true?? I also find it highly odd, that after just using my email as the microsoft account, but using a brand new passwd, I was able to log into Netflix no problem and was never even prompted for my actual password. This gives the impression that Windows 8 has some sort of security pass to other online networks. Anyone else see a potential problem with this. I am really not interested in broadcasting my life into the public cloud, just to get access to my netflix.

We wound up logging into Netflix via Firefox, and I fell asleep thinking about when I would next have the time to load 7 back on the machine...

Any help appreciated!!

 

[musiclover7]

Also.. why can't I just close an app by pressing x in the upper right corner any more. If they felt like it was UN-sightly, the hide it unless I move the mouse there, but I should not have to grab the top of the screen and drag down to the bottom, every time I want to close one of these new applications. This is an insult to all mouse users.

 

[mdmd]

IMO, life is too short to get all wrapped up in cloud conspiracy paranoia.

 

[Coke Robot]

There is a thing called the Charms, or system commands bar on the right side. You should be able to get into the settings and hit something like Account or something similar to get into your wife's Netflix account. This should work regardless of local or Microsoft account.

Also, from the Charms, Devices. If you have an external monitor connected and recognized by Windows, you should be able to connect to that monitor.

Windows 8 has some wow to it, it's figuring out the wow that will lead to the effect.

 

[mdmd]

You can't win them all.

 

[R0bR]

1) Our Netflix account is based on my email, but I tried to base the downstairs computer off of my wife's email. Unfortunately, Microsoft will not even let me install the netfix app on my wife's computer, as her email is not associated with it. That's it. No option for me to use my email and load the app on my wife's computer. So eventually, I tried changing her to an offline account, and using my email as a microsoft account, just so I could get get the netflix app loaded. This worked, but it really caused a host of other problems, like now the mail app is all associated with me, etc. What a stupid mess.

There is no tie in between your Netflix account and the Microsoft store, you should be able to download any app available, whether you can actually use the App with the Netflix service will depend on what valid account you have for it. I downloaded the Netflix App on my work computer that is tied to a hotmail account and downloaded it without issue, the same on my wifes profile for my home laptop, again downloaded without issue. For both downloads after launching the App I was asked to authenticate with my Netflix account. (My Netflix App only started working yesterday, it would just sit there with spinning ping pong balls prior to that but that's another story). You don't need to change the local profile if you want to use a different account in the Store. Just go to Settings for the store where you have an option to use a different account, log in with your account then you can download and even purchase based on your account info. When you're done go back into settings and click to switch back to your wifes account.

2) After getting netflix app installed, my wife and I settled in last night to watch a Grey's Anatomy. Unfortunately, try as I might, I could not get the app to move over and display on our large 60 inch screen rather, than on our 22 inch pc monitor. I tried making the 60 inch the primary monitor under screen resolution settings. This did not even work. I am going to assume this is something simple, but I will simply say this. I make my living supporting computers for a very large international corporation, and I could not figure this out... I am not sure where this will leave the avg user.

The way to move the Metro App to another screen is basically the same way to close it, grab it from the top like you were going to close the App and drag it to the other screen. This will however move the Start Screen and all Metro along with it, you will need to grab the App and bring it back if you want to switch. And no, you can't grab the Start Screen to drag.

3) So let me get this straight, unless I am willing to sign up for a Microsoft account and give the company access to all of my online life, I really can't do much of anything different in Windows 8 aside from the occasional bang my head against the wall in frustration? Is this true?? I also find it highly odd, that after just using my email as the microsoft account, but using a brand new passwd, I was able to log into Netflix no problem and was never even prompted for my actual password. This gives the impression that Windows 8 has some sort of security pass to other online networks. Anyone else see a potential problem with this. I am really not interested in broadcasting my life into the public cloud, just to get access to my netflix.

The use of a Microsoft account with Windows 8 is to simplify authentication and SSO (Single Sign On) to various services that you use. It also provides a method to save profile settings to the cloud so that when you log into other W8 devices with the same account you have instant access to your email, skydrive etc without having to set anything up. If you don't want this type of setup you can still minimize what your account is used for by going to "Change PC Settings" in Metro (link is in the Charms-> Settings at the bottom) then select "Sync Your Settings". The only way I can see your Netflix App automatically authenticating you is if you used the same user id and password as your Microsoft account, I believe Windows 8 attempts access with the current account first and if it fails requests authentication. I have not been logged into ANY App automatically that requires authentication other than the Microsoft specific Apps that do use the same account.

 

[R0bR]

You must own the Netflix account on that computer to use the app. It's copy protection.
Otherwise, You could give your email to a 100 people or a 1000 all using your email address.

Not true, I have the Netflix App installed on my phone, wifes phone, work computer, personal computer, Xbox and Boxee Box, most have different accounts (except Xbox and my phone) and all connect to the service with my one account. I also tested Netflix for the first time using my friends account before I got my own. The limitation is that Netflix only allows a certain number of devices per account which is managed through your account settings. Also, I believe only one stream can happen per account anyways, so if I'm watching a movie on Xbox my wife can't watch a different movie on Boxee Box at the same time. Although I never tested it...hmmm.

 

[mdmd]

:note: ok.

 

[Mystere]

Our Netflix account is based on my email, but I tried to base the downstairs computer off of my wife's email. Unfortunately, Microsoft will not even let me install the netfix app on my wife's computer, as her email is not associated with it.

That's simply not the case. You can install any app if you have a Windows Store account. There is no checking at the time of install whether or not you have a Netflix account or not. Obviously, something else is happening here.

I am in the opposite situation. My wife has the Netflix account, and I had no trouble downloading the app and entering her credentials to log into the Netflix service with her account.

Did it give you an error message? What makes you think this was the reason? You seem to be jumping to conclusions, and rushing to pass judgment on something that is clearly not accurate.

try as I might, I could not get the app to move over and display on our large 60 inch screen rather

I'm assuming you have the monitor connected to the PC, and that the monitor shows up as a second desktop screen. If so, then there are several ways to do this. First, you can grab the top, just like you were going to close it and drag it over onto the other screen. Second, you can use WindowsKey-PageUp/PageDn to move metro to a different screen. You can also use WindowsKey-P in Metro to "Project" to a second screen.

So let me get this straight, unless I am willing to sign up for a Microsoft account and give the company access to all of my online life, I really can't do much of anything different in Windows 8 aside from the occasional bang my head against the wall in frustration? Is this true??

No, this is not true. You are jumping to conclusions, and wrong ones at that. You don't have to use a Microsoft account with Windows 8, and in most company situations (since you mentioned company) it would be joined to a domain. Logging in with a Microsoft account is only there to make things easier. Normally, people would log in with different credentials, rather than try to share multiple people on a single account.

I also find it highly odd, that after just using my email as the microsoft account, but using a brand new passwd, I was able to log into Netflix no problem and was never even prompted for my actual password. This gives the impression that Windows 8 has some sort of security pass to other online networks. Anyone else see a potential problem with this. I am really not interested in broadcasting my life into the public cloud, just to get access to my Netflix.

I can assure you, Netflix asks for your account, even if you're signed into Windows with the same account as your Netflix. There is no sharing like that, unless you've already signed in. Could it be that you had already signed into Netflix, and forgot?

 

[musiclover7]

I am now using an offline account with my wife's name associated with it, and am using my gmail address in order to install the netflix account. Try as I might, there is no way to get the videos to display on the other monitor. I did find a way to drag down from top until the window shrinks, then drag over to the other monitor, but rather than fill that screen, it expands to fill it plus the left half of my original screen. I cannot figure a way around that. Anyways, I gave up on that. I am just watching movies from the browser for now.

I found the xbox movie app to be the same. I could not get it to go over to the other screen. Under devices, I can see that my screen is extended to the other screen, but no way to choose which monitor will display the app.

I am holding out for a while, to see if the experience gets better over time. There are some nice things about this OS, but it still feels like it is not fully grown up yet. I imagine that there will be some better apps as time wears on that might justify the 40 dollar upgrade, but they really need to improve some of the basic stuff.

 

[Mystere]

It sounds like you have not configured your extra screen correctly. Are you using the built-in functionality? Or are you using a feature of your driver?

How did you configure the second monitor? Are you using HDMI?

 

[musiclover7]

Second monitor is dvi to hdmi connected, yes.. No matter what I have tried, there does not seem to be a way to get metro apps to display correctly on that monitor.

 

[Mystere]

You're still not answering my questions. I can't help you if you don't answer them.

How did you configure your second monitor? Are you using a special mode of your hardware vendor (some of them provide special modes that "stretch" the desktop across more than one monitor) or using the default Windows mode (which "extends" the desktop to multiple monitors, which is quite a bit different).

 

[musiclover7]

I am using default windows mode I believe. In metro, I click devices, and it gives me basically 4 options. Display on right monitor, left, extend or duplicate. I have chosen extend.

 

[Mystere]

What about in Windows itself? If you right click on the desktop and choose Screen Resolution, do you see both monitors? Does if you click on the TV does it say "extend desktop"?

 

[pparks1]

i had a similar situation on a laptop that I installed the Windows 8 Enterprise eval onto. I took the laptop home and played with the local account and managed to tie it into my Microsoft account, which in turn got tied to my facebook account. So, when I got the machine back in the office, I spent upwards of an hour trying to figure out how to remove Facebook from People. I kept trying to just remove the facebook integration, but that was trying to untie my Facebook and my Microsoft account...which is not what I actually wanted to do. My brain didn't connect the dots that what I needed to do was remove my Microsoft account from my profile, thus taking the downstream Facebook account with it.

This whole, everything tied together and totally accessible is NOT what I want. I'm already imaging the first exploit where a metro app gets exploited, and then all of a sudden all of my other tied in crap is taken down with it. I have no problems signing into my email, my facebook, skydrive, etc....only when I want to use them all with different usernames/passwords and all unique from each other.

I also spent an insanely large amount of time (with R0br's help) trying to figure out why I was unable to "share" a photo via the charms bar in the People app to Facebook. As it turned out, you couldn't "share" photos which were local on your box, but you could share photos that were stored in Skydrive and accessible via your computer. R0br confirmed the problem on his end too...so it's a problem and not just something that I was doing.

Sometimes it's fun to plan and experiment and learn the new technology ,but when it boils down to have baked and incomplete implementations, it's just not worth the time investment and the frustration.

 

[tweeter]

I have a similar problem but not with the Metro but with the apps within metro. Any Video streaming app opened on any screen other than my Main display. Main Display is defined as the one windows shows the task bar. So if I want to watch netflix or hulu I have to change my main display to my TV otherwise I will receive errors. To make things worse the same symptoms apply when I'm using the browser to watch Netflix, however i can watch hulu. I've wiped my video drivers, re-installed silver-light, and did a clean win 8 install. Is anyone else having these issues. I have 3 monitors with 2 560 geforce SLI video cards. Any Ideas.

 

[tweeter]

Called netflix and found the error if anyone else is having the same problem.

Fixing the browser problem.
Open windows explorer (windows key + e)
select computer
search for MSPR.hds (delete the one found in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\PlayReady)
Fixed

Fixing the app on windows 8 metro
No fix action. According to netflix the app was created for the RC version and not the latest version of windows 8. They are working on a new app to fix the problem.

Thanks