Yikes ! Newbie going from XP to Windows 8.

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michiganmike

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Greetings to the World, from a Newbie in Battle Creek, Michigan.

I bought a new HP desktop a few days ago, Windows 8, of course......now I'm not saying that I ever got 100% out of Windows XP, but wow, what an uphill climb jumping into Windows 8.
It feels like I'm back in school again.

I added the Logitech t650 Touchpad to make navigation easier, but it was a challenge understanding one finger, two finger, three finger and then FOUR finger swipes, and what they do! I'll be Keeping the mouse for backup.

I plan on going through all of the tutuorials on this Forum, which I chose for its' "readability".
I like the way it looks to my eye and seems easy to get around.

Next big thing is to Transfer my files from my XP to the new PC.
Anything I should be cautious about when doing this ?

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP p7-1446s
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700
    Motherboard
    MSI-7778 (JASMINE)
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD A10-5700
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2742V
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
Welcome to EightForums.



information   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html
​



Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03502680.pdf


HP/Compaq said:
Creating HP Recovery media

HP Recovery Manager is a software program that offers a way to create recovery media after you
successfully set up the computer. HP Recovery media can be used to perform system recovery if the
hard drive becomes corrupted. System recovery reinstalls the original operating system and the
software programs installed at the factory, and then configures the settings for the programs. HP
Recovery media can also be used to customize the system or aid in the replacement of a hard drive.
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
michiganmike said:

Next big thing is to Transfer my files from my XP to the new PC.
Anything I should be cautious about when doing this ?
Click to expand...

If you are talking about only data files, then there should be no problem. And, take the above advice.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Welcome to the forum.

I wonder if you know Josh Allen that does tankspot...he lives there.

you had the right idea, get the touchpad:) it's amazing mine came in the post today and yeah it takes some getting used to xd.

enjoy the o/s and take a good look around it, lots to get aquinted with.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
    System Manufacturer/Model
    .
    CPU
    .
    Motherboard
    .
    Memory
    .
    Graphics Card(s)
    .
    Monitor(s) Displays
    .
    Hard Drives
    .
    PSU
    .
    Case
    .
    Cooling
    .
    Keyboard
    .
    Mouse
    .
    Internet Speed
    .
Hello and welcome!

Glad to hear you bought a touchpad for Windows 8, good choice! That'll make using Windows 8 the cherry on top.

First off, you will probably need some things to help you out with using the Start Screen:
- When on the Desktop (say in File Explorer), you can pretty much right click on a folder, Library, Control Panel sub-section, hard drive, or a program, and hit Pin to Start on the context menu. This will make a new tile on the Start Screen, of which you can click and drag around.

Screenshot (2).png
You can use my Start Screen as guidance if you'd like. :)

- Customization. To customize Start Screen colors, you will need to use the Settings charm. On your touch pad, it's probably a finger swipe from the right edge inwards. The little cog is Settings, click or tap that, and on the bottom of the fly out, you will see PC Settings. It takes you right away to Personalization to change Start Screen colors, lock screen, user account picture, and lock screen apps. On the Desktop, pull up the Charms bar again, hit Settings, and you will see Personalization near the top of the fly out. This will let you change the Desktop wallpaper and window color among other things. For more advanced customizing, like my Start Screen, you will need third party apps. One that is REAL popular right now is called Decor8, from StarDock. It has a 30 day trial where you will need to pay for that. There is another freeware app, that does something similar to Decor8, except you can't use your Desktop wallpaper slideshow as your Start Screen background that can be blurred a bit, and you can't change the Start Screen colors.

- Use Windows Eight Forums and ask questions! :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Thanks for the Advise, everyone. I'm liking the touchpad, the more I play with it, but I keep it company with the Mouse right next to it. and I finally found the Windows 8 tutorial....it was right in front of me in a tile, ha.
...sitting in the Basement in my Man Cave, rockin' out.
I have my old HP Vista PC hooked up on a table behind, just in case I need emotional back up. But, you know, somehow the old 19" CRT Monitor doesn't look quite as good as my new LG 27" LCD. who'da thought ?;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP p7-1446s
    CPU
    AMD A10-5700
    Motherboard
    MSI-7778 (JASMINE)
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD A10-5700
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG E2742V
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
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