Solved How's everyones Windows 8 experience going?

[Mustang]

I am able to run W8 in what I call Win7 mode, with Metro totally disabled...

How did you disable Metro?

Hi mbratch, I used a hack called Ex7ForW8 found --> HERE.

When you run Ex7ForW8, it asks you to put the Windows 7 installation disk in your burner, and it imports Explorer 7, and the Orb Start Menu and Aero from Windows7.

You can then run Windows 8 in one of two modes:

1. Explorer 7 Shell with Orb Start Menu; and Metro totally turned off.

2. Explorer 8 Shell with Metro and Ex7/Start Menu totally turned off.

But you can't run both at the same time.

There is a toggle switch in the Orb start menu to change over to Metro. And a similar toggle switch in the Metro start screen to toggle back to Explorer 7 shell and Orb Start Menu.

It is the only hack that truly duplicates W7 Orb Start Menu with full functionality. Only way to go as far as I'm concerned. Been using it now for nearly a month and all good; and not borked by updates.

 

[mbratch]

Hi mbratch, I used a hack called Ex7ForW8 found --> HERE.

Brilliant. Thanks!

 

[Mustang]

ps if you want, you can get the full suite of Windows 7 games --> HERE from the same site; and the're also totally free.

Download the code https://hotfile.com/dl/156447161/4da4ff2/mgms_x32x64_1.2.rar.html which comes at the end of the blurb on which games are included. Using Regular Download you have to wait a while for the download to start. If you're a member it's a lot quicker.

One other thing to consider is attached hardware. Probably not an issue for most people, but I have a couple of somewhat older HP laser printers on my network. Windows 7 has drivers for them, but Windows 8 does not

I'm using a different HP printer but I was able to get specific drivers for that printer from HP to use on Windows 8.

Have you tried searching the HP driver download site by plugging in the printer model you want drivers for, and choosing the OS as W8.

I totally agree with your comments in your post re Metro start screen. I don't use it at all. But I wanted the increased functionality of the W8 OS kernel. Really should have been Service Pack 2 for W7.

I don't use a M$ account but log in with a local account so I'm never online to M$.

 

[mbratch]

Have you tried searching the HP driver download site by plugging in the printer model you want drivers for, and choosing the OS as W8.

Yeah, I did. The site says that a Windows 8 driver is coming toward the end of this year. It's getting very close... Although the strawman date they posted was 10/29/2012. But I'm ever hopeful...

 

[Mustang]

Yeah, I did. The site says that a Windows 8 driver is coming toward the end of this year. It's getting very close... Although the strawman date they posted was 10/29/2012. But I'm ever hopeful...

Don't want to be negative, but wouldn't hold my breath. When I went from XP to Vista I had an HP printer that was 6 months old, that cost near $600, and Vista would not allow the driver package from HP to install, but insisted on putting in it's own drivers.'

Problem was you needed the original HP Driver package to get the tool box to align new printer cartridges. I had to keep XP loaded on a separate partition just to align new cartridges. Once aligned the memory was retained in the printer, not in the OS, so I could then use it on Vista.

HP kept promising me new drivers were coming out to overcome this problem ... and that went on for about two years, until finally I upgraded to a newer model. However, later models have kept pace with Win7 and now very quickly with W8. You're unlucky I guess having an older model.

The thing I like about HP is the print head is actually in the cartridge for deskjet. So when you change cartridges you change print heads. I had a multi-purpose Canon a few years ago, that was over $700, and just out of one year warranty the printer heads went, and the cost to repair was more than the cost of a new machine. That's why I swung over to HP, and apart from the XP to Vista problem, have been very happy.

 

[mbratch]

The funny part is I have an even older printer that has a Windows 8 driver.

I was half-tempted to try using my Windows 7 64-bit driver to see if that works. Maybe if I'm feeling lucky...

 

[Mustang]

The funny part is I have an even older printer that has a Windows 8 driver.

I was half-tempted to try using my Windows 7 64-bit driver to see if that works. Maybe if I'm feeling lucky...

I actually ran a Win7 chipset driver on W8, both 64bit, on same PC, and it loaded and ran OK. Might be worth a go, because a couple of times when I tried to run stuff, especially in the earlier months, it simply wouldn't permit the drivers to run, and gave the error message that they were incompatible. But it didn't bork the OS.

In the words of Dirty Harry: "Are you feeling luck! Well are you ... " Difference is there's no 0.357 magnum pointed at you! I hope!!! lol!

 

[Harlantk]

I am new here to the forum, and hesitant to share my experience with the Win 8 platform, because I am not impressed at all with it.
There are many things that I am finding irritating, and unacceptable in a new OS.
If the moderators encourage me I will share this here, and politely so. I do not and will not encourage any form of flaming or aggressive discussion, wanting only to have my experience "helpful" to other readers.
That said, I will only share I give this OS a 2 out of 10 right now.

Harlan

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I am new here to the forum, and hesitant to share my experience with the Win 8 platform, because I am not impressed at all with it.
There are many things that I am finding irritating, and unacceptable in a new OS.
If the moderators encourage me I will share this here, and politely so. I do not and will not encourage any form of flaming or aggressive discussion, wanting only to have my experience "helpful" to other readers.
That said, I will only share I give this OS a 2 out of 10 right now.

Harlan

Welcome to Eight Forums, Harlan. Good to have you.

LOL! Not to worry about posting your rating on Windows 8. No one will shoot you for that. Most will respect it. A fair warning to you, though. If/when you post your reasons why you rate it as such is when you'll probably face the firing squad!

 

[Mystere]

Can we please avoid having every thread taken over by ranting about the same things?

Please post in an existing rant thread, or start a new one.

 

[Ray8]

If there's one thing that's stopping me from moving over to Win 8 on my tablet, it's the fact that I can't run the tablet's native resolution of 1024 x 600, but have to spoof the registry to get the required minimum of 1366 x 758. The latter causes the text and other visuals in the desktop to deform, which is some applications is unacceptable.

I don't quite understand why the Modern interface requires the higher screen resolution, when the Modern interface icons display quite well at the lower resolution, but accessing apps is simply prevented. A lot of legacy tablets could work fine with Windows 8 if the lower resolutions were supported. Maybe this was simply a marketing move, to force sales of the latest tablets etc?

 

[Harlantk]

I am......
That said, I will only share I give this OS a 2 out of 10 right now.

Harlan

Welcome to Eight Forums, Harlan. Good to have you.

LOL! Not to worry about posting your rating on Windows 8. No one will shoot you for that. Most will respect it. A fair warning to you, though. If/when you post your reasons why you rate it as such is when you'll probably face the firing squad!

Thanks HippsieGypsie:
I am not too worried about the firing squad, more that I want to convey with out irritating.
At this time I will just say I am regretting the new OS, it is the most annoying child I have ever had to deal with
I am finding that the trinket features are interfering with getting work done, and so far have not found a way to disable them.
Moving up has meant spending more $$ due to lack of backwards compatibility, in both hardware and software. Having to run everything as administrator is adding steps to a process, and then being asked if I want to do what I asked a computer to do, is wasting my time.
Interesting in how the developers are treating the users! I was fairly sure I wouldn't try to open something if I had not wanted to run it.
So there is my beef for starts.
Cheers

Harlan

 

[Coke Robot]

I am......
That said, I will only share I give this OS a 2 out of 10 right now.

Harlan

Welcome to Eight Forums, Harlan. Good to have you.

LOL! Not to worry about posting your rating on Windows 8. No one will shoot you for that. Most will respect it. A fair warning to you, though. If/when you post your reasons why you rate it as such is when you'll probably face the firing squad!

Thanks HippsieGypsie:
I am not too worried about the firing squad, more that I want to convey with out irritating.
At this time I will just say I am regretting the new OS, it is the most annoying child I have ever had to deal with
I am finding that the trinket features are interfering with getting work done, and so far have not found a way to disable them.
Moving up has meant spending more $$ due to lack of backwards compatibility, in both hardware and software. Having to run everything as administrator is adding steps to a process, and then being asked if I want to do what I asked a computer to do, is wasting my time.
Interesting in how the developers are treating the users! I was fairly sure I wouldn't try to open something if I had not wanted to run it.
So there is my beef for starts.
Cheers

Harlan

Can you post your Start Screen?

 

[Mystere]

At this time I will just say I am regretting the new OS, it is the most annoying child I have ever had to deal with

Actually, vague hand wavy comments are far more enfuriating than just coming out and saying what the issue is.

I am finding that the trinket features are interfering with getting work done, and so far have not found a way to disable them.

Perhaps you'd like to be more specific.

Moving up has meant spending more $$ due to lack of backwards compatibility, in both hardware and software. Having to run everything as administrator is adding steps to a process, and then being asked if I want to do what I asked a computer to do, is wasting my time.

What are you upgrading from? Windows 95?

Windows 8, compatibility wise, is more or less identical in compatibility to Windows 7. I have yet to find a single app that worked on 7 that won't work on 8. Every piece of hardware, more than 30 different printers, a dozens of video cards, etc.. all work.

The only exception I know of is CPU's (and in some cases BIOS's) that do not support the NX bit, which 8 added as a requirement. However, every CPU in the last 5 or 6 years supports this.

What do you mean by running everything as administrator? I run nothing as administrator, other than apps that directly access the hardware (like Riva Tuner). It sounds like you have a configuration problem, or maybe a failed upgrade (you did do a clean install, didn't you?)

Interesting in how the developers are treating the users! I was fairly sure I wouldn't try to open something if I had not wanted to run it.

Is this your first experience with UAC? This is nothing new. And the issue isn't whether YOU started something, it's whether a piece of malware started it, and is trying to destroy your system, steal your banking information, or setup email spam zombies that will get your internet connection suspended by your ISP.

UAC's purpose is to protect you in case a rogue application gets into your system. In a properly configured system, it should rarely show itself. Only when doing an administrative task.

 

[xraiderv1]

aside from one instance of stupidly thinking I could trust windows update(set it to allow important updates only), and then spending an hour redoing 8 hours of work spread over two days...

I love windows 8.

 

[MrShowdown]

If there's one thing that's stopping me from moving over to Win 8 on my tablet, it's the fact that I can't run the tablet's native resolution of 1024 x 600, but have to spoof the registry to get the required minimum of 1366 x 758. The latter causes the text and other visuals in the desktop to deform, which is some applications is unacceptable.

I don't quite understand why the Modern interface requires the higher screen resolution, when the Modern interface icons display quite well at the lower resolution, but accessing apps is simply prevented. A lot of legacy tablets could work fine with Windows 8 if the lower resolutions were supported. Maybe this was simply a marketing move, to force sales of the latest tablets etc?

Agree, with the block of access for Metro Apps on screen resolution less than 1024x768, hinders users to upgrade to Windows 8.
Note that netbooks are booming in Indonesia, and most of them uses 1024x600. Only way to use the metro apps is by changing Display1_DownscalingSupported on registry.

 

[LovingWindows]

Can we please avoid having every thread taken over by ranting about the same things?

Please post in an existing rant thread, or start a new one.

Kinda have to agree here. What we need is an all in one rant thread where everyone can just post their rants about the OS.

I wouldn't participate since Windows 8 is awesome for me.

 

[mbratch]

"How's Everyone's Windows 8 Experience Going?" is a fairly open ended question.

 

[LovingWindows]

"How's Everyone's Windows 8 Experience Going?" is a fairly open ended question.

True, but one should not hijack threads just to rant and not give any details as to why. Ranting for the sake of ranting should be considered spam, especially when trying to hijack threads such as this one.

Not having a good Windows 8 experience? That's fine, tell us why in a respectful civil manner and maybe the W8F community can help make it better.

 

[mbratch]

"How's Everyone's Windows 8 Experience Going?" is a fairly open ended question.

True, but one should not hijack threads just to rant and not give any details as to why. Ranting for the sake of ranting should be considered spam, especially when trying to hijack threads such as this one.

Not having a good Windows 8 experience? That's fine, tell us why in a respectful civil manner and maybe the W8F community can help make it better.

Understood. Rants occur on both sides and are hard to control. If you ask for an opinion regarding Windows 8, I see unsubstantiated or very subjective claims stated in absolute terms from all sorts of directions (e.g., "Metro sucks raw eggs", or "Metro is just so uber cool", etc). There are other claims that sound good but are also unsubstantiated, such as "Windows 8 helps me work more efficiently" or "I need a start menu to work more efficiently". Without examples, it's just a piddling contest.