7hrs. to wipe a drive? You are certainly spending far too long. You could have backed up the files you wanted and simply nuked the C primary in only a matter of a few minutes by booting live from disk. The command prompt option to run the DiskPart tool to use the clean command only takes a matter of seconds to wipe a 1tb drive.
If you do a "Quick Format", the drive doesn't get wiped at all (only the index gets wiped).
The format option is right there in the drive tools on the 7 dvd when you go to install 7. To see the optimum results however what I do here is once everything is backed up from the main drive which is seen to regularly to begin with the single C primary is nuked period to be replaced by a fresh new primary.
That method insures there are no potential lingering Partition Table issues to come up after the clean install goes on. But even with the format option the quick format normally wouldn't take more then a minute or two on a large capacity drive. The old format command used for the old Legacy and even with XP however would take upto a few hours at times but unsuitable these days!
Each person needs to sit down on a Windows 8 PC and give it a try.
Jim
WHY ? If someone is comfortable with Windows 7, WHY he should sit and give a try to Widows 8, WHY ?
One of the best posts on this thread so far!
The people here that downloaded 8 did so because "they wanted a look" at what the next MS offering would be as far as look and feel. That was a conscious choice!
Even with 7 when someone was settled with XP and you tried encouraging them to look at either Vista or 7 to be prepared due the shrinking support for the older version and new board's no longer offering XP drivers as a big clue you can only lead a horse to water but not make it drink!
For the next person on the other hand that is looking to "get out of" an older version maybe finding things(like XP is known for) buggy or wanting to update the OS in general 8 might be to their liking while for the larger number of people who found 7 to be the champion of all Windows 8 has simply been the largest reason "not to upgrade at all"!
For those that simply want the latest and don't care about what changes have been made they are often labeled the MS fan boys over someone who turns around to go back to the previous or skip over one version entirely. Wth this being more of an RT version and not the familar "next release of" the Windows desktop OS you have to wonder just why all the bad publicity by blog writers unless they somewhat already know themselves 8 simply is not suitable for all users to begin with!
As a tech I may or may not use the next offering but still have to get familiar with how it works as well as what it offers. I know from practical experience already that 8 is not going to go over well with too many to start with simply because most are only looking for "familiar turf" with a new theme and some new options not see the entire desktop they are accustomed turned into a Tablet OS.
One of the earliest blog writers titled one article correctly mentioning MS was taking a hugh gambit with 8! Many would simply now call 8 the "Wheel of Misfortune"! And you won't be changing their minds any time soon.
Here's a quote from the latest ZDNet article on 8 you'll find amusing.
JURY STILL OUT ON WINDOWS 8: 19%
As expected, some of the early adopters liked the hardware but were flummoxed by the new operating system. A sampling of comments:
- “Windows 8 … this take some getting used to. The idea of getting to information faster is good however, there aren't enough programs preloaded.”
- “Great so far - getting used to Win 8 will take a few days!!!”
- " trying to get use to this new windows 8”
- “I haven't made my mind up about Windows 8. I've sort of figured out how to use it but I find myself switching back to the desktop. It's easier for me to navigate.”
I think part of Microsoft's bet on the Windows 8 interface is that people will get over the discomfort quickly. If so, this comment has to be reassuring:
Windows 8 scares me as I'm not used to not having a "start" menu to get to my All Programs. : The more I use it, however, the more I like it and this computer is...FAST!!!
