697 replies to this topic 4 votes

[Anthonyd]

randomevent, on 30 January 2012 - 20:37, said:

The dev previews metro apps and layout weren't terribly impressive, but based on what they've said has been changed I'm going to love it.

I had problems with .NET 1.1 so the dev preview wasn't for me, but I'm definately installing the beta in some form. I don't know if it will be my primary OS but I suspect so.

Are you serious about .net 1.1 ? It's barely used afaik.

[osuwildlifer]

Up until now, i had only used the DP in a virtual machine. A few days ago, I decided to install it over my physical Vista partition that I never use anymore. I was amazed by the speed at which it installed. But I really dislike the way the new bootloader works. First, while the bootloader may not be fully functional yet, it doesn't work properly for mulit-boot in its current form. I had to use a Winodows 7 CD to recover the other two Windows installations that were on this drive. That process did add the two existing OS's to the new Windows 8 bootloader. But, the new system forces a reboot AFTER you make your OS boot selection. So, if I want to boot into 7, for example, I have to power on, wait for the Win8 bootloader, select Win7 from the list, and then wait for another reboot. Seemslike a strange step backwards to me.

I tried running the DP as my main OS for a couple of days, but had too many issues with the system hanging at the spinning circle when I tried to log out. I won't use it as my main OS, but I do llok forward to trying out a beta, if and when it is released (soon, hopefully!)

[nitins60]

I am going to use on my laptop/desktop as primary os once beta is out

[+Detection]

How much of the actual Windows coding has changed in the developer preview vs Windows 7 ?

Ignoring Metro UI, if you look at plain old Windows, 30% ? 50% ?

[ybrett23]

tried it and scrapped it, maybe when the beta is out il try again, was too buggy for me

[cork1958]

MrXXIV, on 21 January 2012 - 06:03, said:

I've been using it as my primary since day 1. I can do all the things I did with Windows 7, plus I haven't had a BSOD. In the long run, it's faster and I love nothing having to install such a memory hogging antivirus.

I started running it on day 1 and ran it for a couple of weeks as primary os. Sold the computer I was playing with it on and just never started playing with it again. Can't say as it blew my hair back any. No issues with it either though.

I quoted MrXXIV because I just wanted to ask what a BSOD was?
Cripe! I don't think I've had one of those since W2Kand the beginning of NTFS days! For that matter, I can't remember the last time a Linux install of mine screwed up? Man, I'm knocking on some serious wood now!!

[+TCLN Ryster]

cork1958, on 01 February 2012 - 12:50, said:

Man, I'm knocking on some serious wood now!!

Me snickers

[V23]

I've installed the Developer Preview ahead of the Consumer Preview later this month and I was under the impression that the windows key (on the keyboard) switched between the desktop and start screen? When I press it, it cycles between the start screen and the most recently opened app rather than the desktop. Is this normal, can it be changed?

[~Johnny]

V23, on 03 February 2012 - 23:24, said:

I've installed the Developer Preview ahead of the Consumer Preview later this month and I was under the impression that the windows key (on the keyboard) switched between the desktop and start screen? When I press it, it cycles between the start screen and the most recently opened app rather than the desktop. Is this normal, can it be changed?

Yep that's normal, and no it can't easily be changed. The Windows Key just opens / close the start menu (as is standard behaviour in most Windows versions).

If you want quick desktop access you'll have to settle for Win + D

[V23]

~Johnny, on 03 February 2012 - 23:31, said:

Yep that's normal, and no it can't easily be changed. The Windows Key just opens / close the start menu (as is standard behaviour in most Windows versions).

Thanks, makes sense when you put it like that. I assume Windows Key + D still works, so I guess I'll use that instead.

[giantpotato]

V23, on 03 February 2012 - 23:24, said:

I've installed the Developer Preview ahead of the Consumer Preview later this month and I was under the impression that the windows key (on the keyboard) switched between the desktop and start screen? When I press it, it cycles between the start screen and the most recently opened app rather than the desktop. Is this normal, can it be changed?

Yup that's normal. It works just like the start key works in previous versions of windows. Press it and the menu pops up, press it again and the menu goes away. Only in this case the start "menu" takes up the entire screen.

[Night Prowler]

I'm pretty sure there is going to be a MASS installation of Windows 8 when the official beta is released. For me, I never ran any version of Vista, and Windows 7 prior to the beta releases. I'll be running Windows 8 BETA when it's officially released, as I did with Vista, and Windows 7, as my primary desktop.

[Tharp Daddy]

As of tonight, it's my official OS. After installing a new mobo, RAM and CPU in my computer Windows 7 decided to go belly up on me. I no longer have my Windows 7 installation disc, so my only option to install Windows 8 DP as my primary OS. So far i'm having no issues with it.

[V23]

I'm dual booting Windows 7 (default OS) and the Developer Preview but I've barely used Windows 8. However, when the consumer preview hits, I'll switch to Windows 8 full time.

[+AndreaBorman]

I have just installed Windows 8 four days ago on Thursday on one of my netbooks. And I am running Windows 8 as my only operating system. But accident not by design.

I have a 1GB ram netbook,an HP Mini 210 but it has no CD drive. And so I installed Windows 8 on my netbook first by creating a small partition 20GB. And then I downloaded and mounted the Windows 8 ISO on virtual clone drive.

I have limited experience with computers.

And I intended to install Windows 8 as a duel boot with Windows 7 on disk partition that I made. But instead it installed itself on the main drive and it wiped out my Windows 7 completely. And it also wiped out my recovery partition and data. So I cannot even do a factory restore to restore to factory condition to get Windows 7 back.

I later found out that I should have bought a CD drive that I can plug into my USB plug socket on my netbook.To mount the ISO file onto a CD then boot from the CD to install Windows 8. Or put the ISO on a USB thumb drive and install Windows 8 that way.

NOT mount the ISO file on virtual clone drive. Because I found out too late that if you install Windows 8 inside Windows it replaces Windows 7 or whatever version of Windows you have with Windows 8 only.

So the install of Windows 8 has wiped out my Windows 7 and my recovery partition and data. It has upgraded it to Windows 8. the only files that are left on my computer are some Windows Old files that have my old installed programs from Windows 7.

But despite the fact that my netbook now only has Windows 8 as it's only operating system. Windows 8 is running fine.
And I have installed all of my programs from Windows XP and Windows Vista on Windows 8. As well as my Windows 7 programs.Windows Movie Maker 2.1 for Windows XP works on Windows 8 and so does the web cam feature. And all of the other versions of Windows Movie Maker,2.6 and 6 work on Windows 8.
Also I am even running the Windows Vista sidebar on Windows 8 and Windows Calendar from Windows Vista. And WMP 11 works on Windows 8. If you turn WMP 12 off in turn Windows features on or off. So I have got WMP 11 as well and it is running in my Windows 8.And so is Windows Live Essentials for Windows XP,(I don't like the 2011 version.)And all of my web browsers work.

The only thing that does not work on Windows 8 is Windows Mail from Windows Vista. Which works on Windows 7. But despite my best efforts I could not get it to run in Windows 8. But all of the other software I have installed does work on Windows 8.

And I have disabled the metro theme and so I have the Windows 7 start menu. And I advise other users to disable the Metro theme as you don't really need it. Windows 8 works much better with the Windows 7 start menu. And it is what I and other Windows users are used to.

Before I tried Windows 8 I was not in favour of it because I thought it did not have a start menu. But Windows 8 does have the Windows 7 start menu. You just have to disable or turn off the Metro theme to get it back. And you can disable Metro with a simple registry edit. Or you can install software that will do this for you. And there are several software's that will disable the Metro theme. But will also enable it again if you want it back.

Now that I have Windows 8,I would like to keep it. But the version that we have is a developers preview and is due to expire soon. So I hope that when the developers preview expires I will be able to upgrade to or do a clean install of Windows 8 beta. Which they say is for a year.

But I have got 5 other netbooks so I am not too worried about being stuck without an operating system when the developers preview expires. But I am going to buy a CD drive and a Windows 7 full installation CD.So that I can install Windows 7 on the Windows 8 netbook,if I have to. Andrea Borman.