Windows 8.1 Preview: Flip-ahead in IE11 Desktop, and other findings


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Windows 8.1 Preview: Flip-ahead in IE11 Desktop, and other findings

 

Seems there is no "findings" thread so far, if you find anything new but don't wish to start a new thread, feel free to post here. :)

 

- Flip-ahead can now be enabled in the desktop mode of IE11

 

screen_10_zpsdbd49511.jpg

 

- You can also add WMC with the WCP key MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7

  It would probably show a "fail to install" error, just close it and reboot, and have Win8.1 Pro Preview   with Media Centre.

 

 

- Users now have to start a MS account user a/c, and log in with password every time.

  To auto-logon win8.1, it's just the same like before:

  run(right-click left-bottom screen), enter : netplwiz

  untick "users have to enter blah blah", then enter the required password.

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Open PC Settings aka Metro Control Panel, navigate to PC & Devices, click on Devices and on the bottom of the screen there is an option Default save locations which, judging by the description, allows to save files to a removable drive by default. Haven't tested this though.

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To change start-screen background to same as desktop(or other pics):
- charm menu ->settings

screen_11_zpsafa42c95.jpg

- personalize, then you can see the desktop wallpaper as a choice.

screen_12_zps6eb579d1.jpg

-choose it.

screen_13_zpsde41eb6d.jpg

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Were you able to perform an Upgrade install? How was the install process? Was it like upgrading to a whole new Windows or was it simpler than that?

 

Also will you have to perform a clean install when the full 8.1 update ships?

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Yes, I upgraded mine from the store and it was straightforward. It took a while to download but when I returned to "That PC" after a while, it was all set and waiting on me to agree for some std EULA bs.

Clicked Agree - it cycled through the color screens and done.

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Were you able to perform an Upgrade install? How was the install process? Was it like upgrading to a whole new Windows or was it simpler than that?

 

Also will you have to perform a clean install when the full 8.1 update ships?

 

I upgraded. The install process went like this:

 

You download an update package from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/download-preview, install it, reboot.

You then install the update via the Windows Store. This took about 45 mins all in all, with several reboots inbetween.

 

All in all a fairly straightforward process. 

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@McKay: You will be able to upgrade from the preview to final but it will only save your data. Any RT or desktop apps will need to be reinstalled.

 

I noticed that the charms bar is off-center either up or down depending on which hot corner you swiped from. Kinda handy because it reduces the distance you need to move your mouse to click one of the buttons.

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@McKay: You will be able to upgrade from the preview to final but it will only save your data. Any RT or desktop apps will need to be reinstalled.

 

I noticed that the charms bar is off-center either up or down depending on which hot corner you swiped from. Kinda handy because it reduces the distance you need to move your mouse to click one of the buttons.

 

 

That's interesting, no one else has noticed that yet it seems.

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Liking 8.1 so far, I thought Microsoft said long ago there were going to upgrade that old style cascade menu/check box list style, seems so cluttered and dated now. 

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If you pull down a running metro apps, e.g. the metro IE in this case, you could find in task manager that it is actually still running in background:

 

screen_19_zps9f497750.jpg

 

 

To close it for real, after pull it down, hold the mouse for about 2 seconds until the thumbnail flips,

 

Open task manager, it is still running, but close by itself after about 3 seconds. :)

 

screen_20_zps0be7bf28.jpg

 

That is:

 

pull-down = sleep; simply double-click the item in task manager, and it immediately opens in the previous state.

 

pull-dow+flip = permenent close and dosen't take any PC resources.

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That's interesting, no one else has noticed that yet it seems.

 

It's not really an upgrade given only your documents are carried over, all your apps have to be re installed.

 

Not like going from Windows 8 to the final Windows 8.1 build where everything will be kept.

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- Users now have to start a MS account user a/c, and log in with password every time.

 

The Windows 8.1 Preview does not require a Microsoft account.  During setup when it asks you to sign in with a Microsoft account, fail to sign in, and then the option to create a local user appears.

 

You can also still create a local user account if you signed in with a Microsoft account through the MMC or "Control Panel\User Accounts".

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I hope they can win it and keep it.  SkyDrive has been around for so long and just now Sky TV wants to make a fuss over this? 

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I'm sure it's just trolling, they'll reach some kind of settlement. Same thing happened with Apple and Cisco over the iPhone trademark.

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Neowin News reported on MS lost a SkyDrive copyright, presently awaiting appeal:

 

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-loses-in-court-in-skydrive-uk-trademark-dispute-but-will-appeal

 

Seems MS had made preparation for a name change:

 

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/45420-DISCUSSION-Windows-8-1-Preview/page111?p=770125&viewfull=1#post770125

 

UN55pG8.png

Over here it just says "Your storage space on SkyDrive"

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Over here it just says "Your storage space on SkyDrive"

 

You have to change a key in the registry to do this.

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You have to change a key in the registry to do this.

 

 

Over here it just says "Your storage space on SkyDrive"

Right, the MDL post I linked has the registry key. :)

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Neowin News reported on MS lost a SkyDrive copyright, presently awaiting appeal:

 

https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-loses-in-court-in-skydrive-uk-trademark-dispute-but-will-appeal

 

Seems MS had made preparation for a name change:

 

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/45420-DISCUSSION-Windows-8-1-Preview/page111?p=770125&viewfull=1#post770125

 

UN55pG8.png

 

I don't always get pumped up for pie charts but when I do!!!

While im here, whats flip ahead do?

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It is well-known that to install win8, NX must be present in CPU. A MDL thread requested if there was any chance to bypass this requirement.

 

Forget all the blah blahs, things start to become interesting from this post:

 

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/37517-Q-Win-8-bypass-PAE-NX-SSE2-check/page9?p=763651&viewfull=1#post763651

 

Since it involves patching of ntoskrnl.exe, I am not sure if it is warez, so better not to elaborate on procedures and downloads - any-one interested please search for it by himself. :)

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