[OFFICIAL] Windows 10 Insider Program

By Ian S.
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

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Windows Technical Preview  

1031 members have voted

  1. 1. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being worst, 5 being best. What do you think of Windows 10 from the leaks so far?

    • 5.Great, best OS ever
      156
    • 4. Pretty Good, needs a lot of minor tweaks
      409
    • 3. OK, Needs a few major improvements, some minor ones
      168
    • 2. Fine, Needs a lot of major improvements
      79
    • 1.Poor, Needs too many improvements, all hope is lost, never going to use it
      41

  2. 2. Based on the recent leaks by Neowin and Winfuture.de, my next OS upgrade will be?

    • Windows 10
      720
    • Windows 8
      20
    • Windows 7
      48
    • Sticking with XP
      3
    • OSX Yosemite
      35
    • Linux
      24
    • Sticking with OSX Mavericks
      3

  3. 3. Should Microsoft give away Windows 10 for free?

    • Yes for Windows 8.1 Users
      305
    • Yes for Windows 7 and above users
      227
    • Yes for Vista and above users
      31
    • Yes for XP and above users
      27
    • Yes for all Windows users
      192
    • No
      71

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted

I just really hope they bring back the F8 functionary of All previous versions of Windows prior to 8. Safe mode should not be hard to access. Oh and please nobody tout how you can tell Windows to reboot into Safe mode from inside normal mode, that just makes you look like an idiot. (because the whole point of safe mode is you can't properly boot.). I know the whole repair crap should kick in after so many failed boots.

 

It's to the point now, I can't walk anyone through accessing safe mode over the phone. Who are running Windows 8.

F8 went away with Windows 7 - not 8.

 

In fact, Microsoft put out a press release warning of exactly that - during the Consumer Preview of 7.  That was, in fact, something that was complained about.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

F8 went away with Windows 7 - not 8.

 

In fact, Microsoft put out a press release warning of exactly that - during the Consumer Preview of 7.  That was, in fact, something that was complained about.

 

supernatural-confused.gif

 

F8 works just fine in Windows 7, I use it all the time. I don't know what you are smoking, but I want some.

  • Knife Party
  • Like 1
Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
Posted

I just really hope they bring back the F8 functionary of All previous versions of Windows prior to 8. Safe mode should not be hard to access. Oh and please nobody tout how you can tell Windows to reboot into Safe mode from inside normal mode, that just makes you look like an idiot. (because the whole point of safe mode is you can't properly boot.). I know the whole repair crap should kick in after so many failed boots.

 

It's to the point now, I can't walk anyone through accessing safe mode over the phone. Who are running Windows 8.

 

And ...

 

Please allow us to select the time zone during the install process.

 

Now, every time I do an installation, I have to remember to do the date/time/region things.

 

This is totally unnecessary. Previous versions (up to Win 7, I think) used to do this.

 

Another retrograde step. :/

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

And ...

 

Please allow us to select the time zone during the install process.

 

Now, every time I do an installation, I have to remember to do the date/time/region things.

 

This is totally unnecessary. Previous versions (up to Win 7, I think) used to do this.

 

Another retrograde step. :/

 

Actually they added that to the 8.1 install. You can now do that during the first boot wizard.

Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
Posted

Actually they added that to the 8.1 install. You can now do that during the first boot wizard.

 

Must have missed it, then. I don't remember it asking me to set the time zone in the last couple of installs of Win 10 I did.

 

I gotta pay more attention... :)

Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted

And ...

 

Please allow us to select the time zone during the install process.

 

Now, every time I do an installation, I have to remember to do the date/time/region things.

 

This is totally unnecessary. Previous versions (up to Win 7, I think) used to do this.

 

Another retrograde step. :/

Actually, you CAN select the time zone during the install process (bottom of the same page as your country, and before your networking settings) - this is unchanged from 8.  (If you have an earlier version of Windows - such as an upgrade install - it imports the settings from it.)

 

Was this a clean install - or an upgrade install?

Neowinian

Dannyu

Posted
Posted

I just figured out a way to port the Windows 8.1 CALC.exe over to Windows 10.
You just need to copy these files from your Windows 8.1 installation:

For 32 Bit Version:
C:\windows\system32\calc.exe
C:\windows\system32\uxtheme.dll
C:\windows\system32\WindowsCodecs.dll
C:\windows\system32\winmm.dll
C:\windows\system32\winmmbase.dll
&
C:\windows\system32\en-US\calc.exe.mui
---
For 64 Bit Version:
C:\windows\SysWOW64\calc.exe
C:\windows\SysWOW64\uxtheme.dll
C:\windows\SysWOW64\WindowsCodecs.dll
C:\windows\SysWOW64\winmm.dll
C:\windows\SysWOW64\winmmbase.dll
&
C:\windows\SysWOW64\en-US\calc.exe.mui
---
These can be ran in a folder by themselves
If you want to run it with the calc command
overwrite the calc.exe file in system32 and sysWOW64, using using the respective 32 bit and 64 bit files,
and copy the calc.exe.mui to the respective en-US folders.
Do NOT overwrite the other 4 .dll files.
Now just hit WIN+R and type calc and press enter. Your old calc is back!
I will not provide any of these files for legal reasons. Thank You & Enjoy!

Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

I just really hope they bring back the F8 functionary of All previous versions of Windows prior to 8. Safe mode should not be hard to access. Oh and please nobody tout how you can tell Windows to reboot into Safe mode from inside normal mode, that just makes you look like an idiot. (because the whole point of safe mode is you can't properly boot.). I know the whole repair crap should kick in after so many failed boots.

 

It's to the point now, I can't walk anyone through accessing safe mode over the phone. Who are running Windows 8.

I haven't had an issue getting to safe mode on 8/8.1

 

the trick now is to hold shift then power on the machine continuing to hold shift & it will take you to the maintenance menu. from which you can get to safe mode among other things

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

I haven't had an issue getting to safe mode on 8/8.1

 

the trick now is to hold shift then power on the machine continuing to hold shift & it will take you to the maintenance menu. from which you can get to safe mode among other things

 

I just happen to have a Windows 8.1 laptop waiting to get picked up. So I opened the laptop. Held down the shift key and turned it on (it had been shut off) and kept holding it down. It booted to the login screen. Didn't work at all. Then I tried it on my Windows 10 touch screen kitchen table computer. Didn't work there either.

 

The problem with the way Windows 8 and Windows 10 do things, so sometimes the Shift+F8 or in your case Shift, work for some people but not for others. Its literally a crap shoot. With the previous F8 method it was a sure thing

Grand Master

TAZMINATOR

Posted
Posted

I just happen to have a Windows 8.1 laptop waiting to get picked up. So I opened the laptop. Held down the shift key and turned it on (it had been shut off) and kept holding it down. It booted to the login screen. Didn't work at all. Then I tried it on my Windows 10 touch screen kitchen table computer. Didn't work there either.

 

The problem with the way Windows 8 and Windows 10 do things, so sometimes the Shift+F8 or in your case Shift, work for some people but not for others. Its literally a crap shoot. With the previous F8 method it was a sure thing

 

You have to enable safe mode in msconfig under boot tab for Windows 8.x and up.  It is off by default so you will have to enable it if you want to use safe mode.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

You have to enable safe mode in msconfig under boot tab for Windows 8.x and up.  It is off by default so you will have to enable it if you want to use safe mode.

 

What if you boot windows normally and get a black screen and can't access msconfig  ;)

Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

I just happen to have a Windows 8.1 laptop waiting to get picked up. So I opened the laptop. Held down the shift key and turned it on (it had been shut off) and kept holding it down. It booted to the login screen. Didn't work at all. Then I tried it on my Windows 10 touch screen kitchen table computer. Didn't work there either.

 

The problem with the way Windows 8 and Windows 10 do things, so sometimes the Shift+F8 or in your case Shift, work for some people but not for others. Its literally a crap shoot. With the previous F8 method it was a sure thing

weird as shift works for me on both a custom build of mine and my toshiba laptop, both i haven't changed any settings in that regard :/

 

edit: it's possible it may not work while the computer is in that partial shutdown hibernation state that was introduced w/ 8. try a full shutdown (shift+shutdown button or via command prompt) then try holding shift again see if it works

Grand Master

TAZMINATOR

Posted
Posted

What if you boot windows normally and get a black screen and can't access msconfig  ;)

 

If you have Windows CD (such as 8.x or 10) and put the CD in and boot it up... it might ask you to repair Windows.. if so, it will repair for you and it will boot to Windows after done.

 

I had "repair Windows" option on Windows 7 a few years ago...  which I was not able to boot to Windows that day... so I thought I would wipe and re-install Windows but got the boot up screen giving me the options including repair Windows... so I thought it was neat... so I chose that option and see... Boom.  It works.  That you don't have to re-install all over again... your data is still there.

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

If you have Windows CD (such as 8.x or 10) and put the CD in and boot it up... it might ask you to repair Windows.. if so, it will repair for you and it will boot to Windows after done.

 

I had "repair Windows" option on Windows 7 a few years ago...  which I was not able to boot to Windows that day... so I thought I would wipe and re-install Windows but got the boot up screen giving me the options including repair Windows... so I thought it was neat... so I chose that option and see... Boom.  It works.  That you don't have to re-install all over again... your data is still there.

 

With customers of Windows 7 if they have an AV stalling out their Windows booting (as an example). I would walk them through over the phone, pressing F8 and getting into safe mode where I could remotely connect and fix it.

 

With Windows 8, I'm at a loss, they have to bring it in as I can't get them into safe mode. It's a definite step back.

Grand Master

TAZMINATOR

Posted
Posted

With customers of Windows 7 if they have an AV stalling out their Windows booting (as an example). I would walk them through over the phone, pressing F8 and getting into safe mode where I could remotely connect and fix it.

 

With Windows 8, I'm at a loss, they have to bring it in as I can't get them into safe mode. It's a definite step back.

 

I understand... After you got their PCs fixed, you go straight to msconfig to enable it so next time they have problem.. you can walk them thru to safe mode next time.  You can test on yours to make sure. 

 

Up to you.   :)

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

I understand... After you got their PCs fixed, you go straight to msconfig to enable it so next time they have problem.. you can walk them thru to safe mode next time.  You can test on yours to make sure. 

 

Up to you.   :)

 

Doesn't the msconfig setting enable safe mode to it enters it upon reboot, so it boots into safe and not into normal mode.

Grand Master

TAZMINATOR

Posted
Posted

Doesn't the msconfig setting enable safe mode to it enters it upon reboot, so it boots into safe and not into normal mode.

 

It's odd. I guess MS changed in Windows 10...

 

So I went to search on how... and found this which it works:

 

http://winaero.com/blog/start-windows-10-in-safe-mode/

 

There you go...   :)

Grand Master

timster

Posted
Posted

I saw this over on MDL. I tried it myself and it does work

 

Holy s.. I just found out that Store apps can run *inside* File Explorer.

Did I missed this? Is this known already?

How to test it: Settings > Personalize > Choose an Image. Now Explorer opens a File Open dialog. You can choose the Photos app from the side pane and the app will run inside Explorer. Crazy. So this is the new File Picker? If so they have a lot to do.

Nn5spbK.jpg

Neowinian

Dannyu

Posted
Posted

Just figured out how to re-enable the old network connection flyout in build 9926

 

  1. Open regedit (WIN+R and type regedit.exe)
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Settings\Network
  3. Take ownership of the "Network" key/folder (right click, Permissions)
  4. Select "Advanced" in the Permissions window
  5. In the Advanced window, select "Change" where the owner field is (at the top of the window)
  6. Type in your username and save your changes.
  7. Close the advanced window
  8. Now select "Administrators" in the security tab
  9. Make sure "Full control" is selected, then apply changes
  10. Now that's done, double click "ReplaceVan"
  11. Change it's value from 1 to 2
    in older builds you changed it to a 0
Grand Master

+Fahim S. MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Just figured out how to re-enable the old network connection flyout in build 9926

  • Open regedit (WIN+R and type regedit.exe)
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Settings\Network
  • Take ownership of the "Network" key/folder (right click, Permissions)
  • Select "Advanced" in the Permissions window
  • In the Advanced window, select "Change" where the owner field is (at the top of the window)
  • Type in your username and save your changes.
  • Close the advanced window
  • Now select "Administrators" in the security tab
  • Make sure "Full control" is selected, then apply changes
  • Now that's done, double click "ReplaceVan"
  • Change it's value from 1 to 2

    in older builds you changed it to a 0

Am I missing something here?

Why would you want to do this? The whole point of a preview/beta is to test the functionality that is proposed to be in the final product and to test if it works, feeding back on usability, functionality and reliability.

The point certainly is not to find hacks to restore the old way. Typically old code isn't taken out until much later.

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