Windows 8

As in, blank out some partitions and install into that space? Using the tool Eezy_Bordone linked you'll be able to make a bootable usb stick that you can install from, with that you can delete/format the partitions you want and install into the right unallocated space/partition. Be aware of the need to backup, and what will happen to any other OS installed on that drive.

Scratched wrote:

As in, blank out some partitions and install into that space? Using the tool Eezy_Bordone linked you'll be able to make a bootable usb stick that you can install from, with that you can delete/format the partitions you want and install into the right unallocated space/partition. Be aware of the need to backup, and what will happen to any other OS installed on that drive.

I followed those instructions to get it on the USB I just don't know how to boot (and I didn't see them in the direction) to actually start it like a brand new install. I'll go back and reread the directions.

Ulairi wrote:
Scratched wrote:

As in, blank out some partitions and install into that space? Using the tool Eezy_Bordone linked you'll be able to make a bootable usb stick that you can install from, with that you can delete/format the partitions you want and install into the right unallocated space/partition. Be aware of the need to backup, and what will happen to any other OS installed on that drive.

I followed those instructions to get it on the USB I just don't know how to boot (and I didn't see them in the direction) to actually start it like a brand new install. I'll go back and reread the directions.

Probably need to switch your boot order or settings in BIOS/UEFI.

Awesome. That was able to get it working. I'm now running Windows 8 straight up.

First big thing bugging me is that when I try to play LoL when it switches from the Patcher to the game it constantly crashes.

I haven't played enough other games to get feedback on that. I kind of wish I kept with Windows 7.

Curious, are there any Windows Weekly listeners here? I stopped listening to that show quite a while ago but Paul Thurrott is one of the last people left who actually evangelises Windows so I'm curious what he thinks of the forced Metro UI.

So Windows 8 is pretty terrible. I'm glad I downloaded the preview, I'll reinstall Windows 7 and be done with it.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

Curious, are there any Windows Weekly listeners here? I stopped listening to that show quite a while ago but Paul Thurrott is one of the last people left who actually evangelises Windows so I'm curious what he thinks of the forced Metro UI.

Was thinking along the same lines here. Windows Weekly became quite crappy information and reality wise...but Leo has a way of keeping Paul in line concerning Windows and the truth. But, if someone already did the dirty deed...please share your wisdom here

Ars is talking it up big, to the point that I wonder if they've lost their collective minds. They've been a Windows shop for quite awhile, but they're getting into serious fanboi territory with their latest articles.

Something that's been bouncing around my head recently is whether W8 is another Vista, not the version that got released but the first version before they restarted development with better management so it actually gets released. The one where they just threw a lot of stuff into it and it didn't come together.

I remember this concept video showing lots of flashy graphics and animations, and a sidebar that was pretty smart and useful. From the desktop perspective I can't help thinking there's some aspects of what they've done in metro that have some value but they're presented in such an obnoxious way that no one will use them. I don't want a full screen for one app, or a large sidebar dedicated to one app, but looking at the 'old vista' sidebar I think it could be hammered into a shape that fits and the desktop usage model, same with the start screen.

I just really doubt W8 will get the kick up the arse before release that Vista did during development.

The whole point of the thing is basically to get rid of windows altogether. Everything in Metro is either fullscreen or a (non-resizable?) tile, no other option.

So why call it Windows? Metro should be a separate OS. Trying to make Windows not be about windows is ludicrous.

Metro looks like it would be really excellent for a tablet, but another huge miss -- they didn't make it resolution-independent. That's got to be among the all-time stupid ideas. In this day and age, with hugely high-res screens in the immediate future, they couldn't be bothered to write their new interface to properly support them.

I don't know what the heck they're thinking over there. W8 looks like it's purely a cash grab, to try to muscle in on Apple, without truly thinking the problems all the way through and delivering something that's thoroughly awesome.

There are elements of awesome peeking out, but taken as a whole, it just doesn't work. It's awkward and much poorer at what we're already doing, to benefit hardware we don't have, and may never buy.

Why does Apple's design process work so much better than Microsoft's? Was it just The Steve?

Malor wrote:

So why call it Windows? Metro should be a separate OS. Trying to make Windows not be about windows is ludicrous.

Yes, that's where I am. Although there's the metro-only ARM version, it does seem like they could flick a few switches and make a desktop oriented variant.

I don't think too many people particularly care about the underneath improvements to the core of windows, they care about the operation. Windows is just something I have to use to get at the things and tasks I want to perform, people don't use windows so much as they use a web browser, or they use a game, or use excel. It should get out of the way.

Malor wrote:

Why does Apple's design process work so much better than Microsoft's? Was it just The Steve?

It would be hard to know for sure, but I think it speaks to having a clear direction, and to strive to be the best in that direction.

One big thing Microsoft has screwed up on is that when my computer is left alone downloading a big file, say FFXIV, it goes to the log in screen and cuts everything that was happening off. So, I'm unable to actually do anything because Microsoft is treating my PC like a tablet. It stinks!

Oh dear Lord, that is ridiculous.

I thought it was just, you know, kinda bad, but you're making it sound like it needs cleansing with fire.

I was really trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and thinking that this might be set up so as to direct people's focus to the new stuff. From what I've read though this is effectively RC1 in which case it should be feature locked. Maybe they'll decide Metro is a bug?

Ulairi wrote:

One big thing Microsoft has screwed up on is that when my computer is left alone downloading a big file, say FFXIV, it goes to the log in screen and cuts everything that was happening off. So, I'm unable to actually do anything because Microsoft is treating my PC like a tablet. It stinks!

Whoa. Seriously? That's completely ridiculous.

I am astounded that Microsoft's apparent approach after seeing everybody say "OMG, Apple is turning MacOS into a dumbed-down tablet OS!!!!11!!" (after Apple starts adding a handful of the best features from iOS into MacOS, slowly, one OS iteration at a time) is to double down on that idea and go all the way.

Curious to see how many ridiculous versions of W8 will be offered this time.
Maybe they will learn and just have one? That would be nice.

Also recalling that MS announced way back then, not to have forgotten the gamers amongst us.
Introducing Games for Windows (and in one sweep killing an awesome magazine 'Computer Gaming World') for the pc. A total lemon. Making gaming worse even (having to log into MS live, when already playing on Steam. But when not logging in, nothing would be saved ingame...really?? Bioshock 2 for instance)
But it is very quiet on the gaming front. Which I can understand, as there is the XBOX. But MS can't say that out loud of course. Steam OS, please come soon! lol

I think it is a step backwards from win7. Which I will stick to for a while. At least till SP1 or SP2 has been released. And really, a desktop OS with the focus on being a tablet OS, is just a terrible idea.

LiquidMantis wrote:

I was really trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and thinking that this might be set up so as to direct people's focus to the new stuff. From what I've read though this is effectively RC1 in which case it should be feature locked. Maybe they'll decide Metro is a bug?

If they are shipping in a few months then yes.. this thing will probably be stillborn.... or at least essentially another Windows Vista where its 100% ignored for the most part until its fairly functional with a Service Pack and then much more functional with the next version.. so Windows 9 in 2013? lol

edit

Thankfully there is nothing fundamentally different architecture wise from Windows 7 so all your existing programs etc.. will continue to function just fine.. Unless Microsoft makes their core apps suddenly "Metro" only (like Office) then there should be no functional upgrade required from anyone.

TheGameguru wrote:

Thankfully there is nothing fundamentally different architecture wise from Windows 7 so all your existing programs etc.. will continue to function just fine.. Unless Microsoft makes their core apps suddenly "Metro" only (like Office) then there should be no functional upgrade required from anyone.

That's something I'm thankful for, that there's no "DirectX 12, only on Win8" (as far as we know, the CP has DX11)

Scratched wrote:
TheGameguru wrote:

Thankfully there is nothing fundamentally different architecture wise from Windows 7 so all your existing programs etc.. will continue to function just fine.. Unless Microsoft makes their core apps suddenly "Metro" only (like Office) then there should be no functional upgrade required from anyone.

That's something I'm thankful for, that there's no "DirectX 12, only on Win8" (as far as we know, the CP has DX11)

Yep from a Gamer perspective we are all safe for now..

I think fundamentally the "concept" is sound.. but in execution creating a single OS that is both touch and "mouse" friendly is incredibly difficult.. if Apple has decided its either A) not worth it or B) not "technically" possible; you do have to wonder if Microsoft really thought this one through or simply let the Marketing dept. sell something that on paper sounded great. (wouldn't be the first time)

Malor wrote:

Why does Apple's design process work so much better than Microsoft's? Was it just The Steve?

Apple's design process starts with, "What do we want people to be able to do with our new product?" Microsoft's starts with, "What features do we want our new product to have?"

After about a week with it I dont want to sound hyperbolic.. but this thing if its feature complete it's a turd. I would be willing to give it a shot on a tablet.. especially if they have a really good touch screen version of Office and Remote Desktop.. but for desktops PC's (and Enterprise PC's) its probably WORSE than Vista. Vista was just slow as dirt out the box..but by SP1 it was perfectly functional on a PC with 4GB+ Ram.... (I still think a big part of Windows Vista negativity was running it on substandard hardware) this just screams Turd.

Heads will roll at MS for this one...

edit

and seriously this Metro crap is on the Server version as well?? I mean like Windows Enterprise Server 2012?? really? really? really??

I don't understand why anyone thinks this is a good idea. They should only use this for the tablets and just improve Windows 7 for computers.

Would this be an improvement over Windows7 on a HTPC?

Norfair wrote:

Would this be an improvement over Windows7 on a HTPC?

I don't see why. Metro interface is not made for that either. As it is, I don't see many
good innovations for htpc. I think because there is the xbox from ms.

Norfair wrote:

Would this be an improvement over Windows7 on a HTPC?

I haven't loaded it yet, but supposedly Windows Media Center hasn't had much done to it. I'll post back if I see anything that makes it better than Win 7.

Andy Ihnatko is surprisingly (to me) quite taken by Windows 8. A total Apple fanboy for sure.
And I really appreciate his insights on technology.
Article on the Chicago Sun-Times website.

My overall opinion is so high that it has to be stated right here in the first paragraph: Microsoft has really cracked something here. With the Metro user interface, they’ve created a simple and beautiful design language that’s relevant to a broad range of devices and to the ways that people use computers in the second decade of the 21st century.
Also, a PC running Windows 8 feels like two entirely separate machines that share the same screen and keyboard via a KVM switch. I feel like I’m in Metro World and make occasional commutes to Conventional Windows World, or vice-versa. I’d like to see a smoother integration.

That just screams hype to me.

WTF does this even mean wrote:

simple and beautiful design language that’s relevant to a broad range of devices and to the ways that people use computers in the second decade of the 21st century.

I don't use a broad range of devices in one form factor, so I'd prefer a scalpel precision instrument for each. Win8 may be a great tablet OS, but I don't particularly care because I'm a desktop user, for which W8 offers little or could even be considered a negative. Right now the only time I think I'd consider W8 is for a really high end tablet, and even then it's not an automatic win compared to the established competition.

If Metro is in the server OS, Microsoft might as well just hand over the keys for the server market to someone else. Even the Windows 7 UI is clunky and slow with the ancient video capabilities of most servers (I still am amazed our brand new HP servers use a PCI RAGE XL chip) and Metro will guarantee that no one will upgrade to Server 8.

I haven't had time to make my dedicated Windows 8 station yet but I did muck around with a VM a little more. I really, really hope the feedback on this preview is so negative that Microsoft decides to delay Windows 8 for a massive retooling. I don't want to see PCs lose yet more ground to Apple and the many things wrong with Mac OS but I firmly believe it's a guarantee if they release this as-is.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

Even the Windows 7 UI is clunky and slow with the ancient video capabilities of most servers (I still am amazed our brand new HP servers use a PCI RAGE XL chip)

Wait, people still work at server consoles?