Windows 8 - does anybody have it? If so - question

[whirlcool]

I find the key to upgrade goes as follows:

Does the system do what you want, when you want and fast enough? If the answer is yes you generally don't need to upgrade. I find that most people upgrade either their computers or OS when they need their computers to do something and what they have can't do it. Of course there are those who have to be the first on their block to have the new OS too ASAP.

Microsoft really went berserk over the lack of sales of Windows Vista. I went to a PC presentation for computer techs with a friend and a Microsoft rep was there. This was maybe 6-7 years ago when Vista was out for about a year. Microsoft blamed the techs for lack of sales of Vista. The major complaint about Vista was the lack of drivers for some quite common hardware and it's bugginess. The Microsoft rep just shot back saying that they released all the driver info in plenty of time before Vista's release and some companies decided they weren't going to support Vista. So it was left to the computer tech's outside of Microsoft to get these companies to write the drivers! When a few guys complained that customers should not be left holding the bag for a lack of hardware drivers the MS rep just shouted at them "You guys just don't get it, do you?"

One time I was flying into Las Vegas years ago and their was a skywriting airplane writing "Welcome Bill Gates" in the air. Kind of like "Surrender Dorothy". Then when you got in the terminal there were these "hostesses" handing out little chocolate candy bars in gold wrapping that looked like a "Start Button" in Windows. Something was afoot.

 

[mark_wpduet]

XP End date

Well won't exploits be written and sent out making non-supported XP machines vulnerable?

Oh, and the DNS flush DIDN'T work!

I think out of all versions of Windows, 7 is definitely my favorite. I thought it was XP, until I used 7.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Well won't exploits be written and sent out making non-supported XP machines vulnerable?</blockquote> Only for vulnerabilities found that don't get fixed, and if/when there's no AV package available.  I ran WinNT for several years, with no AV, long after M$ quit supporting it and didn't catch any infections.  Safe usage habits go a *long* way to avoiding troubles.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Sometimes -

I listen to Kim Komando

I think just a few weeks ago, when I was listening, she stated that the percent of people STILL using XP (if I recall correctly) was in the 40 percent range!!!

 

[DADoES]

 
XP runs on four machines in my direct care.  Win7 on one.

 

[rayjay]

Hi Mark.

Just got a new laptop two weeks ago. It has Windows 8.
There is a bit of a learning curve, but as I go along I like it.

I bought my Toshiba laptop at Costco and they provide free concierge service.
I found them to be very helpfull.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Rayjay

Thanks - I'm past the learning curve. So since you didn't mention it, I'm assuming you don't have the funky browser web page problem?

I did read something interesting for Samsung laptops (I think it was Samsung).....Lots of people were having the EXACT issue I was having based on their descriptions, to a T! Their solution was to uninstall Samsung "Support" from the add/remove, then the browsers worked perfectly.......but since MY laptop isn't a Samsung (it's a Lenovo), that didn't help me. But I uninstalled Lenovo Support to see if that would help. It didn't! This is going to drive me INSANE until I figure it out.

 

[ovrphil]

MS makes and takes lives

I've had a few support roles and like others, forced to use Windows...and found you could get stabiilty in Windows with 3.11(windows for workgroups), NT, and XP more easily than other Windows products.

Just as background/prelude: Windows OS used to become slower, buggier, and "tangled" in its millions of lines of code. It has been a while and I don't have Windows now, but in the past, if I had problems like this, I would 1) remove software and format the drive using Windows OS of my choice and run without loading any applications, making sure I had the latest fix(Service Pack) but keeping away from SP3 for Windows XP. Additionally, I'd partition into 2 or 3 and have two versions of Windows OS and Linux. If something stopped working, I had another OS to use. )

I'm not sure you would like to try a reformat and reload of the OS, with the strategy of reloading it CLEAN, minus any of the extraneous applications. The point here is, sometimes manufacturers(Lenova, Dell, etc) applications caused problems with simple Windows operations, even if you didn't run them. It's not common, I know, but the idea of reloading your laptop with a clean copy of Windows 8 and then manually adding the other apps of your liking, one by one - testing the operation of the laptop as you add each one and are satisfied it's working as expected, is a way to test and see if your browser works with the given hardware and software.

I know the challenge in this suggestion is getting Windows OS 8 and your current applications on two different DVD's. If you find a solution in the threads relating to your problem, go for it. My way is not painless, but I often did this where Windows OS became slower or buggier. Windows is ok - it keeps alot of people working, doesn't it?

 

[wringingwet]

I just bought a Asus laptop

Mark

It came with widows 8 with 7 running in the background ... I had the same problem you are having. I had them remove it from my system completely and I am running windows 7 which suit me just fine.

My issue was that ever time you tried to star a program or visit a web site I had to register with Microsoft each time, so annoying. It kept on wanting me to join the cloud ... Not my cup of tea

just my thoughts

Philippe

 

[cleanteamofny]

This may work:
(Long way)

1 Go to Start
2 Right click on empty space on page until {all apps} shows and click on that
3 Window System/control panal/internet option/advance and reset IE Setting.

When you get a chance, make sure your Java is up to date and Adobe Flash, Air and Shockwave player is too and don't forget MS .Net Framework is also!
They all work together as one unit.....

 

[nurdlinger]

CleanteamofNY

3 Window System/control panal/internet option/advance and reset IE Setting.

Specifically which IE setting do you mean? There are several settings which mention that browser.

 

[mark_wpduet]

For internet explorer. I just opened the browser and navigated to what I think he was talking about. At the very top right of IE, there's a little spiked wheel icon, click that, then internet options.....then the "advanced tab" then you'll see toward the bottom "restore advanced settings" and "reset".....reset both of those by clicking them. After you do it you'll see the screen flash briefly....and it will be reset..........
But that didn't help......I wasn't aware that internet explorer settings had anything to do with chrome or firefox.....

Someone also said to right click the Google Chrome shortcut which is on the desktop and click properties, then there is a compatability tab......check compatibility.....then choose windows 7........I'm not sure what that is supposed to do, but it didn't work either.
I'm going to try to explain in detail a weird thing I just noticed.......In Google chrome I have bookmarks, and most websites have an icon beside the bookmark. The local weather blog I visit has a rain cloud icon......that site is the worst offender to give me an error. If I go to that website by clicking the link in the bookmarks, more often than not, it goes to a Yahoo search engine page searching for the name of the weather blog.....and the rain cloud icon turns to a purple letter Y beside the bookmark where the rain cloud is supposed to be, then I can refresh, and it goes back to the website and the raincloud icon is back..........I can't understand what yahoo has to do with any of this.....it's crazy......other times it just is a blank page saying server can't be found or something.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I'm not having this problem

at all using Internet Explorer.......

I wonder if I should uninstall chrome and firefox and reinstall them?

 

[rickr]

Windows Hate...

Is what I call it.... And I do hate it. Purchased a new HP with it this past winter. My ten year old Dell was nicer to use, and faster. I gave the old one to Timot, before I realized how bad this new one was. I will NOT be keeping this POS for ten years.

 

[cleanteamofny]

It like you may have to uninstall both browser and re-install.
Mind boggling!

 

[mark_wpduet]

There's this cool FREE little utility

called "DriverMax"

I downloaded it, registered, and it scans your computer and it found 14 out of date drivers.........It then lets you download the driver needed from the program (which it's doing now) and then once downloaded it installs them.........

So...........HOPEFULLY it is a driver issue.......I've never updated drivers on a computer before so I have no experience. I hope I don't screw something up.

 

[mark_wpduet]

the driver updates worked

I haven't had the first issue with chrome or firefox since updating the drivers. I can only assume by now that it's fixed because it has been working for hours now with not a single error.....before, it was after about six web page loads that it would start........

 

[ovrphil]

14 OOD Drivers

Mark WpDuet - not knowing you haven't updated your drivers, I would have suggested that first, then follow the other suggestions. My idea would be the dead last one - so keep us posted. Sounds like you've solved the bulk of your problems. Windows never seem to be easy to clean. LOL!

 

[davetranter]

Good old Win98

A big 'Hear, Hear' for Launderess (reply #16). I still use Win98 for everything except the Internet. It's a fantastic, stable OS. Probably the best MS ever came up with IMHO.

All best

Dave T

 

[kb0nes]

Win 98

I was a die hard Win 98 fan too. I held off as long as I could but ultimately I learned that XP was FAR better. So I would no longer use 98 on a system after that.

Then a short time ago, after ignoring Vista, I built a system with Win 7. It has proved to be FAR better then XP. I will never build another system with XP on it now. My old laptop is still XP and so is my amateur radio station computer. Both will be replaced soon with new hardware and Win 7.

The big thing to remember is that is seldom a wise idea to "upgrade" a computers operating system to a newer version. The newer OS's are built for newer more capable hardware and won't run well on older systems. This is the most common reason people complain that their computer gets "slower". As long as the original software is kept on a computer, and it doesn't get loaded with malware etc, a computer will never "get slower".

As an example, up to two years ago I was using a 1999 workstation (dual Pentium III's !!) at my desk at work! Running Win 2000, Office 2000 and AutoCad 2000 the system still performed the same as new 12 years on. Boy the new Quad Core Win 7 machine sure is better. But had it come with Win 8, I'd buy a Win 7 license and reload it...

For the record I also use a Mac at home as a secondary system. The hardware quality and integration of the software is great. It sure works better with iTunes then the PC platform for instance. But I couldn't deal with the Mac OS full time. Part of it is familiarity of Windows but part is that the Mac OS just isn't versatile enough. My other buddy that bought his Mac the same time as I is now running VM ware on his . He tried to adapt but there was just no way.