upgrading my laptop O/S to W8 Pro

[bigj2552]

houston - we are IN !
time to sort out this little bad boy.

[Mattie]

houston - we are IN !
time to sort out this little bad boy.

Good luck! if I see a laptop for sale later (spares or repair) I won't laugh honest lol

[mgibbs]

You can install it without using Windows Live credentials.

If you're using it for dyesub I don't think PowerDriver for Windows 8 is out yet.

Mark

[RogerC]

This will be interesting to see if you have problems running existing software programmes. Other forums have some horror stories.......good luck.

[Justin]

I've never liked upgrading os's I always feel this is a good opportunity for a fresh install

[JMugs]

Just done a fresh install on my netbook with XP, back to wizzing along. Main computer on 7, working just fine so will leave alone.
I watch with interest.

[steve 1]

hello johhny
you still with us bud are you sorted or out buying new keyboard

[bigj2552]

still here guys - JUST :frown: this is tear yer hair out stuff.... i feel like i,m starting all over again when PC's first came out around late 80's

[bigj2552]

back again -
boy has this been interesting.

upgrade to windows 8 - wifi speeds on laptop drop to 1/4 - sorted - changed settings in router - full speed again.
just now getting to grips with the new GUI. nice eye candy once you get used to the layout.
i would say its a bit faster than W7 - start up time esp.

just transferring all music from laptop to one of the main PC'S - i,m gonna do a full format and a total fresh install.
WHY ?
cause windows 8 has made ALL my partitions dynamic instead of basic, and i,m dammed if i can find a way to get it back without losing all my music, and you cannot install O/S on a dynamic HDD - so transferring music as i type, then a full format and clean install, then this might just a more pleasant experience.(after i convert HDD back to basic )

i only made the install partition 20g anyway,just to see if it would load it without losing all my music - and 19.5g is way to small.

so -
think once i do clean reinstall and potter about more with it, i might just even like it
Yes there are a few programs that i couldnt get to work, but they will.
and NO guys, this aint gonna be used for any sub work. Have other machines for that job

[bigj2552]

update -

done clean install last night but windows 8 now didnt recognize the product key i bought.( cause its not upgrading anymore from windows 7 due to clean install )
Had to do a reg hack to fix this :rolleyes:

downloaded the "classic shell" for windows 8 - gives me the look and feel of windows 7 but i have an option at touch of keyboard to go into the windows 8 GUI if i desire.
also bought ( £3 ) start8, which give me the option of having back either - xp, window7 or windows 8 full start menus, but with all the speed of windows 8 O/S. Now have the best of both worlds.

And a few other little reg hacks to make it slightly more user friendly, i am now liking windows 8
With a little patience ( HA - up till 5am last night and the night before :frown: ) and armed with some decent tools for the job, windows 8 can be made to work really,really good.
Start up and close are much, much faster, as is anything else within this windows environment.

oh, and you might find you wireless speeds dropping ( a lot ) when you upgrade to windows 8 - this can also be fixed by router changes or another little reg hack

off to trial some software and see how it - installs ok - and if they run ok.

VERDICT SO FAR - UP GRADE WHILE ITS ONLY £14.99

edit - changed the HDD from dynamic disk to basic with Hirens boot CD - delved right into the core of the laptop, but it worked. i Had to, otherwise i couldn't install window 8 O/S(or any other o/s) onto a dynamic disk :rolleyes:

i'll be BACK :biggrin:

another edit - so much better than the hammer alternative lol