Would you upgrade?

[BreatGritain]

I've got a custom built pc at home which should easily run Windows 8, (even though I don't actually know what the system requirements are for 8...)

 

I didn't bother downloading the trial version so I've never used it before, so I'm wondering really, would you upgrade to Windows 8 for the £25 cost? Would you hold back for now? Or would you avoid it at all costs forever?

 

Thoughts?

[Jelly Bean]

Ive done a little search and found Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

 

Download and install this then run it.This will give you the information you need.

 

The compatability details will say Fire Fox and other browsers are not compatible with Windows 8 but they always print this warning for you to stick to using Internet Explorer.

 

JB.

[Plastic Nev]

Also remember an upgrade will wipe your previous system, as I stated on the other thread, post *4

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/14326-Welcome-to-Windows-8

 

Nev.

[BreatGritain]

Thanks guys, another question I have is, if I do upgrade online, do I get a COA?

 

Thanks,

Tom.

[Plastic Nev]

By COA, do you mean a product key? if so yes, as you will probably need it to activate it I would think. Having not yet used the on line upgrade system though, I only assume that is the case.

I upgraded this Windows 7 to pro from home premium by buying the upgrade from a store, which is nothing more than a product key code on a card which you then use on line. That of course is a different procedure to directly buying on line.

 

Nev.

[BreatGritain]

Hi Nev,

 

I mean a sticker to shove on the side of the case.

 

Thanks,

Tom

[BreatGritain]

I bit the bullet and went for it today.

 

The Product key gets emailed, and they advise to print it off, so no COA sticker!

[Jelly Bean]

Make sure you keep it very safe.

[KenB]

so no COA sticker!

Get a permanent marker and write it on the side of the case.

You could also tape a piece of paper with the Product Code on it inside the case.

[BreatGritain]

Hah, yeah I think I will have to.

 

I'd have preferred the sticker, if I upgrade someone else's pc I don't want it to look like I've installed a pirate copy and pocketed the cash.

[Armageddon]

I've been running the Customer Preview I too have bit the bullet and am upgrading as I type

[Cyprus Hector]

I've read such mixed reviews that I'm undecided on the upgrade. I'm seriously thinking of just buying an iMac when the new models are on sale in December.

[BreatGritain]

The Mixed reviews are fair. It's so much better than 7, it's also so much worse.

 

For the sake of a £25 quid upgrade cost I would consider giving it a go atleast?

[seedy21]

i Agree with Cyprus Hector

 

I think its going to be one of the new Imacs for me.

 

 

I tried the Customer preview of Windows 8 and never like it when you had to move you mouse from the bottom to the top of your screen just log in.

[Sparkyw]

I've just upgraded from XP to Win 8 and I like it.

I missed vista/win 7 as I transferred to mac's for last few years and I find win 8 to be a nice clean looking environment and I don't know what all the fuss is about in the media about start button,swiping on the desktop etc ...after 10 mins I found using search feature quick and so far intuitive.

I would like to add some experience about installation for those who may be tempted to upgrade.

I purchased the upgrade DVD which came with a key serial inside from a major elec retailer for 49.99.When I booted from it from an old xp pc to run install it gives you two options:1-upgrade or 2:clean install and also gives you option to format hdd prior to install.

I did the latter and a clean install which wiped my old XP install (which I earlier installed fresh) and then when Win 8 booted I ran updates,all ok. The applied my free media centre serial number,installed added features,reboot and them system says windows not activated,buy key etc....damn.

I then reinstalled XP all over again using my old XP key then chose upgrade with 'keep nothing' (only choose this if you have no personal files to keep!) and then did the above again to find everything all ok.

A quick google search find similar encountance of this silly option to clean install and no option to re-enter your old XP key so be carefull on this one if you the kind to want to do a clean install like I prefer to do.

[KenB]

I am using Win8 at the moment.

 

I have XP / Vista and 7 machines and this, as already stated by a few, is very different.

I may go as far to say frustrating at times ( but I am over that now ).

 

This is a new machine and came with the usual bloatware!

I hate it when a machine comes pre-installed with McAfee - this even had Norton as a back-up option.

One of the first things I did was to install Revo Uninstaller and get rid of them - plus other software that I didn't want or need.

 

I then decided to download MS Essentials - my favourite AV - to discover that Win 8 already has it installed in the form of Windows Defender.

Defender is not new and was always part of Vista and Win7 - but not in this form.

It is, as already stated, a combination of the old Defender plus Essentials. So no need to download an AV .....it is already there.

 

Now the frustrating part

I found the search option quite quickly and needed to enable Defender as McAfee on the system meant that the inbuilt option was disabled.

Fine - type in "Defender" into the search option and hit ENTER.

I got a message that Defender was disabled - I knew that !! I wanted to enable it but couldn't open Defender to do so !!

 

Quick search on line I thought ......

I found numerous options that suggested various methods - none of which worked.

( and I was online without an AV !! )

I spent a very frustrating hour or so trying to enable what should have been a simple process.

Got there in the end :)

 

The thing with Win8 is that the system is very different from the previous systems.

Things that were readily available in Vista seem to be hidden in Win8

 

I like the look of the Operating System it will, however, take some time to find out where everything is hiding.

[RandyL]

Gee whizz KenB. Don't you ever read my posts? :D

 

Windows Defender and MSE

[KenB]

Don't you ever read my posts?

You should know by now that I never read any of your posts :) :)

 

Now you point it out - I did read that but at the time it wasn't relevant - so the memory banks disregarded it.

My memory is a bit like RAM - once I go to sleep it is wiped and starts again next morning :)

http://image.fg-a.com/christmas/3-animated-santa-claus.gif

[RandyL]

As usual your humor and wit far surpasses mine once again. Nice Santa gif file you added too.

 

By never reading my posts you mean always. :D

 

Merry Christmas bud.

[KenB]

Merry Christmas bud.

You too my friend :)

[TutorIndia]

I would surely upgrade to win 8. I m bored with windows 7