W8 + 1, should I or shouldn't I ?

[Hafoi Bin Ereafower]

Having just about got used to (put up with) Windows 8 - on starting up my lap-top this a.m. got a message from the "good folks" (always thinks that sounds like George Bush) saying "Update to W8+1 for free".

 

Now a bit like KenB I don't mind being told (advised) something for free that could possibly help my life is available - - but I do object to the high handed nature of there being no way out of it other than to go to the store then windows key, start screen, top left, right click, move mouse and click on close - I know it's quick but it's the principle of the thing.

 

It tells you a lot about the ethos of a company when they want to lead you down a path rather than say "here's something you might want to consider but if not click here to close".

 

Any road up - that's my rant for the day over - I've read a few reviews and comments about W8+1 and I'm not against upgrading just that I want to think about it and having read n thunked - I think need to know the following.

 

Can anyone tell me if I do upgrade all my existing "apps" (silly word) programs will continue to work and I won't have to spend three days reloading modifying my system again to get it back to where I was in the first place ?

 

Regards, H.B.E.

[KenB]

Hi HBE

 

You have obviously read my rant :)

 

The banner popped up again today - but this time it did have an option button "Remind me Later" - which was a big improvement on the original.

I couldn't find anything that said "I don't want it !! "

 

From my point of view there have been too many problems with this update.

I know some here have upgraded without a hitch but I prefer to wait until MS get their act together.

 

From what some say - there is no obvious difference ..... other than a start button which Win 8 doesn't have.

 

You need somebody from here who has upgraded to 8.1 without problems to explain the benefits.

 

It may be beneficial to create an image of your hard drive with Win 8 OS then if you have problems with 8.1 you can revert back to exactly as Win 8 was before.

[wellies]

Can anyone tell me if I do upgrade all my existing "apps" (silly word) programs will continue to work and I won't have to spend three days reloading modifying my system again to get it back to where I was in the first place ?

I think any upgrade can give trouble, just the same as the upgrade could when going from 3.11 to Windows 95 to Windows 98 to XP to Vista to Windows 7 to Windows 8. However, we manage to get up and running in the end. Complicated things these computers and experiences might vary a bit. I'd say not to be too scathing about Microsoft. After all, they have played a great part in making it possible for most of us to be here on the Internet. So endeth the anti-rant. :)

 

My own experience of the upgrade to 8.1 wasn't bad but I did need to have two goes at it. This was because I mucked the system around quite a bit the first time trying out this and that.

 

Prudently, I had made a disk image of Windows 8 before starting with the upgrade and one of Windows 8.1 immediately after it was done. When I'd messed up the 8.1 system the first time, I reverted gratefully to the Windows 8 disk image for a few hours. Not to be daunted though, I loaded up the 8.1 disk image the next day and had another go at it. This time, everything was fine and I haven't looked back. 8.1 is running great now.

 

The 8.1 upgrade didn't give trouble with existing programs not running after the upgrade. The only reason I messed around and upset the system was because the text was blurry in Firefox and one thing led to another.

 

KenB's advice to make a disk image before starting is very good. Also make one immediately after it. Then you'll have two points of return if trouble is experienced. One to get back to Windows 8 and another back to the beginning of 8.1 without having to download and install it again.

 

About the only immediately noticeable differences after the upgrade are:

 

1. The tiles on the Start Screen can be made smaller.

 

2. If you have a Microsoft account, your full name is displayed at the top-right of the screen, rather than just your computer username. A bit unnerving at first.

 

3. There is a Start Button but it doesn't bring up a Windows 7 type menu. It merely opens the Start Screen.

 

4. There is an option to make the computer boot to the Desktop rather than the Start Screen.

 

For a full list of 'What's new in 8.1', just type the term into a search engine. There are plenty of less obvious changes to be read about.

 

The rather handy jump list that pops up when the bottom left-hand corner of the screen is right-clicked is still there in 8.1

[wellies]

Just thinking further about the different experiences people can have with Microsoft operating systems/upgrades both past and present. It's perhaps no wonder people can get trouble. The operating system or upgrade has to be compatible with possibly hundreds of different combinations of software, hardware and possibly even previously existing problems.

 

People want to upgrade on existing systems to avoid the trouble of starting from scratch. So the upgrade ends up being done on computers that are of unknown conditions and software configurations. It must be just about impossible for Microsoft to cater for all the variables that might exist with peoples' computers.

 

I sometimes think Microsoft shouldn't offer an upgrade path at all because of the variables. There might be less trouble if they told people to back up their files because the whole hard disk was going to be wiped and a new operating system installed. People often do this by choice anyway and those who do seem to get much less trouble than those who go for upgrading an existing OS.

 

I have to say I didn't do a clean upgrade because of the difficulty of getting the Windows key to work with an 8.1 ISO. I might have another try at that sometime. However, the upgrade went onto a system (installed from a disk image) that only had Windows 8 and updates installed. No other software at all. Maybe this makes a difference too as it might be what an upgrade process would ideally require.

 

I think Macs score here because the computers people have are known quantities. Apple knows the hardware/motherboards and software that is likely to be found in a Mac. I think this would mean upgrades can be designed that are far less likely to cause trouble.

 

..but Microsoft? Look at what they have to cater for.

Edited November 6, 2013 by wellies

[KenB]

Thanks for that well-informed addition wellies :)

[wellies]

That's OK. I can tend to go all thoughtful and profound at times. :)

[Hafoi Bin Ereafower]

Dear Wellies, (and K.B.)

 

Thank you for your fulsome response and for your gentle chiding in detailing MS's altruistic motives in providing software we can all use - I agree it's something we all take for granted that this stuff pretty much works and at my age I am in a constant state of wonder being able to access stuff at the drop of a finger - for that "thank you Microsoft" (and others).

 

I just felt I could see a group of managers around a meeting table discussing how they got as many punters as possible to upgrade to 8.1 and someone said let's give em an offer without an obvious opt out till they get down the upgrade route - - great idea they all said (the one's who thought it a less than bright idea keeping stum - they didn't want to rock the corporate boat) so that's what they did - - - and it's that and I admit it's my interpretation of it, I didn't like.

 

Anyhoo - in the intervening I've given it some "thunking" time and with the detail you've given me I don't think I'll upgrade - I'm getting on fine with just plain ole W8 and think I'll leave like it is till it can fly me to the moon.

 

As ever thanks chaps ! (persons ?)

 

Regards, H.B.E.

[KenB]

I've given it some "thunking" time and with the detail you've given me I don't think I'll upgrade -

 

I don't think you are missing anything :)

[wellies]

What ..you mean you don't want a lovely Start Screen like this one with all the different size shortcut tiles it can have?

 

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/Mart44/marts-graphics/81-tiles_zps219ca90d.jpg

 

I just can't understand why. :D

[KenB]

What ..you mean you don't want a lovely Start Screen like this one...

 

I think I can just about manage to live without it :)

[wellies]

..and this too? :)

 

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u78/Mart44/marts-graphics/qam_zps2a66e76a.gif

[KenB]

.and this too?

I can hardly contain my excitement :)

[wellies]

Thought you'd be impressed. ;)

[Armageddon]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1142.vB5-legacyid=2099[/ATTACH]

 

A different OS altogether

[wellies]

What OS is it?

[Armageddon]

Hi Wellies its a custom built Linux System

[wellies]

A different sort of Desktop, that's for sure. Looks good.

[Hafoi Bin Ereafower]

Come along chaps - it seems to me it's pretty much all already there - just needs finding - already got little little tiles on mine !

 

Don't ask me to explain - I don't understand what I'm talking about.

 

Thanks again,

 

Your's, H.B.E.

[KenB]

Don't ask me to explain - I don't understand what I'm talking about.

 

I should use that as my signature :) :)

[joddle]

If you have any older printers then beware. I discovered none of my printers will work with w8. I for one won't be upgrading beyond w7 for some good time yet - unless someone produces drivers for perfectly good kit.