VeryPC_Tom_M Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Note before you download: If you’re using an English version of Windows, you can only install Windows 8.1 Preview from the Windows Store if your OS base language is English (US). Has anyone actually got a copy of the 8.1 preview running? I was wondering about setting up a VM, or reinstalling my PC at home (Depending how masochistic I feel tonight), but wondered how much difference there actually is?
DaveMurphy Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 I installed the preview on a VM when I had a few spare minutes. They've completely scrapped the start menu. It's bad, really bad. We'll be sticking to Windows 7 for the foreseeable future..
tmcd35 Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 I installed the preview on a VM when I had a few spare minutes. They've completely scrapped the start menu. It's bad, really bad. We'll be sticking to Windows 7 for the foreseeable future.. I'm guessing by that you hadn't tried Windows 8 then! Also seems putting the start button back isn't going to make anyone happy - MS are really screwing this up, lol. 1
Modey Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Has anyone actually got a copy of the 8.1 preview running? I was wondering about setting up a VM, or reinstalling my PC at home (Depending how masochistic I feel tonight), but wondered how much difference there actually is? It works just fine on VirtualBox, just a shame that it's no real improvement on 8 in my opinion.
jugglerjoe Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 but there are some improvements in managing it tho. this makes me happy...
VeryPC_Tom_M Posted July 3, 2013 Author Posted July 3, 2013 Download Windows 8.1 Preview - Microsoft Windows I'm playing it cautious, as if you install the preview, when the full version comes out, you'll only be able to migrate data, not apps and software (Windows 8.1 preview: Guidance for enterprise users | ZDNet)
EduTech Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 You don't need the old style start menu! :-) no requirement for it what so ever. The new UI does what you need it to. I have seen corporate companies current deploy windows 8 out to users and they have no problems.
jugglerjoe Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Agreed. Start screen is awesome. thats coming from someone whos never used win 8 on a tablet/touchscreen device.
tech_guy Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 It's Windows 8.1. It's from Microsoft. It's still sh!te. Let's hope they can get it right finally with Windows 20.0.... ...by which time I'll be dead. Hopefully. 1
jugglerjoe Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 it is right. Works better than any other OS. Goon. "Oh macs dont crash"... no they just sit on a ball of death for half an hour.
Norphy Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 You don't need the old style start menu! :-) no requirement for it what so ever. The new UI does what you need it to. I have seen corporate companies current deploy windows 8 out to users and they have no problems. If the start screen had the same level of functionality as the start menu, I may agree with you. However, it doesn't. For the desktop user, it is a huge step backwards. Yes, you get live tiles but for a desktop user these are a distraction at best and useless at worst. 1
arh1a Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 I totally agree as well with @EduTech and @jugglerjoe there is nothing wrong with Windows 8 or 8.1 using a mouse/keyboard or touch screen. I’ve been testing 8.1 and really like all the improvements as well as finally being able to open the right click on bottom right hand corner menu (not sure its exact name) on a touch screen by holding down on the start button that now exists again. Now Microsoft just needs to get its act in gear and give Windows Phone 8 some Windows Blue love
EduTech Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Yup, I have not used Windows 8 on a TouchScreen Device at all myself. I use Windows 8 and currently the 8.1 preview on my primary laptop for work and I don't have any issues. It's a small 14" Elitebook and I use various pieces of software and i do everything that i need to do on it both business and personal. James.
john Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Still no real start menu, if the search works fine in 8.1 then that might be ok but it most certainly doesn't in 8. Try searching for printers and faxes in 8 you won't find them that is because you have to search and then say oh sorry no don't search there try here instead which is stupid and retrosteping as in 7 you could just search printers and faxes and you got them so why go back
sted Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 its a huge improvement on win8 esp from a management point of view standardised start screen easy shutdown. as to start screen deal with it ms arnt changing their minds and its fine on a mouse keyboard and great on a touchscreen. tbh i dont miss the start menu most people use a few apps and the transition from tifkam to desktop is much less jaring
disk Posted July 3, 2013 Posted July 3, 2013 Yep, I had a new SSD I wanted to put in my workstation so I used that as an opportunity to migrate to 8.1 Preview. Since I keep all my files on a network share I only had to reinstall the new versions of Windows ADK and RSAT for 8.1 Preview. So far I am really impressed. I have been running Windows 8 since last summer though at work and home (and on my Surface) so I am quite fond of what Microsoft has been doing lately. We are in the process of rolling out Windows 8 and Office 2013 in our organization and I will be pushing to get 8.1 approved as soon as it is available.
RabbieBurns Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 just installed it there. entered my liveID, went to the store, my apps, and it downloaded all 25 of my apps. Dropped to the desktop, and boom, theres my wallpaper from my other laptop already set. Only issue is my liveID is the same as my domain email address, except the email is local exchange. Cant seem to get it to accept this email address as its already got that assigned to a non-existent cloud email
pritchardavid Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 I did have a try at this on my Lenovo Yoga. It had massive problems with the graphics driver. I have a Intel HD 4000 Graphics Chipset in mine. When I first installed it, it had the Standard Graphics Adaptor Driver. When I done the updates it installed the Graphics Driver for it, how ever when I rebooted I could tell the Resolution changed. But when I went to change the resolution it said 1600 x 900 resolution was selected already. But below said that my resolution was below 1280 x something. Weird right? Tried installing the driver from Intel and the driver from Lenovo, no change. Guess Windows 8.1 don't like this graphics card yet, which is weird considering it works fine in 8.
arh1a Posted July 4, 2013 Posted July 4, 2013 First Batch Of Windows 8.1 Preview Updates Released Read more: First Batch Of Windows 8.1 Preview Updates Released | Windows 8.1
mtillbrook Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 I've been playing with it on a VM machine for a little while now and it's better than the original Windows 8. I think the ability to be able to boot straight into the desktop is going to be a major plus side to it when it comes to deploying it in education. For anyone who wants to know by the way, if you are in the desktop, right click on the taskbar and go to properties. under the navigation tab there is a tick box to have it boot straight into the desktop and not the start screen! I havent used it enough yet to say whether its stable but its only in pre-release at the moment so i don't think its fair to moan if its a little shakey!
sted Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 I've been playing with it on a VM machine for a little while now and it's better than the original Windows 8. I think the ability to be able to boot straight into the desktop is going to be a major plus side to it when it comes to deploying it in education. For anyone who wants to know by the way, if you are in the desktop, right click on the taskbar and go to properties. under the navigation tab there is a tick box to have it boot straight into the desktop and not the start screen! I havent used it enough yet to say whether its stable but its only in pre-release at the moment so i don't think its fair to moan if its a little shakey! found a gpo for it yet?
Arthur Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 found a gpo for it yet? See link below... www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-8/114231-what-s-new-enterprise-windows-8-1-a.html#post997021
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