Windows 8: Three Reasons to Hate

waldo · March 1, 2014

only if you're not upgrading from Win8

TimG · March 1, 2014

I just bought a new laptop with Windows 8 installed. A friend indicated that I should do the 'free 8.1 upgrade'.

If you have Windows 8 installed you need to let Windows Update install a number of patches. Once you get to the point where you get errors installing patches you need to go to Windows Store from the start page. You should see an option for a free Windows 8.1 upgrade.

The annoying thing is the upgrade does not appear as an option until you have installed the right patches but latest patches require Windows 8.1 so they fail with no reasonable explanation as to why. The re-install process I use now is install patches and restart - check store for upgrade option - if not check for more updates and repeat. If you start seeing updates fail then the update option should be available.

And yes, MS really screwed this up. I cannot imagine a more cumbersome process.

That said, Windows 8.1 allows one to easily ignore the start page so on the whole it is an improvement over Windows 7. It is certainly more usable than MacOS or any flavour of Linux.

Edited March 1, 2014 by TimG

waldo · March 1, 2014

And yes, MS really screwed this up. I cannot imagine a more cumbersome process.

what could be any more straight-forward? Unless your 8.0 is fully updated, you aren't presented with an option to upgrade to 8.1. Not sure how you could be attempting to add 8.1 updates while running 8.0???

Michael Hardner · March 1, 2014

The problem is also with the update process - it doesn't work.

TimG · March 1, 2014

The problem is also with the update process - it doesn't work.

As I noted above - the latest updates do not install unless you have Windows 8.1 installed. You should be able to go into the Windows Store and download a free 8.1 upgrade if you are getting update errors.

Michael Hardner · March 2, 2014

As I noted above - the latest updates do not install unless you have Windows 8.1 installed. You should be able to go into the Windows Store and download a free 8.1 upgrade if you are getting update errors.

I got to the point where 8.1 was available in the store, then I downloaded it and ... nothing happened. I was still on Windows 8 - it didn't install the update. Since I have a new laptop, I called support and they took control of my machine and surmised that there was something wrong with the version 8 install that wasn't letting the version 8.1 install go forward, so back to re-install v8... except that this time it kept stalling on various things...

TimG · March 2, 2014

I got to the point where 8.1 was available in the store, then I downloaded it and ... nothing happened. I was still on Windows 8 - it didn't install the update. Since I have a new laptop, I called support and they took control of my machine and surmised that there was something wrong with the version 8 install that wasn't letting the version 8.1 install go forward, so back to re-install v8... except that this time it kept stalling on various things...

Try this:

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57608376-285/how-to-download-the-official-microsoft-windows-8.1-iso/

waldo · March 2, 2014

I got to the point where 8.1 was available in the store, then I downloaded it and ... nothing happened. I was still on Windows 8 - it didn't install the update. Since I have a new laptop, I called support and they took control of my machine and surmised that there was something wrong with the version 8 install that wasn't letting the version 8.1 install go forward, so back to re-install v8... except that this time it kept stalling on various things...

looks like you're beyond it... but... running these 2 commands might have resolved your "8.1 install" stalling out:

Michael Hardner · March 2, 2014

These were the pages that got me through.

Firstly, there are problems with some of the 8.0 updates that you need to load in order to download 8.1

This page lists the two critical ones:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-8/why-can-t-find-update-store

So after I loaded the bad updates, I did a reinstall of a fresh copy, then ran these two commands at the DOS prompt:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958044/en-us

Then I downloaded the two critical updates and after a restart then version 8.1 appeared in the store. It loaded in an odd way - several restarts and some new agey messages like "We're just doing a few more things 83% done" and it would stick at that number for a long time before restarting again.

waldo · March 2, 2014

Michael... not so 'seemless' then!

for what it's worth, I finally own my first ever Apple product (an iPad Air tablet)... it's given me an appreciation where touchscreen makes sense, as compared to a/my Win8 laptop (re: gorilla arm syndrome). Or at least this initial iteration of Microsoft's first venture into the interface...

Michael Hardner · March 2, 2014

Michael... not so 'seemless' then!

for what it's worth, I finally own my first ever Apple product (an iPad Air tablet)... it's given me an appreciation where touchscreen makes sense, as compared to a/my Win8 laptop (re: gorilla arm syndrome). Or at least this initial iteration of Microsoft's first venture into the interface...

I had an iPhone given to me for work so I was catapulted into current day technology... this happened in 2011. Touchscreen laptop is going to be great, I can tell.

Michael Hardner · March 2, 2014

If you have Windows 8 installed you need to let Windows Update install a number of patches. Once you get to the point where you get errors installing patches you need to go to Windows Store from the start page. You should see an option for a free Windows 8.1 upgrade.

This post was the most helpful, TimG, thank you.

I didn't need direction as to where to go so much as I needed confirmation that this cutting through the bushes would eventually lead to a clearing. As I posted above, I took a slightly different path but I got there nonetheless.

waldo · March 2, 2014

Touchscreen laptop is going to be great, I can tell.

good luck! You'll be running up against basic ergonomics... that reflect upon angle, distance and time travel. A vertical screen is only conducive to the aforementioned 'gorilla arms syndrome'.

TimG · March 2, 2014

I had an iPhone given to me for work so I was catapulted into current day technology... this happened in 2011. Touchscreen laptop is going to be great, I can tell.

I bought a touchscreen laptop a year ago. I use it once in a while while holding the laptop to look something up quickly but most of the time I use an external mouse. That said, I will always look for a touchscreen in the future because it is one of the little things that you may not use much but if it is missing you miss it. Edited March 2, 2014 by TimG

Boges · March 4, 2014

I imagine the reason most people hate Windows 8 is because it's obvious it was designed for a touchscreen.

overthere · March 11, 2014

I imagine the reason most people hate Windows 8 is because it's obvious it was designed for a touchscreen.

I got my first touchscreen and first taste of Windows 8 a couple months ago on a new laptop(ASUS).

Love the laptop, it has a really good display and has a small solid state drive that lets it start up in a few seconds.

I hate Windows 8 because it is a horrible, non intuitive mess. I've been using Windows products since they began and this is a total piece of crap. Again. I moved from one piece of crap- Vista- to something I thought was not possible- a worse pile of reeking turds. Nothing is intuitive on it.

I am puzzled why all the big brains at MS would allow Apple and Google to so comprehensively eat their corporate lunch.

Boges · March 11, 2014

My PC Laptop is rather old and out-dated but I'm not a gamer so I don't find the need to upgrade the hardware too much.

I'm seriously looking into a Chromebook. Which is reverse of what MS did with Windows 8.

If you want a touchscreen OS Android, in my opinion, is second to none. But a Chromebook is an Android device with the ability of a tablet but runs like a laptop.

If you create content you'll still need a PC but a good majority of the public need technology to consume content. That can be done easily these days for under $300.

Keepitsimple · March 11, 2014

I have a new HP laptop. I hated it at first but after I discovered how to boot directly to the desktop......and to use alt F4 to close Metro Apps that popped up for a while........and used the HP Quick Start utility to replace the start screen.....and started to use the touchscreen to scroll......and started to use the windows key and M to minimize all windows, I'm OK with things - reluctantly but OK. Here are links to the HP Quick Start utility - I would imagine there are several similar ones out there - HP was smart enough to include it with my laptop.....and also a link to Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts as well - there might be a few that will help....

Windows 8 Shortcut keys: http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Complete-List-of-Windows-8-Shortcuts-305477.shtml

HP Quick Start: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03557078&cc=ca&lc=en

Edited March 11, 2014 by Keepitsimple

waldo · March 13, 2014

........and used the HP Quick Start utility to replace the start screen.....

huh! It seems many go to lengths to try to trash Win8... cause it's not what they had/what they're used to. In this example, simply use the Win8 'apps by category' option and pin (your favs) to the 'main' start screen.

Bonam · March 13, 2014

huh! It seems many go to lengths to try to trash Win8... cause it's not what they had/what they're used to. In this example, simply use the Win8 'apps by category' option and pin (your favs) to the 'main' start screen.

I don't have "apps". I have programs. I don't have "favs", I have programs that I use.

The whole smartphone lingo does not and need not apply to desktop computers designed for use in a workplace environment. That's part of the problem with windows 8, the whole design philosophy, it's just not aimed at the people that use Windows in a professional setting, which, increasingly, is the majority of desktop computer users.

There simply is no reason to force the same operating system upon two completely different market segments: home users and content consumption, and work users and content creation, especially as the form factors of the devices continue to grow more divergent.

All the hate that Windows 8 gets comes from the simple fact that they designed an operating system for tablets and tried to also sell it as an operating system for desktops, which it's just not. It has all the same clunkiness of a game designed for a console and then hastily ported to PC... yeah, all the functionality is there, but it all just feels cumbersome and unoptimized compared to something specifically designed for the platform.

Edited March 13, 2014 by Bonam

waldo · March 13, 2014

I don't have "apps". I have programs. I don't have "favs", I have programs that I use.

uhhh... what's in a name? Like I said, many will go to lengths to get their Win8 hate-on! Yes, as you say, the functionality is there. How long does getting used to it... really take?

.

GostHacked · March 13, 2014

I don't have "apps". I have programs. I don't have "favs", I have programs that I use.

I recall someone saying that Win 8 was awesome because they can have more than one app open at the same time. I giggled, the person asked why. : 'We just used to call them programs, and the ability to use more than one at the same time has existed since Win 3.1 about 20 years ago.'

Sometimes you are greeted with a confused look.

The whole smartphone lingo does not and need not apply to desktop computers designed for use in a workplace environment. That's part of the problem with windows 8, the whole design philosophy, it's just not aimed at the people that use Windows in a professional setting, which, increasingly, is the majority of desktop computer users.

A key and very important point. Win 8 was born out of the windows phone OS.

There simply is no reason to force the same operating system upon two completely different market segments: home users and content consumption, and work users and content creation, especially as the form factors of the devices continue to grow more divergent.

I feel it is going the way of Apple with locked down OS's and the ability to handle programs. Win 7 will be Microsoft's last best operating system.

Boges · March 13, 2014

I feel it is going the way of Apple with locked down OS's and the ability to handle programs. Win 7 will be Microsoft's last best operating system.

Which is why Google is leading them both, it doesn't treat you like you're stupid.

Windows Phone now even has gone so far as to name it's voice recognition software "Cortana". It's the AI from Halo, which is kind of cool, but it's the same as Siri. Microsoft is trying to be more like Apple and failing miserably at it.

GostHacked · March 13, 2014

Which is why Google is leading them both, it doesn't treat you like you're stupid.

Windows Phone now even has gone so far as to name it's voice recognition software "Cortana". It's the AI from Halo, which is kind of cool, but it's the same as Siri. Microsoft is trying to be more like Apple and failing miserably at it.

Microsoft also failed with the Games for Windows Live. It's terrible.