[Tried Windows 8, didn't like it, and went back to Windows 7]

Well i bought it and installed it . Tried it and thought i do not like it.
Put 7 back on and 8 is in my cabinet until i get a load of time to reprograme myself.
I suppose if you are totally new to 8 it's ok but i did give a sigh of relief when 7 started up.

 

Sorry to hear that, I've been running Windows 8 since 02/29 (when CP was released), & for all intents & purposes, it became my default OS on that day. What attracted me to the OS, even though it was a preview, was it's sheer speed, even on low spec hardware.

Until shortly after 8 RP was released on 05/31, I ran the OS w/o a Start Menu replacement. I simply winged it on Day One, enough to navigate the OS fairly comfortably. Honestly, I had no issue with this, & likely wouldn't have changed, except for some friends had suggestions for me.

About the first week or so of June, I was introduced to Classic Shell, which by chance, unlike many of the other Start replacements, wasn't created for Windows 8. It was created to give Windows 7/Vista users faster access to functions & apps. I was impressed & have been using it since. Has made my Windows 8 experience a more positive one.

If by chance, you were dual booting Win 8 RP (or CP) with Windows 7, you didn't have to give up your installed OS (Win 7). The upgrade or clean install (preferred method) could have, & can still be if you have a Win 8 RP install disk & COA, installed as a dual boot. Then install Windows 8 Pro over that, making sure not to format it prior to the install, but as a part of it.

This allows you to learn Windows 8 at your pace, yet have a fallback in Windows 7 SP1, a proven OS that's still selling quite well. I doubt that Windows 8's usage will surpass that of Windows 7, even considering it's fast start. The question, can MS keep the pace up with 8, Win 7 was a solid seller for many consecutive months after release, even at higher pricing.

I feel that if you add an app like I or PeteC suggested, that will go a long ways towards learning Windows 8. I have it on two computers on opposite ends of the spectrum (one low end, one with more robust hardware), & it performs well on both.

You can even run it within a VM, if you have enough free computer resources to do so. If your current install of Windows 7 is 64 bit, on a CPU that runs at 2.0GHz or above (preferably dual core, minimum) & 6GB or more RAM, that should do. It would possibly run on 4GB RAM, however performance will suffer on both the host & guest OS.

If you're running Windows 7 Ultimate, there's an even better way of running it virtually, but that's beyond the scope of my expertise. However, there may be other members who has an answer for this.

Or if you have more than one drive bay, it can be installed on another drive. Or another computer, the upgrade license can be moved to a spare one. There are options, no need to waste a Windows license, especially one for $40 (or $15).

Cat

 

With Pete & Cat here. Like you I had misgivings about Windows 8 when I bought my laptop (particularly the intrusive Metro start screen) but using Classic Shell helped a lot.

 

Try ViStart8. Its Free.

http://lee-soft.com/

 

Hey Cat,

Where do you find a Win 8 license for $15 or $40? The best price I've seen is at Staples, of all places, and they want $69 for it.

Thanks,
-a.

 

Download Windows 8 Pro upgrade by Jan 31, 2013 for $39.99 directly from Microsoft.

 

The link that Admin posted above is for the $40 upgrade.

I bought my granddaughter a notebook for school this past August, & through that purchase, I was given a discount for which I used on my second upgrade (money is tighter close to the holidays). Note that the discount does not have to be used on the purchased computer, any that is eligible for the upgrade qualifies. Both were clean installed, the option to create media is given after the initial setup was completed.

I highly advise all users to take this option while available, as it costs $15 to get a DVD afterwards, & 3 to 4 weeks to receive it afterwards (in the US). Besides, a Clean Install tends to run better anyway.

Cat

 

That's right, that's the only time to burn it (a one shot deal), & store the ISO in a couple of places if needed again. At some point, the DVD will be needed, & possibly the ISO also.

I installed Windows 8 Pro via the Windows 7 USB DVD download tool, that I created after I saved the ISO, & burned a DVD for repair purposes.

Though I did order the DVD set that was in the link, it was more or less for a keepsake item, as Windows 8 represents the hugest change with Windows since '95 was released, the beginning of a whole new era of computing. It contains both 32 & 64 bit DVD's, & it's now in my safety deposit box at the bank, with copies of emails containing the COA's for each, & WMC.

I'd rather have it & not need it, than the other way around. Plus, it's good to keep a copy in a safe place away from home. My original recovery disk sets are there too, I have copies at home.

To those who are finding Windows 8 difficult, you're not alone. It's new, & like anything else as such, a learning process in involved. Apps such as Classic Shell can go a long way toward making learning easy. Once one's booting straight to desktop, one can see the familiar Windows environment, only a faster & more secure one.

There's also plenty of assistance on this Forum, there's no shame in asking. Bing & Google can be of help also.

Cat

 

Thanks for that, Arie!
-a.

 

I have never had real joy with burning those ISO images. Don't know why, but they never work once I've done it.
Oh well.
-a.

 

The following instructions may prove helpful for burning the an .iso file to disc:

How can I write (burn) ISO files to CD or DVD?​

 

Thanks, Pete.

I'll give it a try.

-a.

 

Hey everybody,

Thanks so much for your posts - they're all helpful.

A special thanks to Arie, who has put up with a lot in dealing with me. Arie, you're the best!

Enjoy the Holidays!
-a.

 

I finally did get Win 8 at the low Microsoft price, and added a DVD for the extra $10. Also was able to burn it onto a flash drive which will boot and install it, too.

But I am so sorry.

I have seen people here say it does work well on low spec hardware; I have a dual CPU Intel running at 2 GHz for each. But only 2 GB Ram. There must be a way to make this thing run faster, but I don't know that way yet.

Silly question: do you set your advanced memory to manage by the OS, or do you go by the old Microsoft guidelines of 1.5 RAM to 3.0 RAM for the paging file? And do you use Ready boost along with that?

I need to give this puppy as much as I can, because even using Black Viper for guidelines, my system is slower than I care to admit.

Any guidance will be very much accepted ... after y'all stop laughing, that is.

Cheers!
-a.