Windows 8.1 x64

Hemps

Hemps

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Managed to get a copy on the weekend RTM release and I must say am very impressed.

Installed on a DELL Inspiron 7720, it boots to the desktop joined to a domain in under 10seconds.

Unplugged battery and tested from dead and still boots to desktop in under 10 seconds.

Restart is 7 seconds.
 
im also enjoying it so far , its usable now at least.

Like that i can boot to desktop now and link my apps to the win 8 start button so it does not go to metro ui when i press starts.

Boot times is also really good for me.
 
hereticangel said:
im also enjoying it so far , its usable now at least.

Like that i can boot to desktop now and link my apps to the win 8 start button so it does not go to metro ui when i press starts.

Boot times is also really good for me.
Click to expand...

I thought the new start button takes you to metro? How does it work now?
 
biometrics said:
I thought the new start button takes you to metro? How does it work now?
Click to expand...

You can select what you want it to do, among other things. Just right click on taskbar and select properties to get:

startoption.jpg

You can either have the new:
startscreen.jpg

Or the old metro(ModernUI):
startscreen2.jpg
Guess which one I never see :)

What I like is the fact that your Wallpaper can now be used for the theme, but after all that I still find myself installing and running classic shell.
 
saor said:
Noticeably faster than windows 8 or have you come from 7 or earlier?
Click to expand...

win 7 , win 7 was about 12 sec , this is about 8 or so.

You have the option to make start button take you to metro or a list of your apps.
 
Start button goes straight to metro.

Boot times are just amazing even on old hardware, Acer 5620 with 2gb ram boots to desktop joined to domain in under 15seconds.
 
You can select what you want it to do, among other things. Just right click on taskbar and select properties to get:

startoption.jpg

You can either have the new:
startscreen.jpg

Or the old metro(ModernUI):
startscreen2.jpg
Guess which one I never see

What I like is the fact that your Wallpaper can now be used for the theme, but after all that I still find myself installing and running classic shell.
Click to expand...

Nice!
 
When is the retail version going to be out? Or is already out?

I would really like to use Windows 8.1 on my laptop, it was a lot faster than Windows 7. I just want a theme patcher that is compatible with 8.1 so I can put on the glassy aero interface :)
 
koeks525 said:
When is the retail version going to be out? Or is already out?

I would really like to use Windows 8.1 on my laptop, it was a lot faster than Windows 7. I just want a theme patcher that is compatible with 8.1 so I can put on the glassy aero interface :)
Click to expand...

Well if you know someone with a MSDN sub, you can get the Retail ver right now ;) Else you will have to wait for official release on the 18th. If you have 8 the free update/upgrade should start rolling from the 20th.
 
Most impressive for me is the state saving. Had the power trip with no ups. When I booted again the Visual studio and other open apps where exactly as before the power failure!
 
I got an RTM version from tehparadox, activated over skype via UK no issues.

I have since received a legit key from Dell for my laptop, free upgrade to Win8.
 
Last edited:
biometrics said:
Is that equivalent to the Start/Programs menu in 7/XP or did you organise it like that? I could live with it if it's the former ...
Click to expand...

Full screen auto organize app list. You can set some options like Desktop or ModernUI apps 1st on auto organize.

If you want you can also edit it manually if you into that by navigating to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

So the pic I posted was generated from this folder structure: http://i.imgur.com/Si4k21k.jpg
 
Last edited:
AlphaJohn said:
Full screen auto organize app list. You can set some options like Desktop or ModernUI apps 1st on auto organize.

If you want you can also edit it manually if you into that by navigating to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

So the pic I posted was generated from this folder structure: http://i.imgur.com/Si4k21k.jpg
Click to expand...

Ah thanks. You know, I might stop hating on Win 8 with this change. I always hated that Win 7's Start/Programs don't expand to the right like XP. So in a way this is a return to that ...
 
biometrics said:
Ah thanks. You know, I might stop hating on Win 8 with this change. I always hated that Win 7's Start/Programs don't expand to the right like XP. So in a way this is a return to that ...
Click to expand...

Like I said before if you want Win 7 or Xp functionality just install Classic shell and select the start menu of you choice. I find myself doing it even on 8.1 I even do this for all the PC's I rolled out.

On that note, did another roll-out on legal dep last week and one old lady was kicking and screaming that she does not want 8 on her PC as she hear/see in media that it sucks. So I told her "OK but I will have to install a new theme so it looks like the others in the department". She still haven't noticed she is running 8 just like everyone else :D
 
Seems there is nothing included in the OS to allow us to hide the stupid Start button, so I may hold off upgrading. Probably put it on a test system first to see how irritating it is.
 
What the hell Windows store says update is 3.42GB.
 
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