windows 8 is a real dog.

[MartyMarts]

If you can somehow first hook up your laptop up to the internet and then start plugging stuffs, Windows 8/8.1 will automatically pull all the relevant drivers for you. I'm sure Windows 7 also did this. Just keep an eye on your data usage if you're running on a capped account or worse, if you're swimming close to OOB waters.

Personally, don't miss Windows 7 -_-

 

[Hemps]

Cant stand 8 , we currently had to switch over to Server 2012, frustrating as hell to work with.

 

[ODTech]

I will do that if i cant get it to work with the USB , but that is not ideal for me because while it is tethered with the USB it will be charging at the same time.

I upgraded to ubuntu 13.10 from Windows 8.1. The specific tethering issue you struggling with works out of the box between my S3 and Ubuntu. If the phone is connected to my adsl wifi with usb tethering on it acts as a wifi dongle for my pc and if wifi is off it acts as a 3G modem. It was literaly plug and play.