Windows 8

so I guess for gamers win8 is definitely better, guy benchmarked on same PC win7 vs win8 with BF4 and low settings
http://i.imgur.com/D0kur5E.jpg

the graphs are CPU loads, win8 is a lot lower. I'm sure there are flaws and stuff but the numbers are significantly different and reinforces the data that win8 is a lot better under the hood.

Well, I just upgraded to Win 8.1 on my work PC. The upgrade itself was pretty seamless, but I haven't noticed any differences besides the much improved search function and of course the dumb windows start button that basically is the same thing as pressing your Windows key.

The only issue I have is that IE 11 is FUBAR. While I've been long used to website compatibility "Quirks" with each version the first few months until they update their content, IE11 literally doesn't work with a crapton of websites. Graphical glitches, blinking icons, being prompted multiple time to login, overlapping content-- the list goes on. Fixed some of it because MS decided to lock down the Internet Zone with ridiculous levels of security, but your average consumer is going to be seriously fucked using IE11.

spronk_sl said:

so I guess for gamers win8 is definitely better, guy benchmarked on same PC win7 vs win8 with BF4 and low settings
http://i.imgur.com/D0kur5E.jpg

the graphs are CPU loads, win8 is a lot lower. I'm sure there are flaws and stuff but the numbers are significantly different and reinforces the data that win8 is a lot better under the hood.

Click to expand...

I suppose I could look this up myself when I get home from work, but has anyone done anything similar comparing FPS between the two operating systems?

Frenzied Wombat_sl said:

and of course the dumb windows start button that basically is the same thing as pressing your Windows key.

Click to expand...

Right click on the start button. It's more helpful than just taking you back to the Start Screen.

Windows 8.1 is released, 3 days ago anyway.
Windows 8.1 review | Operating systems Reviews | TechRadar
The update is available in the app store. If you're running Enterprise Edition, you have to get the update iso from MSDN. Annoying, but oh well.

Compare editions

Izo_sl said:

Windows 8.1 is released, 3 days ago anyway.
Windows 8.1 review | Operating systems Reviews | TechRadar
The update is available in the app store. If you're running Enterprise Edition, you have to get the update iso from MSDN. Annoying, but oh well.

Compare editions

Click to expand...

I did an upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. Then from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 8.1. Mostly painless, save for a service that was disabled that Win 8 needed and would cause the PC to lock up after an hour.

Windows 8.1 upgrade is in the Windows Store, and not on the updater....kind of foolish decision, that.

I didn't notice this before, but the upgrade from W7 to W8 is essentially a new install; it imports everything...programs, settings, the whole 9 yards.

Beyond that, a programs like Start8 or Classic Shell is still needed to restore functionality to the desktop itself. Good thing MS doesn't make cars; they'd put the brake pedal next to the brake lights.

Metro is far less painful now...not sure why. I pinned all my games to it, makes for a fast launcher, I guess. Also nice is that it can use the desktop wallpaper as a background, and can make tiles really small now and assign them to groups.

Dumb: Forcing the user to have an MS account to install the fucker. Dumber: Making Skydrive an Opt-Out function instead of an Opt-In function. Your grandma can see all your porn now!

Killer function: the new search is KICK ASS.

Gaming is smoother. No increase in FPS, but I had some hitching in GW2 in LA; all gone now. The game is buttery smooth all the time.

In short, all the dumb things about W8 are still there, and can be bypassed by 8.1 in part, and with Start8, in whole...just like before. There's a lot of improvements "under the hood" as is touted everywhere about W8.1, and that alone is worth the jump from W7.

Ughh, tried to upgrade my home PC from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and it crashed and burned right near the end. Looking over the setup logs it choked on dealing with junctions I had created years ago so I could move my profile off the SSD C: drive. So much for junction points being a fully supported Windows feature.. Debating on whether I should try to undo all the junction points and try and upgrade again or just bite the bullet and do a fresh install.

Lenas_sl said:

Do a fresh install... Setting up a new computer takes zero effort with Ninite.

Click to expand...

I just jizzed my pants looking up Ninite as I had never heard about it before. Let me get this straight, you just click the programs you want and it installs them as well as keeping them updated ? What about source media and keys, does it need/ask for them? Also, can it migrate app settings from the old install?

Frenzied Wombat_sl said:

I just jizzed my pants looking up Ninite as I had never heard about it before. Let me get this straight, you just click the programs you want and it installs them as well as keeping them updated ? What about source media and keys, does it need/ask for them? Also, can it migrate app settings from the old install?

Click to expand...

With the free version you tick which programs you want to install. It will not be able to migrate the settings from the old install (ie: you do a fresh format). Once you have your shit setup though you just need to re-run the installer to update all apps it has on it. I run mine 2-3 times a week, it takes very little time to update after the initial installs.

FYI please PM if you want Flash or other things they've had to remove (CCleaner, etc) I have all the old installers saved.

also there is windows easy file transfer. The upgrade from 7 to 8 just does this in the background.. Make sure to turn show hidden files on. So of your automated upgrade is borking up, make a windows easy xfer, then format and fresh install 8.

xadion_sl said:

also there is windows easy file transfer. The upgrade from 7 to 8 just does this in the background.. Make sure to turn show hidden files on. So of your automated upgrade is borking up, make a windows easy xfer, then format and fresh install 8.

Click to expand...

Yeah, we use this at work when we need to migrate PC's for VIP users that have local admin rights and have stuff all over the place. I just freaking hate fresh installs on my home rig because I have years worth of programs/utilities/codecs installed and configured, and I always slack on maintaining my original installer files/torrents over the years, so inevitably a fresh install means downloading a bunch of programs again. I spend my day doing IT work, and the last thing I like to do when I get home is deal with a lowly PC rebuild.

+1 for the Ninite referral. Funny I automate this all at work with SCOM, but always took for granted tools to automate installs/patches on a home PC.

I updated to win8.1 from the app store, pretty painless took about 15 minutes and a few reboots. If you have multiple monitors turn em all on, the update decided to show progress on my gaming TV at one point and I thought the PC had hung because nothing was showing on my main monitors - even turned the PC off and update continued without a problem on restart.

can't honestly tell any difference at all, windows update doesn't seem to be working atm (server overloaded?) but start8 works just fine and i'm all ready for arkham/bf4.

oh, win8.1 told me to type in a security code during setup to verify my account but since I needed to login to my gmail to get it I told it to skip it for now, and now i'm not sure where I am supposed to type it in. hope it doesn't ask me 6 weeks from now.