Configuring new Windows 8 laptop
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d@nish wrote:
Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do?
Scott's tutorial is pretty good[^]
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
Nice! +5 :thumbsup: /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
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My niece just bought a new low-end Dell Insipron 15" laptop that came with Win8. I'm thinking of wiping the disk clean and installing Win7 on it. Thankfully Dell makes all drivers for this model available for both Win7 and Win8. Just something to consider. /ravi
My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com
Ravi Bhavnani wrote:
I'm thinking of wiping the disk clean and installing Win7 on it.
I see no reason to do that, unless your niece will be using the laptop for developing applications.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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Most new Windows 8 desktop user I have seen hates it! :~ (and found the UI extremely confusing) I do love it, but I did buy Start8[^] for $5 Otherwise it works just like Win7, just a little leaner and faster... Maybe Win8.1 in October will improve the experience? That remains to be seen, I have the feeling MS only partially listen to customer, hoping to convince them to change their way... As I see it, it's not going to happen if the chicken and egg problem of developers not interested in new API which only work on new hardware that is not available and not coming because no app for it!!!
My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!
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d@nish wrote:
disable UAC
Why don't you disable DEP, remove all Av software, and enable the hidden admin account that runs everything elevated by default as his normal login. Then all you'll need to do is to find a WinXP skin so that after the inevitable malware infestation that comes from disabling all the OS security features it'll look exactly like his old one. :rolleyes:
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
I seem to rember reading somewhere that If UAC is dissabled in Win 8 that it won't allow you do do certain things. I will have to look that up again. See the comments section on this page. http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/07/18/disabling-user-account-control-in-windows-8.aspx[^] I'm sure there is more out there on this too.
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Visit www.ninite.com - you can get Chrome, VLC and MSE from there in a single download, with no added crapware, and also Classic Start which sounds much like Start8 others have mentioned, but it has the advantage that it's free
It's well known that if all the cat videos and porn disappeared from the internet there would be only one site left and it would be called whereareallthecatvideosandporn.com
Looks nice! 5!
[www.tamautomation.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
Given that your brother "is alien to IT World", here's what I'd do ... ymmv ... ... Microsoft Security Essentials is built in to Windows 8, so nothing to do there. ... Make sure Windows Update is set to automatically install security patches and important updates ... Leave UAC in place and educate him about how it works (noting that UAC in Windows 8 is much less intrusive than Vista) ... Install Chrome & VLC Player ... otherwise leave it alone (specifically avoiding any of the third party start buttons). Why? The more "standard" his laptop, the less he'll be dependent on you for assistance. A standard, vanilla, middle of the road configuration means more ways for him to get help when needed. Set up something geeky, cool and uncommon, and he'll be calling you for help for every minor issue.
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Given that your brother "is alien to IT World", here's what I'd do ... ymmv ... ... Microsoft Security Essentials is built in to Windows 8, so nothing to do there. ... Make sure Windows Update is set to automatically install security patches and important updates ... Leave UAC in place and educate him about how it works (noting that UAC in Windows 8 is much less intrusive than Vista) ... Install Chrome & VLC Player ... otherwise leave it alone (specifically avoiding any of the third party start buttons). Why? The more "standard" his laptop, the less he'll be dependent on you for assistance. A standard, vanilla, middle of the road configuration means more ways for him to get help when needed. Set up something geeky, cool and uncommon, and he'll be calling you for help for every minor issue.
I uploaded set up files for Chrome and VLC player at dropbox for him to download and install. Other than that, he just needs to buy MS Office.
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
d@nish wrote:
disable UAC
Not unless he's a power user. Would you give him root access to a Unix box?
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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I am going to visit him in November. I will set it up the good way. I am thinking of getting ubuntu if not 7.
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
Those adverts for new laptops are so appealing. Then I read this and am reminded of the horror of windows. Definitely Ubuntu, but be careful of the graphics chipset; 13.04 has Intel official graphics support via an app, but LTS is no longer supported by this(WTF?). And if they've moved to UEFI, be sure to choose Ubuntu 64 bit. Which means no skype in 13.04 :doh: ! Did I say 'horror of windows'? Wait for 13.10 in October. They might have it sorted by then. Incidentally, I bought a used Elitebook for £160, and installed a terabyte drive. It rumbles along nicely with core2duo.
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You could have used pokki start button for free :laugh: https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu[^] Thanks,
Ranjan.D
I did. Then I uninstalled it and bought Start8! True Story! ;P
My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!
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d@nish wrote:
disable UAC
Not unless he's a power user. Would you give him root access to a Unix box?
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
Absolutely. He would think there is a problem with computer. It's just showing up a black screen. He will keep on restarting it. :laugh:
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
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Those adverts for new laptops are so appealing. Then I read this and am reminded of the horror of windows. Definitely Ubuntu, but be careful of the graphics chipset; 13.04 has Intel official graphics support via an app, but LTS is no longer supported by this(WTF?). And if they've moved to UEFI, be sure to choose Ubuntu 64 bit. Which means no skype in 13.04 :doh: ! Did I say 'horror of windows'? Wait for 13.10 in October. They might have it sorted by then. Incidentally, I bought a used Elitebook for £160, and installed a terabyte drive. It rumbles along nicely with core2duo.
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If the machine didn't come bundled with a third-party antimalware package, Windows Defender (the successor to MSE) *should* be installed. If it isn't, then launch the desktop version of Windows Update, click the link to have it install and update "other" MS software, and it should give you the option to install WD.
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
If he is alien to the IT world, then I would enable autoupdate on every app, install a good free antivirus and be sure that UAC is enabled, probably, I would also set an standard account for him so he don't install anything dangerous by default.
CEO at: - Rafaga Systems - Para Facturas - Modern Components for the moment...
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
If he's familiar with any older Windows versions, and doesn't want to spend a few weeks in WTF-mode, get something like Stardock's Start8 start button and set it to boot into desktop mode. I think you can even shut the system down from it, if not, teach him how to do that. After that, it's pretty much just like a faster, better Windows 7 (well, sans Aero), so install the applications you think he'll want and off you go. The MS morons took a lot of the keyboard shortcuts out of desktop mode, especially file explorer. I've not found any way to bring them back so I just suffer at their hand on this. I have Start8 on my Win8 laptop and like it. Didn't put it on my Win8 dev box at work, nor the new Win8 computer for home. Win8's learnable, and my family seems to like it better than Win7 oddly enough.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
Sounds like you got the wrong gadget. You should return it and buy an iPad (or a cheap Android tablet). ;P
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
d@nish wrote:
His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going.
For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player.Sounds like you got the wrong gadget. You should return it and buy an iPad (or a cheap Android tablet). ;P
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So my brother just bought a new laptop. His requirements are really limited to browser and MS office. He is alien to IT World. Since I too have never seen Windows 8 (I like my cave and have no intentions of crawling out of it for now), I am not really sure what all do we need to do to get things going. For instance, I would disable updates for some software, disable UAC and make start up programs and services to my liking. Apart from that, I would install MSE, Chrome and VLC player. Is there any guide related to Windows 8 system for such users to tell what to do? Are keyboard shortcuts and display for changing properties of OS similar to Windows 7?
"Bastards encourage idiots to use Oracle Forms, Web Forms, Access and a number of other dinky web publishing tolls.", Mycroft Holmes[^]
I went by this article when I bought my Ultrabook a couble of months ago: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027945/how-to-banish-metro-from-your-windows-8-pc-forever.html[^]. It describes pretty much what the title states, i. e. banish Metro/Modern from your W8 gadget entirely. You still can switch to the Metro start screen, but you'll never see it if you don't want to. A crucial thing to achieve this that is missing from pretty much every similar article I've seen, is to replace the standard utility programs like mail or player with appropriate (and more powerful) desktop versions. The article goes on to describe some tools to bring back the start menu and boot into desktop like every other article does - nothing new here. But all this won't help if every time you double-click a document you'll swicth back to the Start Screen and a bland and featureless single window App blocks your entire screen, leaving you wondering how to get back to your desktop (or if this is just another variant of the BSOD).
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Most new Windows 8 desktop user I have seen hates it! :~ (and found the UI extremely confusing) I do love it, but I did buy Start8[^] for $5 Otherwise it works just like Win7, just a little leaner and faster... Maybe Win8.1 in October will improve the experience? That remains to be seen, I have the feeling MS only partially listen to customer, hoping to convince them to change their way... As I see it, it's not going to happen if the chicken and egg problem of developers not interested in new API which only work on new hardware that is not available and not coming because no app for it!!!
My programming get away... The Blog... DirectX for WinRT/C# since 2013! Taking over the world since 1371!
Most new Windows 8 users I have seen love it. New users need training. 5 minutes will do it. Best advice - avoid add-ons like Start8 (completely unnecessary and slow down effective use of start screen, desktop and app screen). Windows 8.1 is basically Windows 7 with Start Screen replacing slower, clunkier start menu. When I have many apps open on desktop, I find it faster to go to, say, Excel via Start Screen than collapsing windows to desktop shortcut and certainly faster than using start button in the old days. I do of course set up desktop and start screen to my usage pattern.