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Windows 8.1

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  • E ed welch

    you need two hands to activate the shortcut, so you have to take your hand off the mouse and that slows you down. Really there's no reason no to have a toolbar button. It's not like there's no room

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    hairy_hats
    wrote on last edited by
    #27

    Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V are one-handed (left-hand) shortcuts unless you have particularly small hands. Pinky on Ctrl, forefinger on C then V. I can do Ctrl-N left-handed without discomfort.

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    • C Clumpco

      A word of warning about your old backups... Windows 8 had a "restore from Windows 7 backup" option which would read backups from W7 and Vista. In their wisdom Microsoft have removed this from 8.1 so you need to "Install Win 7 on a VM and restore via that" (seen on Technet). I can just imagine old grannies turning up at PC World asking for help with Hyper-V Manager.

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      SortaCore
      wrote on last edited by
      #28

      "Excuse me dear, can you help me with my hyper man?" "Your what?"

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      • E ed welch

        I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.

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        BobJanova
        wrote on last edited by
        #29

        Do we have functionality from previous versions back yet, i.e. - Classic theme and full customisation options for window colours - Useful status bar information in Explorer (total size when selecting multiple, version information when selecting single) - Bye bye Metro by default - Double clicking various common file formats (PDF, AVI at least) doesn't open full screen Metro apps by default

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        • C Colborne_Greg

          Lol To remove metro from windows 8 is to remove all advancement in technology, while you use compatibility mode aka the desktop. Brilliant: viva la resistance

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          BobJanova
          wrote on last edited by
          #30

          Metro is absolutely not an advance for PC users (maybe it is for tablet). It is a reversion to one-app-at-a-time computing which Microsoft correctly decided was outdated in 1990 when they brought out Windows. With two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPUs to play with it's even more nonsensical now than it was then.

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          • F Forogar

            Oooo! I am glad VS2010 still runs on it. I would hate to have to use VS2012 as well as W8!

            - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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            Erkan BALABAN
            wrote on last edited by
            #31

            Also you can install and use VS2008. I installed and i am using.

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            • B BobJanova

              Do we have functionality from previous versions back yet, i.e. - Classic theme and full customisation options for window colours - Useful status bar information in Explorer (total size when selecting multiple, version information when selecting single) - Bye bye Metro by default - Double clicking various common file formats (PDF, AVI at least) doesn't open full screen Metro apps by default

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              ed welch
              wrote on last edited by
              #32

              Answers: 1) I don't know. Personally I'm happy with default, so didn't bother 2) yes 3) you can get rid of most of it with "taskbar properties". (I heard 8.2 is going to rip out more of it) 4) No, you have to manually install the programs (sumatraPDF, VLC, whatever), then associate in file explorer

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              • B BobJanova

                Metro is absolutely not an advance for PC users (maybe it is for tablet). It is a reversion to one-app-at-a-time computing which Microsoft correctly decided was outdated in 1990 when they brought out Windows. With two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPUs to play with it's even more nonsensical now than it was then.

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                ed welch
                wrote on last edited by
                #33

                Indeed. I presume the Metro fiasco was the reason that Ballmer got sacked

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                • H hairy_hats

                  Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V are one-handed (left-hand) shortcuts unless you have particularly small hands. Pinky on Ctrl, forefinger on C then V. I can do Ctrl-N left-handed without discomfort.

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                  ed welch
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #34

                  it's still handy to have the toolbar buttons though

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                  • E ed welch

                    I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.

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                    adudley256
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #35

                    I installed this on my granddads computer (he's 74). He WILL like the new solitaire after all!!!! However, to change apps, the only way he could find was to turn the laptop off, and back on again... He did ask, where is the 'red x' and 'I couldn't see a 'back button' (he has android on a tablet), both of which I can't argue with. I said just press the start button..... a whole new world, you wouldn't think the start button (physical button on keyboard) has been there for the last 20 odd years would you!

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                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                      ...two buttons you don't really need is "a lot better"? :laugh:

                      Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

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                      Rob Grainger
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #36

                      I'm more impressed by the improved disk I/O performance, and progress display personally. Hadn't even noticed those buttons.

                      "If you don't fail at least 90 percent of the time, you're not aiming high enough." Alan Kay.

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                      • F Forogar

                        Yes, I am also VERY interested in getting rid of Metro. If I can do that I might actually re-install Windows 8.

                        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                        ssadler
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #37

                        Start8, StartIsBack and Classic Shell come to mind. Start8 and StartIsBack are pay for, but they're pretty inexpensive. Classic Shell is a freebie with lots of options. I dislike the flat look (and lack of configuration) of the Win 8/8.1 desktop UI but the improvements to the underlying OS are welcome.

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                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                          I don't surf one-handed...

                          Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

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                          Jacques Loubser
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #38

                          Sorry replied on the wrong comment. Meant for Ed. Newb mistake.

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                          • J Jacques Loubser

                            Sorry replied on the wrong comment. Meant for Ed. Newb mistake.

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                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #39

                            :laugh: We've all done it! (Not "surf one handed", you understand...)

                            Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                            • H hairy_hats

                              Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V are one-handed (left-hand) shortcuts unless you have particularly small hands. Pinky on Ctrl, forefinger on C then V. I can do Ctrl-N left-handed without discomfort.

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                              patbob
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #40

                              I just use ctrl-ins/shift-ins with my right hand (I drive my mouse with my left hand to avoid carpal tunnel issues). Thankfully, they haven't take away all the keyboard shortcuts... yet.

                              We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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                              • R Ravi Bhavnani

                                It's only $5.  Classic Shell is nice but doesn't give you everything that Start8 does. /ravi

                                My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                jwbasham
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #41

                                Why pay, just get Start Menu 8. Gives all features of the above, takes out Metro completely (Heck it even did that with Win8), and it has the best price of them all, FREE! It is one of IOBit's offerings.

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                                • J jwbasham

                                  Why pay, just get Start Menu 8. Gives all features of the above, takes out Metro completely (Heck it even did that with Win8), and it has the best price of them all, FREE! It is one of IOBit's offerings.

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                                  Ravi Bhavnani
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #42

                                  Thanks! :thumbsup: /ravi

                                  My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                  • J Jacques Loubser

                                    Have you heard of Crtl+C & Ctrl+V ??? Unless you have only one hand, You should not need buttons.

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                                    Member 4608898
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #43

                                    OK if you have a keyboard, kind of difficult on a touch screen

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                                    • E ed welch

                                      I finally took the plunge and upgraded to 8.1. After getting rid of Metro, it's actually not that bad. File manager is a lot better than Windows 7 file manager. Of coarse, there's tonnes of things that don't work properly (hibernation, large fonts, etc.), but that's just the par of the coarse when you have a Microsoft OS.

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                                      Andre Pereira
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #44

                                      How does hibernation not work? It's better than ever, the newer hybrid hibernation is a dream on a laptop, just suspend and forget, the OS will deal with it. Doesn't matter how much battery I had, when I open my laptop it just get's back where it was, taking a little more time if the battery was empty. Fonts and scaling are a huge issue, but that's thoroughly resolved in the new Metro apps. Of course, if you ignore the new and improved avenue, you'll still be seeing only the old problems. This hatred on Windows 8 borders on the irrational, I use it on my dev machines and even in VMs and have absolutely zero problems with it. Even if you don't like the new stuff, the only new thing you must use (and even then it's optional) is a full screen customizable launcher, which frankly 10 times better than a list of 10 programs on the bulging messy start menu. At least 3rd party start menus are much more functional than Windows 7's.

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                                      • E ed welch

                                        Indeed. I presume the Metro fiasco was the reason that Ballmer got sacked

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                                        IndifferentDisdain
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #45

                                        I can't find the article I read about it, but apparently he was fired over the Nokia deal. TL/DR: Ballmer wanted Nokia, board didn't, he threw a hissy fit and got his way, at least in the short run.

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                                        • B BobJanova

                                          Metro is absolutely not an advance for PC users (maybe it is for tablet). It is a reversion to one-app-at-a-time computing which Microsoft correctly decided was outdated in 1990 when they brought out Windows. With two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPUs to play with it's even more nonsensical now than it was then.

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                                          Colborne_Greg
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #46

                                          You are uneducated. I am using Two 1080p monitors and multi-core CPU. Until windows 8 metro I have never seen a app use 64 bits correctly, let alone a single app correctly handle 200 GB. The only reason not to like metro is the fact nothing is programmed for it yet. Your opinion is not based on technology, but mere thin air.

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