Windows 8.1 --- two months on.

Santa · Guru

Windows 8.1 --- two months on.

Baz421 · Guru

Yes agree with you Santa, I've only had it 2 weeks and can find may around 8.1 well enough. I'll "master" the finer points a I go.

pcm947 · Member

The issue I have had is with the icon-based start screen and the apps. In particular the mail app is woeful.

But once I set it up so I have a different mail program and start up to the desktop, I find no need to go to the start screen.

The experience from the desktop is indeed pleasant. But a lot of the more technical bits of controls for the operating system etc have moved around (as they have in every version of Windows) so it can be a bit frustrating at times.

Santa · Guru

pcm947 wrote:
The issue I have had is with the icon-based start screen and the apps. In particular the mail app is woeful.
But once I set it up so I have a different mail program and start up to the desktop, I find no need to go to the start screen.
The experience from the desktop is indeed pleasant. But a lot of the more technical bits of controls for the operating system etc have moved around (as they have in every version of Windows) so it can be a bit frustrating at times.

Must admit the apps thing was a cluttered pain in the rear (MS certainly want you to use their stuff) have steadily been tidying things up, lot of the apps I will never use so simply deleted them, much tidier, less cluttered and easier to find my way around now.

Did not even try the mail app, had Office 2007 on the old PC, runs fine on 8.1 so use Outlook for my email account, was able to import all of my email details from the old machine and was up and running as if nothing had changed within a few minutes.

Like you I seldom see the start screen, boots straight to the desktop.

ken thomas · Guru

Hello all
I have to go with 8.1 as I also have xp and was told by the computer tech that I had to back up all on the hard drive and when 8.1 is loaded download all the programs that were previously on the hard drive
Is this what you did or just put in the new program and it merged them to the new system ??
Ken

Santa · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
Hello all
I have to go with 8.1 as I also have xp and was told by the computer tech that I had to back up all on the hard drive and when 8.1 is loaded download all the programs that were previously on the hard drive
Is this what you did or just put in the new program and it merged them to the new system ??
Ken

Your tech is right Ken, back every thing up, load the programs you require onto the new system, set up folders/files etc as you want them on the new PC, then transfer your data across, I did it using a USB memory stick.

It certainly helps if you are able to have both the new and old system connected to the internet at the same time.

Transferring data etc to a new PC is always a bit of a chore, however must say the transfer from XP to 8.1 is the easiest I have ever done, was connected to the internet and receiving emails within minutes, having said that, two months on I am still making minor tweaks. smile

ken thomas · Guru

Thanks Santa
I have 362 gig on my c drive, how do you put that on on a memory stick?
Ken

Santa · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
Thanks Santa
I have 362 gig on my c drive, how do you put that on on a memory stick?
Ken

I'm not familiar with your setup Ken so cant really help.

Perhaps copy and transfer in blocks, is your data in a number of folders or all in one block?

I'm no expert but do understand my system and requirements reasonably well, so no real drama.

Baz421 · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
Thanks Santa
I have 362 gig on my c drive, how do you put that on on a memory stick?
Ken

You can buy an external drive in terrabytes now ie 1 Terrabyte will do,,, copy and back to this OR buy a hard drive "holder" for want of a better word and take your old hard drive from laptop insert in "holder" and plug in using supplied USB cable.

If you ever need anything from your old hard drive you just plug it in, find it and copy/transfer to new laptop. It's dead easy.

I have used this for last 2 hard drives I had.

Baz421 · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
Thanks Santa
I have 362 gig on my c drive, how do you put that on on a memory stick?
Ken

You can buy an external drive in terrabytes now ie 1 Terrabyte will do,,, copy and back to this OR buy a hard drive "holder" for want of a better word and take your old hard drive from laptop insert in "holder" and plug in using supplied USB cable.

If you ever need anything from your old hard drive you just plug it in, find it and copy/transfer to new laptop. It's dead easy.

I have used this for last 2 hard drives I had.

Baz421 · Guru

Did not even try the mail app, had Office 2007 on the old PC, runs fine on 8.1 so use Outlook for my email account, was able to import all of my email details from the old machine and was up and running as if nothing had changed within a few minutes.

Hi Santa,,, my Office 2007 wouldn't run when I tried it on my new Laptop with 8.1 installed,,, wanted to me to use Microsoft Live I think it was.

Loaded my wife's office 2010 and it accepted it.

Ah just love this stuff eh.

Santa · Guru

Baz421 wrote:

Did not even try the mail app, had Office 2007 on the old PC, runs fine on 8.1 so use Outlook for my email account, was able to import all of my email details from the old machine and was up and running as if nothing had changed within a few minutes.

Hi Santa,,, my Office 2007 wouldn't run when I tried it on my new Laptop with 8.1 installed,,, wanted to me to use Microsoft Live I think it was.
Loaded my wife's office 2010 and it accepted it.
Ah just love this stuff eh.

Not sure why that would be Baz, Office 2007 is meant to be fully compatible with 8.1, it certainly was in my case

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/CompatCenter/ProductDetailsViewer?Name=Microsoft%20Office%202007%20Enterprise&vendor=Microsoft&ModelOrVersion=12&Type=Software

-- Edited by Santa on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 09:50:00 PM

Joe50 · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
You can buy an external drive in terrabytes now ie 1 Terrabyte will do,,, copy and back to this OR buy a hard drive "holder" for want of a better word and take your old hard drive from laptop insert in "holder" and plug in using supplied USB cable.

You can get the "holder" from Jaycar - Cat No XC4681, External 2.5" HDD Case, for $19.95. Very simple to slip the drive in, even supply a little screwdriver to use on the itty-bitty screws.

Joe

jimbo · Guru

Santa. Can you help with this problem I have.I wish to get rid of the annoying ASK! I did a post in The Digress section...... Desperate...

Ps Hello ken missed you at Greens again

Santa · Guru

jimbo wrote:
Santa. Can you help with this problem I have.I wish to get rid of the annoying ASK! I did a post in The Digress section...... Desperate...

Ps Hello ken missed you at Greens again

G'Day Jimbo,

Have a look at the options in this link http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-the-Ask-Toolbar

I'm no expert, however was recently faced with the same problem, solved it by going into program files and uninstalling it.

I,m no fan of freeware programs that promise to solve your problems, they often create more issues than they solve.

ken thomas · Guru

Hello Santa
I have an external hard drive 750 gig and tried to copy to it from my c drive and it would not accept it
I have copied and pasted some of my documents and photos but they are not the majority of what is on the c drive
When you downloaded 8.1 did you do it with xp still on the hard drive??
Ken

Santa · Guru

ken thomas wrote:
Hello Santa
I have an external hard drive 750 gig and tried to copy to it from my c drive and it would not accept it
I have copied and pasted some of my documents and photos but they are not the majority of what is on the c drive
When you downloaded 8.1 did you do it with xp still on the hard drive??
Ken

G'Day Ken,

The setup I'm talking about is a new PC, the people who put it together installed the operating system, it was then up to me to install the programs I needed and transfer data across.

I still have my previous PC with XP set up in the same room, and boot it up now and again to either check settings or retrieve more data.

What type of data are you trying to copy and transfer? program files need to be installed.

Sorry I cant be of more help, as I said, I'm no expert, know enough to keep my own system running trouble free, but that's about it. smile

ken thomas · Guru

thanks Santa
I was just trying to copy everything over including programs, but will have to try to save what I can then install 8.1
Ken

native pepper · Senior Member

ken thomas wrote:
Hello Santa
I have an external hard drive 750 gig and tried to copy to it from my c drive and it would not accept it
I have copied and pasted some of my documents and photos but they are not the majority of what is on the c drive
When you downloaded 8.1 did you do it with xp still on the hard drive??
Ken

G'day Ken, does your computer recognise your external drive, if not it may not be formatted properly and not compatible at the moment. You could reformat it anyway, which may overcome your problem and copy and paste to the drive. If that doesn't work, try copying and pasting things in smaller batches, your computer may find smaller data transfers easier to do.

-- Edited by native pepper on Friday 4th of April 2014 07:31:26 PM

ken thomas · Guru

Thanks Alga
I have downloaded some in smaller lots so that is the way to go
Ken