Windows 8.1 Preview

Im glad they improved the start screen. Not a big fan of Metro Apps... Thank you for the link.

 

Installing now in a VM. First off, it does not let you use a local account, you must sign in to a Microsoft account.

I need to spend more time in Linux.

 

Try changing to local account manually after the setup. I guess that is still a option

 

What's New in Windows 8.1

Improved Internet Explorer

Not sure how this helps the end user. Any ideas?

So, this would mean, broader malware stopped readily? I guess enabling Smart screen should help in windows 8 already.

 

Have you found a way round this?

 

Nope. According to some info I found the preview will not support local accounts. They are claiming when it is released as a final it will.

-http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-8-1-Preview-Won-t-Support-Local-User-Accounts-362922.shtml-
I did not see anything that looked like that screenshot, the only option was to enter an email address or cancel. But since that article says it is not an option, I don't know that the screenshot was meant to reflect the actual options.

Not liking the search either. Win + Q used to bring up the list of apps. Now it brings up a blank "Search Everywhere" pane.

 

Warning: Not all Windows 8 or RT PCs can run Windows 8.1 preview

.

 

Thanks for the reply. I really want to try it but I hate using a Microsoft account.

 

I do too but it was the only way I could find to get it installed and I needed to do some software testing. Overall I am liking it less than Windows 8. I hope I am missing something but the new search makes it about impossible to see what is installed on a system if you do not already know what you are looking for. If this is the direction they are going I am thinking hard about downgrading my machines back to Windows 7. I was hoping they would improve Windows 8, not make it worse. I have been using Stardock addons (Start8, ModernMix) to make it tolerable, but I think I am done.

 

From what I saw on a video earlier - if you click on metro start screen there is an arrow at the bottom, click that and it pulls all your apps up. But I know what you mean, Microsoft are going deeper & deeper into the tablet world and it's frustrating for us desktop users.

I'm considering just having the smallest windows partition possible so I can still use ITunes and a few other softwares I need and switching to Linux Mint for my main OS. I'll wait and see how things shape up with 8.1 first though.

 

I heard the search integrates bing results now, but it favors results from local box first. That way if looking for any app from the machine, it should not miss from the sight. probably the feature might not be working..

source...Windows 8.1: a first look at what Microsoft is changing

Lets see how this search goes. I hope this improvements should make finding the things more easier and single place for anything. Anyhow i am not going to install it till final comes up.

Also, wanted to see the improvements to Mail app. This one is driving factor for me. A single place for personal and office e-mail accounts. Easier to do simple tasks..

 

Hands-on with the Windows 8.1 preview.
• http://www.zdnet.com/hands-on-with-the-windows-8-1-preview-7000017334/

Microsoft's Windows 8.1 public preview: What you need to know.
• http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-windows-8-1-public-preview-what-you-need-to-know-7000017342/

Windows 8.1 Preview now available for some Windows 8 users.
• http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/26/4466540/windows-8-1-preview-now-available-download

Microsoft Build kicks off with Windows 8.1, new apps, Bing for Devs, & more.
• http://venturebeat.com/2013/06/26/microsoft-build-2013-day-1-live-blog/

 

I didn't see that but will have to give it another look tomorrow. Thanks for pointing it out. And yes, it integrates Bing into the search everywhere results. This is not going to be the update that will move the people that don't like Windows 8 to upgrade.

 

I'm quietly furious with some of Windows 8. For one thing they deliberately made it difficult to make a simple change to the start up sound. It's embedded in imageres.DLL and it's an effort to modify it just to apply a different start up sound.

Secondly another simple annoying issue is plastered all over the net and various forums with absolutely no concrete fix.

The Metro is a such stupid debacle from a software giant who supposed to employ the best scientists in computer software code, yet it only takes a few weeks.of normal use before the Metro picture slideshow malfunctions and stops working at all. Not only that but you can no longer do the simplest kindergarden things of changing your account picture, or changing logon background etc.

The BS that's spread about license or activations being the culprit it laughable. Mine is bought and paid, activated by phone with a Microsoft support employee and is even reflected in the system information screen, and still i already had to do several periodic REFRESH's to correct that lame issue.

Let's move on ok? Task Scheduler is next. It breaks after a time too. No answers of any use from MSFN forums and complaints scattered all over the net. Event Viewer fills up with Error: Failed to schedule Software Protection Service for restart. Forums point to corruption in a System32 folder named tasks, again no resolution, always just the ignorant reply to users to use system restore or reinstall. That's a sick weak suggestion we see all to often as a quick dismissal instead of examining the issue intelligently.

There's other matters worth harping on but bottom line is Steve Balmer should show some serious interest in clearing up the basic matters first instead of arrogantly swooning over why this model is so much more advanced then any before it. At least when Bill Gates was in charge he in his own way accepted negative discussion and argument and didn't ignore or color coat over real issues brought out on his operating system.

I can't even look at 8.1 right now for trying to catch up to all these quirks & issues in 8 and trying to work them out locally.

 

there seem to be very little in there for us desktop users.

has the issues with the Windows Update Cleanup been fixed?
do we have something else beside the square flat look?
have they fixed the problem of dark letter on dark themes?
about some tabs in the Windows Explorer like any decent file manager should?

seems like the focus is put heavily on the tablet/mobile.
the more this goes the less i am interested.

i tried Windows 8 on a friend's cell phone last night and i must say i was quite pleased with the experience.
wish i could say the same about the desktop part.

 

The download and install took too much effort. Been working all afternoon to download, but kept having hitches. Sounds like MS didn't give much love to the desktop so no need to install it on a desktop.

Re-imaged back to Windows 7 and now I can say that was my last attempt with Win 8. Will be deleting my Win 8 images on external HD.

 

It's weird that they're up to IE11 after less than a year of IE10. They usually take much longer between major versions.

Before you know it, they'll be up to Firefox/Chrome-like rapid releases!

 

So, what were the issues you faced with it after you installed preview OS..

 

Could never get completely downloaded. Kept restarting after several attempts. Got as high as 40 percent downloaded and all of a sudden it started over. Did this five different times over a 4 hr period. Just didn't feel like MS had it together today.

Needed a patch before I could even see it at the Windows Store. Then needed to figure out that the patch made it possible to download, etc. Overly complicated.

 

mind telling the issue...just interested to know..

Good to hear. I wish W8.1 should reach atleast a little more broader audience, if one gets adapted to apps life

IE11 (from extrmetech and the most interesting feature atleast to me...html5 netflix streaming, since it includes faster rendering it helps overall OS, like outlook,metro apps

Metro apps upgrade like mail,windows store and metro interface itself....ofcourse if one who uses it )

DX11.2, i dont what immediate improvements it would bring to the user..

 

Ok. I guess its first day and lot of people are trying to hit the servers. Give it a try after a couple of days. you should be able to download it then..By that time, all the quirks should be sorted out. if not then its unfortunate for them...

 

here about the Windows Update Cleanup issues:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=348458

about mid page and down, starting with post #16.
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unfortunately, i see no use for Metro Apps on a desktop machine.
that Metro stuff belongs on tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices, afaic.

 

EASTER,

You OS is a real mess. I couldn't work with something like that.

 

Yes you can, when you're equally as tenacious to get to the bottom of these elementary issues and finally narrow the field between real fixes or workarounds until MS patchworks them.

Windows freelance customizers are perhaps some of the best rippers when it comes to stopping at nothing to better dress up the GUI. It just takes time & patience while they drive down to those annoying nags and come up with better alternatives then MS development can. lol

And now Windows 8 desktop issue is surfaced. The desktop doesn't auto-refresh when moving files and such. You delete a file or folder and it goes off the desktop, but it will not visually show in your recycle bin icon unless you first right click the context menu and manually select refresh. Insufficiency exists in this platform all over the place from the metro screen to desktop.

See what i mean about the basic of elementary glitches? And Microsoft is supposedly recognized as a multinational multibillion dollar marketing software enterprise?