Windows 8 - Arrrrrgggghhh!

[Sara_H]

Oh my god! I bought a new lap top a few weeks ago. It came with windows 8.
I have absolutely no clue what us going on. I just don't understand it.
It disconnects from the Internet for no reason and refuses to connect back up. I download stuff or save files and have no clue where they are. There's all these coloured squares called apps that I didn't ask for and don't want.

I hate it!

 

[SquareDaff]

That's Windows "Intuitive" interface :-)

 

[redcard]

Sounds like your machine is working perfectly!

 

[Sara_H]

It's awful.

I haven't been able to get iTunes to work properly.

Call me old fashioned, but I ought to be able to switch it on and use it.

 

[chqshaitan]

check this out bud

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E1UxI5I_jo

 

[redcard]

Google 'Windows 8 desktop mode'.

I had a look around, but there doesn't appear to be any universal way to get things back to normal. There's a few differ programs that promise to help you out, so might be a bit of trial and error to see which ones work best.

 

[akb]

Take it back and get them put Windows 7 on. Windows 8 is designed for tablets and takes a while to get used to.

 

[chqshaitan]

i am sticking with windows 7 for the time being

 

[Spinney]

Had to have a new computer the other week. The computer guy strongly recommended I had windows 7 (as on the old one), rather than windows 8 - he hated the new one too!

 

[chqshaitan]

i am sure given time it will come into its own, but imo ms have tried to follow a o/s designed for a tablet and deployed it onto a traditional desktop.

 

[MrJamie]

I've kinda posted this on every Windows 8 thread on here now, but most of the confusion comes from trying to use the tablet interface, just use desktop mode exactly like you did in Windows 7, the tiles etc are for touchscreen, absolutely no need to use it on a normal desktop/laptop. I've only been using it for a couple of months, but I've not had problems with any programs running on it, prefer the interface to 7 now i'm used to it and while I still agree MS made some mistakes (mainly not defaulting desktops into desktop mode), I think it really does get a lot of unfair negativity.

Pin the programs you use most to the taskbar (right click their icon at the bottom while theyre running and select pin), then you can launch them from there each time. I'd suggest your browser, your mail, a windows folder and anything else you use regularly.
For anything else, simply hit the windows key and start typing the name and itll find it for you, hit enter or click it and it runs, faster than a start menu. (also works in windows 7 which is why MS don't think anyone uses the start menu)
Make sure if you open any documents/media files, you right click, choose open with and choose the desktop version as default.

For the old right hand side of the start menu, hit Windows Key+X and it brings up an improved start menu minus the programs.
Windows key+D, or moving mouse to top left corner of screen switches you back between metro and desktop modes.
Windows Key+E launches explorer (as it did in win7)

I don't mean to offend, but unless you have a touchscreen, don't watch the video above, you (and all the people complaining its a tablet OS ) have no need to be going near the silly tiles, stay in desktop mode and use it like a slightly different windows 7. Honestly give it a week, stay away from Metro and there's a decent chance you'll like it. If you're finding anything difficult I can *probably*, help find the easy way of doing it if you ask

 

[stevede]

Put windows 8 on my desktop because it was cheaper to upgrade from XP than go to 7.

For the first 3 weeks I hated it. Couldn't figure it out. Then it clicked, I discovered the tricks & tips and wouldn't go back now. My work XP laptop seems so old fashioned by comparison.

Like anything new, it just take a little while to get used to.

 

[Octet]

Like anything new, it just take a little while to get used to.

Like anything new, I try and install Linux on it first

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I've kinda posted this on every Windows 8 thread on here now, but most of the confusion comes from trying to use the tablet interface, just use desktop mode exactly like you did in Windows 7, the tiles etc are for touchscreen, absolutely no need to use it on a normal desktop/laptop. I've only been using it for a couple of months, but I've not had problems with any programs running on it, prefer the interface to 7 now i'm used to it and while I still agree MS made some mistakes (mainly not defaulting desktops into desktop mode), I think it really does get a lot of unfair negativity.

Pin the programs you use most to the taskbar (right click their icon at the bottom while theyre running and select pin), then you can launch them from there each time. I'd suggest your browser, your mail, a windows folder and anything else you use regularly.
For anything else, simply hit the windows key and start typing the name and itll find it for you, hit enter or click it and it runs, faster than a start menu. (also works in windows 7 which is why MS don't think anyone uses the start menu)
Make sure if you open any documents/media files, you right click, choose open with and choose the desktop version as default.

For the old right hand side of the start menu, hit Windows Key+X and it brings up an improved start menu minus the programs.
Windows key+D, or moving mouse to top left corner of screen switches you back between metro and desktop modes.
Windows Key+E launches explorer (as it did in win7)

I don't mean to offend, but unless you have a touchscreen, don't watch the video above, you (and all the people complaining its a tablet OS ) have no need to be going near the silly tiles, stay in desktop mode and use it like a slightly different windows 7. Honestly give it a week, stay away from Metro and there's a decent chance you'll like it. If you're finding anything difficult I can *probably*, help find the easy way of doing it if you ask

+1

Windows 8 is so simple (I'm 56 and do not have a touch screen phone either).

All that is really different is that, on the start screen, you have a whole bundle of app's on show + shortcuts to whatever program/folder/file you want. You can even have a desktop shortcut too if you do not want to use the start screen.

Beyond me as to why this is proving difficult to grasp.

 

[Sara_H]

+1

Windows 8 is so simple (I'm 56 and do not have a touch screen phone either).

All that is really different is that, on the start screen, you have a whole bundle of app's on show + shortcuts to whatever program/folder/file you want. You can even have a desktop shortcut too if you do not want to use the start screen.

Beyond me as to why this is proving difficult to grasp.

I'm not the most computer literate to begin with, the Windows 8 thing has thrown me.

Things like downloading files and photo's, I cant work out where things have gone.