Windows 8 Release Preview

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teh_pwn said:
Eh, not sure what that means.

This admin approval policy existed before, but in Vista and 7 it was disabled when you put UAC at minimum settings. With 8, minimum UAC settings keeps this policy enabled. If you disable the policy explicitly, metro apps will bitch about UAC being disabled and will refuse to start.

If you keep the policy enabled and enter "subst M: C:\SomeFolder\" in an Admin command prompt and then go to M:\ in windows explorer, windows will return an error about M:\ not existing. But if you do the same thing in a non-admin command prompt, it will exist. The problem with this is that I use batch files that are invoked by admin programs, and other programs that depend on that subst working in windows explorer. I think the concept of an Admin user account not being actual Admin really non-intuitive and not very useful. So for now, I simply don't use metro apps until someone figures out how to correct this design flaw.

See the post starting with "Okay, here we go" to see how this policy impacts windows explorer in other ways
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...39?msgId=f06ccab0-4fca-4c8f-9811-d4fa9d41d2e0

Basically Microsoft made UAC mandatory.
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Can't you just establish the subst in both command prompts?
 
Beautifully Shaped Monsters said:
I don't see why this is so shocking? I switch off my computer when I leave home or when I go to work. I see no reason to use sleep.

But then, my Windows 7 partition (and Ubuntu partition) boots to desktop pretty much instantaneously once it's past the BIOS screen.
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Sleep saves power according to MS, you don't have to start up, and you don't have to cold boot your apps all the time.

I dunno, whatever works for people, but I rarely turn off my computer.
 
Wait, about program files being owned by the system account, does that prevent you from modifying anything in C:\Program Files?
 
Heres quite a positive review of W8 on TechRadar.

[URL="W8 Review]http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/windows-8-1093002/review[/URL]
 
Leckan said:
Probably an idiotic question but videos/music and photos counts as files right?

And games of course is apps correct?
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Yes.

For me Windows 8 has been faster and snazzier than Windows 7 with no missing functionality and more features to boot. And just as stable.
 
Once apps are win 8 aware, I'll like the OS a lot more. Right now, it's a fragmenteded experience.

One thing I some what dislike is how I can sign into different services with different accounts. I'd like the OS to help me unify and work towards single sign-on.
 
OK, so I'm getting used to it, and I love the new "Metro" Chrome (version 21?). It's super fast and no desktop required. However, um, the lack of a clock is a huge issue. I hate having to hit the windows key or whatever just to see the time. Does anyone have a solution for this?
 
Cheech said:
OK, so I'm getting used to it, and I love the new "Metro" Chrome (version 21?). It's super fast and no desktop required. However, um, the lack of a clock is a huge issue. I hate having to hit the windows key or whatever just to see the time. Does anyone have a solution for this?
Click to expand...

Use desktop. Or wait for someone to make a clock app and 1/3 it.

Progress.
 
Cheech said:
OK, so I'm getting used to it, and I love the new "Metro" Chrome (version 21?). It's super fast and no desktop required. However, um, the lack of a clock is a huge issue. I hate having to hit the windows key or whatever just to see the time. Does anyone have a solution for this?
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Bring up the charms bar, the clock appears on the lower left.
 
One thing no one is mentioning about Win8:

Not only is it designed for tablets, but it's also way better to use as an HTPC than Win 7. Bigger interface, buttons, etc.
 
DrFurbs said:
So what's the verdict from those who've been running it a while? Is it a good upgrade for a PC from W7? I understand it will take a little getting used to but from what I read its faster, lighter and more secure. Surely this is a good thing.
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I'm loving it. I'm still getting used to the changes, but i'm already conviced that changes were for the better (Except for not having numlock on by default whe you turn your pc)... The smart screen is awesome to organize apps that you don't use very often so you don't remember their names, but want it to be installed when you need to do a certain task.

Plus, it is quite snappier than 7 at pretty much everything.

It's probably even better with a hybrid device, so i'm tremendously looking forward into picking one when it's available.


ConvenientBox said:
I like win8, though some things do bother me. When in the desktop environment, metro apps shouldn't be referenced at all. Example, I was looking at some photos, and when you view them it loads up the metro interface. It's annoying, but fixable.

My 11inch core solo acer notebook runs the OS perfectly, faster than windows 7 for sure.
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It did that by default? Here it asked where i would like to open it the first time i tried opening one, and everytime i install a new app which can open that extension a pop up appears the first time you try to open a file informing you if you want to change the default app.

I think it's a good behavior...
 
Zombie James said:
For all those touchscreen TVs, right? Don't think Media Center was that bad, interface-wise.
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No, for TVs that are sitting 10-15 feet from you. The larger tiles are easier to see.
 
Flash seems to be causing hard locks on my Windows 8 install, it's pro, I did it from scratch (upgraded first, started again to see if that would fix it), I'm using an iMac in bootcamp which is obviously never ideal but everything else works fine. Anyone got any ideas?
 
Ghost said:
Flash seems to be causing hard locks on my Windows 8 install, it's pro, I did it from scratch (upgraded first, started again to see if that would fix it), I'm using an iMac in bootcamp which is obviously never ideal but everything else works fine. Anyone got any ideas?
Click to expand...

Try turning off Hardware Acceleration and see if it still crashes. If it doesn't then it's your graphics drivers.
 
StudioTan said:
No, for TVs that are sitting 10-15 feet from you. The larger tiles are easier to see.
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I'm confused, I thought Media Centre already gave you large icons and text to use?

windows_media_center_wvztd.png
 
venne said:
Media Center offers very little PC functionality unless you tinker.
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I guess my point of contention is that poster said HTPC. For using a computer as an HTPC, Microsoft already has a TV optimized interface. If you're just going to use your TV as a big monitor for computing, then yeah, I guess Metro looks like a decent 15ft interface.
 
aaaaa0 said:
Can't you just establish the subst in both command prompts?
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No, because I'm not running a command prompt. I was giving that as a simplified example of my actual problem. My problem is that I have a make file executing in admin (other things require this or it won't work), so the subst command goes into real admin mode. But then this make process invokes an application that depends on this subst working in the normal user admin account. There might be a way to call a different user account...I'm a novice with different user account instances, make files, and advanced DOS.

So I just disable UAC completely and don't use metro apps. Kind of sucks that I cannot play around with metro apps, but it's work and this won't impact me at home.
 
Zombie James said:
I guess my point of contention is that poster said HTPC. For using a computer as an HTPC, Microsoft already has a TV optimized interface. If you're just going to use your TV as a big monitor for computing, then yeah, I guess Metro looks like a decent 15ft interface.
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I didn't mean HTPC in a strict sense. I meant using the TV as your monitor.
 
So having used the Preview like a couple of times, I didn't get the hype. If anything, this re-enforced my idea of building my UI for computers as Microsoft just doesn't get it.

Are there any of the larger tech sites (read that as Ars, et al) that have a detailed write up of the versions and specifically an insight into how this is going to play out in the corporate world?
 
is upgrading from 7 a simple process? I just installed a fresh copy of win 7 within the past 2 months, and am a bit lazy :P

...

the fuck my dreamspark premium thing is expired. Fuuuuuu :S

lazy admins.
 
chickdigger802 said:
is upgrading from 7 a simple process? I just installed a fresh copy of win 7 within the past 2 months, and am a bit lazy :P

...

the fuck my dreamspark premium thing is expired. Fuuuuuu :S

lazy admins.
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See my first post on this page :-)

I just did a direct upgrade from a long-established Windows 7 install to Windows 8, worked like a charm. Absolutely no need to do a clean install.
 
chickdigger802 said:
is upgrading from 7 a simple process? I just installed a fresh copy of win 7 within the past 2 months, and am a bit lazy :P

...

the fuck my dreamspark premium thing is expired. Fuuuuuu :S

lazy admins.
Click to expand...

I haven't done it personally, but from what I understand it's quite simple. It will check your computer for any apps that aren't compatible with Windows 8 (anti-virus programs usually come up, but Win 8 has that built it) and then you choose which stuff you want to keep (settings, apps, files) and I think that's about it.
 
Oh yeah, I should probably specify the exact way I upgraded. I simply extracted the ISO to a folder on my desktop in Windows 7, and ran setup.exe from the folder. Done :-)

It ran the app compatibility check, and all it found was that I needed to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials (since it's built-in to Windows 8), and restart before I could continue.

Immediately after restarting, the setup continued from exactly where it left off, meaning I didn't even need to enter my product key again first.
 
dLMN8R said:
Oh yeah, I should probably specify the exact way I upgraded. I simply extracted the ISO to a folder on my desktop in Windows 7, and ran setup.exe from the folder. Done :-)

It ran the app compatibility check, and all it found was that I needed to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials (since it's built-in to Windows 8), and restart before I could continue.

Immediately after restarting, the setup continued from exactly where it left off, meaning I didn't even need to enter my product key again first.
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Does it 'replace' all of win 7?

I only have a 128gb ssd and would be bummed if the old win 7 files 'lingered'.
 
Yes, it replaces it. Unless you're really low on space, you don't need to worry about it even if you're on an SSD.

Some of your files will be moved to a windows.old directory, which might take up a bunch of space. It's a backup of sorts in case some things go wrong. However, that folder is automatically deleted after a certain amount of time, or you can delete it at any time by using the Disk Cleanup utility.
 
Just finished from a fresh reformat and install.

Tooled around with the new start menu a bit and got my favorite programs pinned so they're right there when I open the menu. Digging it so far. I basically have it set up to function just like Windows 7, but I'm trying out some of the new stuff to.

One thing I think MS should patch in is folders in the All Apps version of the start menu. It's pretty ugly when everything is auto-expanded from the get go.

No real complaints yet (I haven't been using it for long though). All of the programs I used on Windows 7 are functioning just fine on Windows 8.
 
Tomat said:
Just finished from a fresh reformat and install.

Tooled around with the new start menu a bit and got my favorite programs pinned so they're right there when I open the menu. Digging it so far. I basically have it set up to function just like Windows 7, but I'm trying out some of the new stuff to.

One thing I think MS should patch in is folders in the All Apps version of the start menu. It's pretty ugly when everything is auto-expanded from the get go.

No real complaints yet (I haven't been using it for long though). All of the programs I used on Windows 7 are functioning just fine on Windows 8.
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Not folders, but you can group your apps onto categories, I have mine named frequents, games, multimedia, image editing and social
 
If anyone is on Microsoft Dreamspark Premium, they just added "Microsoft Windows 8 Professional 64-bit (English) - DreamSpark" and a 32Bit flavour.
 
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