The Windows 8 Thread

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

Windows 8 has been released for general availability. From today you can buy windows 8 upgrade online, or from a retail store. Windows 8 laptops/PC's also start selling too.

Buy Online
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-NZ/windows/buy

Upgrade is $50 (untill Jan 31), it has to be upgraded from a previous version of Windows. Before buying it, you download an Upgrade Assistant which see if your computer fits the requirments.

Buy Instore
A boxed copy will be available in retail stores for an RRP of $90

Evaluation Version
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/jj554510.aspx

You can still get a 90 day evaluation. It's the Enterprise version, I would suggest installing on another partition or in a VM, so you can go back to your previous version of Windows.


Oddly enough, there is currently no stand alone full version. There will be an OEM/system builder version, i'm not sure when though.

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

I'm going to buy a copy to install it on my HTPC, so i'll let you know how it goes.

Netflix has an app, so does Hulu, so it will be exciting.

[swindle]

I've been playing around with it a little bit over the past week or so.

Its good. Would be real nice for the HTPC.

[Xenolightning]

Hmm I always thought monkey's work for Microsoft

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

Hmm I always thought monkey's work for Microsoft

I am working for Microsoft.

I've been flown out to Utah for two weeks. The company I work for has a contract with Microsoft for a product implementation for a client.

[PrinceTuiTeka]

I need to do a full system reinstall etc and have to buy a copy of windows to do so. I only have an OEM of win 7 which will no longer work as its from a store bought pc that has had a few key hardware changes.

Tossing up on whether to buy an old copy of win 7 or go with the new win 8.

Any input would be awesome guys as am a bit apprehensive of throwing my lot in with 8 just yet based on experiences with win ME and Vista.

Also if anyone has a spare Win 7 license that they no longer need flick me a pm with a price and I could be keen.

[deanox]

All the advertising for Win 8 looks like its aimed at 13 year old girls. And the logos and icons, seriously think KISS has been taken a little to far to the simple side of things.

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

If you want to give Win 8 a good try do this


Get VirtualBox
https://www.virtualbox.org/

Get the Evaluation Version
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/jj554510.aspx

Virtual box allows you to mount the ISO file has a drive on the virtual machine so it's easy to install.


I had to add a custom resoloution to virtualbox so it would run fullscreen on my laptop.
http://www.windows7hacker.com/index.php/2011/09/running-windows-8-on-virtualbox-with-additional-wide-screen-resolution/

But it looks awesome running as fullscreen in a VM, however don't expect performace to be that good.

[Xsannz]

GONNA TRY A FRESH usb install today, only thing the prep tool says is incompatible on my pc is i wont be able to use the safeboot option as my uefi bios isnt the right version,

but no big loss there safeboot sounds like a pita..

[Bounty Hunter]

I'll try it after SP1

[Dr. Acula]

Just got a free Windows 8 Pro key through Microsoft's Dreamspark website so can't wait to get that setup with dual-boot. Just one problem, they seem to be having some trouble with their download service, so I can't get it right now Does anyone know of somewhere where I can get a proper download of W8 so I can just use my key?

[Bounty Hunter]

Just got a free Windows 8 Pro key through Microsoft's Dreamspark website so can't wait to get that setup with dual-boot. Just one problem, they seem to be having some trouble with their download service, so I can't get it right now Does anyone know of somewhere where I can get a proper download of W8 so I can just use my key?

dreamspark is so wonderful, except the DRM download thing, it's never worked for me, once downloaded windows 7 and hit the go button and it sat there, sat there, and then crashed, and then i opened it again and it started downloading it again.

sometimes you wonder if they just want you to pirate it.

[Dr. Acula]

Yup, pretty much same problem here except it's getting to the unpacking part after downloading then saying the files corrupted or some nonsense, really tired of it. If anyone knows of a place I could download W8 Pro, I would be happy to offer a free reach around in return.

[Tiwaking!]

How to get your Google Back

[Xsannz]

FOR THOSE THAT CBF with an upgrade .. and since there is not full version standalone yet.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1724637

oh if you have the upgrade version check this link.

do a fresh install change reg setting, rearm activation - activate using upgrade key.

all the reg change does is allows win8 to think it upgraded a 7 install instead of being a  fresh.

[Xsannz]

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?p=14849123#post14849123

[camy205]

I have curiosity in Windows 8, but no interest. Seems like a major fuck up and I doubt it will be very successful on Desktop computers, it may give the iPad a run for its money in the tablet market but having said that Android will most definitely be more successful than Microsoft.


The other major gripe I have with it is that I can not ever see this OS being used in an office workplace, which is why Windows XP was so successful, Windows 7 has just started to become the norm in offices and the metro theme is very off putting.

[Xsannz]

I have curiosity in Windows 8, but no interest. Seems like a major fuck up and I doubt it will be very successful on Desktop computers, it may give the iPad a run for its money in the tablet market but having said that Android will most definitely be more successful than Microsoft.


The other major gripe I have with it is that I can not ever see this OS being used in an office workplace, which is why Windows XP was so successful, Windows 7 has just started to become the norm in offices and the metro theme is very off putting.

i agreed with everything you say.

howeverthe more i use it the more it grows on you.

I HATED to the point of rage the beta and trial versions of 8.

but i have spent the day navigating it.

and tbh it would work well in an office that only uses several apps all day. simple big tiles...

it's  growing on me but then so does cancer, and TBH windows ME grew on me after a while too and that was AIDS.

Not advocating it but its not as bad as i was expecting.

[henno]

Interesting that there is no mention of it being an upgrade on Dick Smith's site.
 
Was thinking about it for daughters laptop as serial was on bottom and got erased and when drive fried couldn't reinstall legit Win7.

[Xsannz]

there is no standalone version except for oem versions.... they could be selling oem version but that would be odd

you could buy the upgrade version.... and just use the sections i posted above to unlock it..

at no stage does it ask for your 7 key

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

It looks nice on a big screen.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7563[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7564[/ATTACH]

[O-L-W-A-G]

I've been a "manufacturer" since the RTM came out and prefer the not allowed to call it metro interface over 7's. It is just super sized icons that you would normally have pinned to your taskbar.

[mycoolcar]

It looks nice on a big screen.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7563[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7564[/ATTACH]

Awesome name Michael, its the best name in the world.

Why should I change from W7 to W8?

[Apostrophe Spacemonkey]

Awesome name Michael, its the best name in the world.

Why should I change from W7 to W8?

I'm installing it on my HTPC for the apps and fast bootup time.

For my games computer i'll stick with 7.

[O-L-W-A-G]

Awesome name Michael, its the best name in the world.

Why should I change from W7 to W8?

General performance increase, in some games 5-10FPS, multi monitor backgrounds can be set individually and screenshots now save to a PNG. Yes all these things were possible with 7 and some programs running in the background but I prefer features to be native.