Windows 8

[Khundon1975]

Had to purchase another computer, as our kid has broken yet another one

Got a Toshiba running windows 8.1 (not touch screen) and decided that, preferring Firefox to IE11 (plus IE keeps crashing on this computer) I would disable IE in the "windows features".
I un ticked IE, so it should be disabled, or so I thought!

After a session on internet I ran CCleaner and blow me down there were 1670 IE Temp Internet files and several cookie files and Thumb cache files + all the firefox/mozilla stuff.

Anyone know why, after disabling IE, I am still getting this IE crap filling up my computer?

Would it be better to completely delete IE off the system, or would that affect performance of the WIN 8.1 operating system?

[buksida]

IE is deeply integrated into the Windows system so it is very difficult to eliminate it completely.

[Nereus]

Anybody know what the cost of a genuine Windows 8.1 is?
Quoted anything from 3,000 Baht up to 5,400 Baht yesterday in Bangkok.

[Dannie Boy]

Anybody know what the cost of a genuine Windows 8.1 is?
Quoted anything from 3,000 Baht up to 5,400 Baht yesterday in Bangkok.

You can buy it from Amazon UK for £86, so your price range covers that.

[Khundon1975]

IE is deeply integrated into the Windows system so it is very difficult to eliminate it completely.

Don't I know it buksi!

I have had to re-install IE11, as I kept getting one of those 502 bad gateway screens, every time I tried to go online So I'm back to square one.

[hhinner]

Those of us who like Windows 8.1 no doubt know already that update 1 will be available from Tuesday 8th April. This update might even go some way to lessening the grumbles of those who still prefer Windows 7, although I expect the changes to the taskbar will upset more than a few of them. Google "Windows 8.1 Update 1" for info.

Cheers.

[hhfarang]

Can I still buy 7 anywhere with a legit DVD? With XP going out of support in less than a week and a machine that I bought about a year ago that cannot run 8.1 (according to the MS web page) I probably need to upgrade to 7.

[Big Boy]

It was on sale on the top floor of the Shopping Mall - big shop at the West end.

[Jack Sprat]

Hhfarang, if your 1 year old computer can't run Windows 8.1 it's unlikely to be able to run Windows 7 either.
What did you buy? sounds very odd.
My 5 year old laptop manages with no problems.
I would check first before you buy.

[hhfarang]

^ I was just looking at the specs of my computer and I think I input it incorrectly (bad memory... mine, not the computer's) on the MS web page so it will probably work, but I may still want 7 if it's much cheaper than 8. I would like to keep XP as I am perfectly happy with it but the security warnings after support ends are scaring me.

Plus, I think the upgrade from XP to 7 is probably much less painful than to 8.1, though not having looked into the details I could be wrong about that. I'm assuming I could just upgrade to 7, whereas the MS site says I have to start from scratch deleting everything on my computer to install 8.1.

[hhinner]

hhfarang you can't upgrade directly to Windows 7 from XP either. It will be a clean install whether you opt for Win7 or Win8.1.

For XP to Win 7 advice look here.

For XP to Win 8.1 advice look here.

In either case you should run the Upgrade Assistant which will tell what problems you might have with the installation, whether you need to download new drivers, etc.

Hope this helps.

[Pleng]

I would also imagine that Win7 would be more expensive than Win8 at this stage, as Microsoft want to encourage people to upgrade to their latest offering. Could be wrong though.

[dozer]

IRS misses XP deadline, pays Microsoft millions for patches

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/ ... or_patches

[Big Boy]

Probably more appropriate in the Windows 7 thread, but I'll leave it here for now.

I don't think a lot of people realise the huge problems in moving to Windows 7 from XP. I was working on the change for 2 years prior to my retirement, and 2 years later, the boffins (on huge money) have still not been able to find a way forward. To move forward would mean stopping business for at least 6 months (totally unacceptable), with no guarantees that it will work at the end of it. I can assure you, IRS are not alone.

Basically, every existing program that runs on the new system, has an expected 40% failure rate. Windows will not change so the 40% of failed programs have to be re-written, and tested again. Then there's the peripheral problem, many will no longer work and have to be re-written.

How do you roll out Windows 7? If you host a lot of other programs, development/support has to be frozen at day 1 of the transition - if new legislation comes in that requires a software change, you are stuck. We were dealing with thousands of workstations worldwide (my small chunk of concern was about 20,000 workstations). We had to devise a Big Bang roll out scenario (some new programs that would work on Windows 7, would not be backwards compatible to XP). That meant rolling out hardware for 20,000 workstations (to where?) in preparation of the big switchover.

I could go on, but I hope you guys get the picture. Don't blame IRS. or any other large organisation. It isn't easy. We've sold our souls to Microsoft, and we are now being held to ransom.

Its not as easy as switch one workstation off, and switching the new one on. XP WILL be with us for many years to come.

[dozer]

Strange comment, I was not blaming anyone.