• Info + questions about Windows 8/8.1: You are here! You made it! Good job!
  
• For posterity, The last Windows 8 thread which was very well behaved and had lots of useful info! Good job everyone!
  
• The New Windows tablets thread in IYG!
  
• Windows 8 Apps thread in IYG seems mostly dead, so I guess we can just talk about apps here?
  
• microsoft is bad windows is bad
  

I want an ISO

• Here is a step by step tutorial from Microsoft
  
• Can I update from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1?
  

  Microsoft FAQ posted:

  If your PC has a 64-bit capable processor (CPU) but is currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can install a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1, but you'll need to buy it as a DVD and perform a clean installation. You won't be able to keep any files, settings, or apps when you update from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version.
  
  Please note that the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack is used to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 8.1 Pro, and isn't for cross-architecture installs and doesn't include any media. If you want to change architectures, buy Windows 8.1 Pro.
  

• You CAN skip the Microsoft Account tie-in when doing the upgrade. Check the tutorial link. Short version: choose Create a new account, and then on the new account page, choose Continue using my existing account
  
• A word from Microsoft about your Windows Store (metro) apps:
  

  quote:

  Your desktop apps come with you when you update to Windows 8.1, but you'll need to reinstall your Windows Store apps. You can see all of the Windows Store apps you own in the Your apps section of the Store. From here, you can choose the ones you want to install on your updated PC, and install them all at once.

• If you missed the low-impact of Windows 7 start search, try out Win+S search (also Win+Q, Win+W for Settings, Win+F for Files). It'll open a sidebar for results without kicking you over to the Start Screen, so it's much less annoying. It's also the search you get if you're on the Start Screen and just being typing letters.
  
  
• Search results also include Bing results. If you Win+S (or begin typing a search from the Start Screen) for something and click the top of the suggested search results (lower half of the search pane) you get a special search results view. If it's a common term ("katy perry" is an example) then you'll get a kind of mixed-content preview with pictures and links to wikipedia and stuff. You can turn off the web integration in PC Settings, which makes search results entirely local again
  
  
• Several new options in "Taskbar and Navigation Properties" (right click the taskbar -> Properties, Navigation tab such as When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start, and Show my desktop background on Start. These two in particular make Windows 8.1 A LOT less jarring of an experience. You can also turn off the mouse gesture for the Charms bar here, and make pressing the Win key go to the full apps list instead of the Start screen.
  
  
• The Apps screen is more easily accessible: click the down arrow from the Start Screen. You can change the grouping by clicking the selector in the top left.
  
  
• There's more personalization options for the Start Screen (Win+I, Personalize) including animated backgrounds and being able to use your desktop wallpaper. There's also more Tile size options: Double-Sized ("Large") and Quarter-Sized ("Small"). Also, Tile colors for regular desktop programs are now generated from the icon (like the Win7/8 taskbar button shading)
  
  
• PC Settings sucks a lot less -- there's a lot more configuration options and less of a need to bounce out to the desktop Control Panel (Win+I, Enter from the normal desktop).
  
  
• Multi Monitor Metro: FINALLY. You can now have Windows Store ("metro") apps on more than one monitor at a time, and use the Start Screen from a different monitor than an app is on. Other improvements to apps usability include being able to have more than 2 open on a screen at once and being able to resize the proportions yourself.
  
  
• Charms: The mouse gesture to activate can be disabled (still available with keyboard shortcuts), but the buttons appear closer to whichever corner you activated it from. Also, the Share Charm (Win+H) is now marginally useful from the regular desktop, as it allows you to share a screenshot to any Share-enabled app (such as Dropbox, OneNote, Mail, Twitter, etc). Don't forget that the Settings, Share, and Devices charms are context-specific for an app.
  
  
• Most/all of the first part Windows Store apps have gotten some kind of update. Mail in particular has been identified by reviewers as substantially improved. Music is also quite a bit better and can put take you right to your own local collection now (but still isn't as good as Zune software, never forget ).
  

Factor Mystic fucked around with this message at 21:35 on Nov 8, 2014

• Windows 8.1 - the standard edition (roughly corresponds with Windows 7 Home Premium)
  
• Windows 8.1 Pro - the professional edition (roughly corresponds with Windows 7 Professional)
  

• Regular desktop & Windows 7 desktop applications - All (Limited on Windows RT -- see below)
  
• Remote desktop client - All editions
  
• Remote desktop host - Pro, Enterprise
  
• Storage spaces - All (except Windows RT)
  
• Domain join - Pro, Enterprise
  
• Group policy - Pro, Enterprise
  
• Windows Media Center - Pro only, via extra add-in (see below)
  
• Hyper-V - Pro, Enterprise (64-bit versions only with SLAT capable CPU)
  

Factor Mystic fucked around with this message at 02:51 on Oct 18, 2013

• Can I disable my account requiring a password to login?
  

  Lance Streetman posted:

  You can turn that off under PC settings/account/sign-in options.
  

  or,
  

  sether01 posted:

  Run -> netplwiz, select your account, then click off the check box that says "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer."
  

  
  
• Windows is using MY RAMZ
  It's supposed to work like that, keeping as much in ram as possible... unused ram means it's, ya know, not being used when it could be.
  

  thebigcow posted:

  http://www.linuxatemyram.com/ I know I know, wrong OS for this thread, but the concepts are the same.
  

  
  
  
• How do I get multiple Google calendars in the Calendar app?
  

  WebDog posted:

  Found out a way to allow multiple Google calenders in the Calender app.
  You have to run this through Chrome to work.
  
  Download User Agent Switcher from the Chrome Webstore
  Deactivate Javascript in Settings (Show advanced settings, Content settings)
  Select iPad or iPhone
  Go to http://m.google.com/sync
  Click your Windows Mail device
  In the URL change supportMultipleCalendars=false to supportMultipleCalendars=true
  Submit URL (Press Enter)
  Tick off calenders
  Save
  Reload your Google Account to your Windows Calendar app.
  

  
  
• Another Google calendar tip:
  

  benitocereno posted:

  I did discover something that I thought other people would like to know! This is semi-related to the "multiple google calendars" in the OP; but in my case, I couldn't even get my primary calendar to work.
  
  I work at a place that uses Google Apps for Education and have been frustrated that the new calendar client doesn't support Google calendars, regardless of the fact that GAFE provides an Exchange interface. However, you can do the following and it works perfectly:
  
  Open Calendar and add a new account, select "Exchange" and "Show More." Under server, use "m.google.com/". Use your full credentials for the rest of the fields - "username@org.com", etc. Leave domain blank.
  
  All of the references I found left off the slash on m.google.com. If you leave the slash off, it will deny your request before it even tries to connect, probably because Microsoft doesn't want people working around the known Exchange end of life with Google. Add the slash and voilà, your Calendar works! I imagine this fix will work as long as you're on GAFE or Google for Business.
  

  
  
  
• How to get rid of that sent from Windows Live signature mail uses?
  

  Kazy posted:

  It's in the Account options. You have to turn it off for ever account, though I'm glad it has a per-account signature option.
  

  
  
• Windows wakes up from sleep every morning at 3AM
  

  Karthe posted:

  Windows 8 is set up to perform "system maintenance" (update applications, update Windows, defrag, etc...) at 3am by default and will wake up your computer to do so. If you go into System Settings you'll find an option to change the time maintenance is performed and a toggle that will control whether or not your PC will come out of sleep at that time to do so.
  

  
  
• Windows wakes up from sleep, and it's not System Maintenance, and Media Center is installed. Follow these directions to turn off the Media Center Update task
  
  
• Is there a way to make it start up in the "classic", Windows 7ish interface?
  Various third party start menu replacements offer this functionality: StartIsBack, Start8, Classic Shell, and Pokki for Windows 8 seem to all be debated.
  
  
• Is there a means to allow automatic updates of Windows Defender types updates (that don't require a reboot) while also preventing the automatic rebooting process if whatever update requires it?
  
  YES. Copy/paste the following text to a script file named update-mse.vbs and put it somewhere handy, like your user folder (c:\users\<username>). Then set up a scheduled task to run it automatically in the background.
  
  

  code:

  Dim WshShell
  Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  WshShell.Run "cmd /c ""C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MpCmdRun.exe"" -SignatureUpdate", 0, true
  

  1) Open the Task Scheduler (Win + W, search for "Schedule tasks")
  2) Create a new task (Action menu -> Create Task)
  3) Put in something sensible for the task name, like "MSE Auto Update"
  4) "Triggers" tab, "New..." button, "Begin the task" -> "At log on", Check "Repeat task every", and change "for a duration of" to "Indefinitely". Make sure "Enabled" is checked and hit "OK"
  5) "Actions" tab, "New..." button, "Action" -> "Start a program", "Program/script" box should have wscript.exe. "Add arguments" should have "C:\Users\<You>\update-mse.vbs", and hit "OK"
  6) Hit "OK" to save the task.
  7) Make sure it's working: Click into "Task Scheduler Library" and find the task you just made. Right click, "Run". Nothing should appear to happen. After a few seconds, hit F5 to refresh. Your task should say "Ready" in the status column and "The operation completed successfully" over in the "Last Run Result" column. If not, post about it and someone will help you.
  

Factor Mystic fucked around with this message at 19:55 on Oct 27, 2013

a tea tree fucked around with this message at 04:44 on Oct 18, 2013

Phoenixan fucked around with this message at 04:47 on Oct 18, 2013

Haeleus fucked around with this message at 05:05 on Oct 18, 2013

Intrepid00 fucked around with this message at 06:20 on Oct 18, 2013

Lance Streetman fucked around with this message at 07:26 on Oct 18, 2013

• Right click closing app does not shut it down but only removes it from the list, necessitating Task Manager
  
• Photos app live tile is gone
  
• Windows Store is always running in the bg
  
• My RAM used to idle at ~27% and now it's ~38%
  

Only registered members can see post attachments!

• Alt+F4
  
• Photos settings charm
  
• ALT+F4
  
• It's not ~90% so who cares
  

dont be mean to me fucked around with this message at 07:47 on Oct 18, 2013

dont be mean to me fucked around with this message at 08:15 on Oct 18, 2013

Lance Streetman fucked around with this message at 08:30 on Oct 18, 2013

dont be mean to me fucked around with this message at 08:35 on Oct 18, 2013

Mayne fucked around with this message at 12:17 on Oct 18, 2013