brought new laptop windows 8 :-(

[hallo18]

windows 8 is the final version of windows 7 supposed to be anyway
Just downlaod and install linux mint or any linux desktop and you will never use windoze again

[Canker_Canison]

cant see the problem myself

win8 is like win7 with an addon of this tile cr@p for tablets

as is mentioned above, just do the tweaks as recommended in computeractive and you can add classicshell or pokki or that iobit one above to add the start menu back in

then you obtain theteh reg file flyout that adds the shutdown/restart/etc facilities to the right mouse button on the desktop screen , and alter the gpservices msc to eliminate the login screen

like this info I found here



when you have done all this and start from the desktop its no different than running win7, as you dont access the tiles unless you wish to

neither have you invalidated any warranty, caused any real problems and win7 was there all the time once you do away with those metro tiles

I could put win7pro back on this laptop if I wished to, but I wouldnt see any difference at all to win8pro, or on my mew samsung I7 laptop either which is win8 only, but I am running it in win7 desktop mode with the above tweaks

Why would someone change their OS, jump through a load of hoops to get rid of the things they don't like... just to end up with an OS that is exactly the same as their previous OS?

It makes no sense to install 8 just to make it run like 7, when you had 7 installed.

[ramjet]

Why would someone change their OS, jump through a load of hoops to get rid of the things they don't like... just to end up with an OS that is exactly the same as their previous OS?

It makes no sense to install 8 just to make it run like 7, when you had 7 installed.

that is your opinion m8

I bought the ?15 upgrade from win7 to win8pro and added the free upgrade to WMC as well, on a ssd on my hp dv8 I7 , so the original 320 gig master hdd drive is in the drawer and still has the factory installed win7 on it so I havent lost anything at all due to the fact this dv8 has 2 hdd inside it, so I cloned the original os onto the new ssd and changed it to win8 pro as I said, and use the original duplicate 320 gig sata hdd for data storage same as before, so it would take me 2 minutes to replace the original hdd into this laptop and run win7 like it was marketed as and so would be in factory fresh condition once more, with the original dual hdd back where they both belong

so why would I do this you ask ?

1) to checkout win8pro obviously

2) to checkout the new 120 gig ssd I had bought recently

3) because it was cheap to do and my key is a lifetime key, whereas the laptop can have its original 320 gig hdd refitted in minutes should I decide to sell it

what I fail to see is why I should be questioned about it ?

my point, seeing as you missed it completely , is twofold

1) people are complaining about win8 and insisting on win7 or not buying the product, when clearly anyone with win8 can easily run it in desktop mode (as per win7) so there is no need for all the fuss about which is best or to own as you can use either option at any time

2) if the laptop doesnt have a win8 key as its embedded in its factory install (like my brand new samsung I 7 xmas present one is), you do not have the option of going to win7 as its not there and no COA key either, its win8 only and no COA sticker as they dont provide one

in which case you can easily use the desktop tweaks to use the win7 aspect of the win8 install, and preserve the warranty too

I am used to the win7 desktop way of working and have done so since before win95 and used almost every windows since, but I also understand I may wish to go with the new metro tile interface and so I now have the option of learning the new system whilst preserving the old system of working too, so have the best of both worlds

I just cannot believe all the fuss of those wishing to buy and then condemning a laptop if its marketed with win8 and they insist on win7. I also cannot believe all the fuss of downgrading a win8 only laptop to win7, just install the tweaks and be done with it (in post #1 the OP was complaining about this and he wanted to go back to win7 from win8, no need if you can tweak it to desktop mode and so use win7 mode in less than 5 minutes is there?)

I actually own legitimate COA licenses for xp , vista , win7 , win8 and also this win8pro, as I have various machines to choose from

but using a win8 laptop in win7 mode gives me time to explore win8 at leisure, especially as I cannot get to grips with the metro tile interface and apps, maybe thats just me as I am used to 18 years of using the older system

it is my choice as to why I may do these things, and I should not have to fully explain myself to anyone, but have done so here as clearly my first attempt wasnt considered good enough for the more pedantic amongst you

get over it, its a state of change, and one I am willing to try for ?15, which is far, FAR less than my purchase of win 7 ultimate retail pack for ?100 last year

[Canker_Canison]

You're right people do have a choice. You decided to do something I see no sense in, but only in relation to modifying Win8 to make it run like Win7.

Testing a new HDD setup while retaining the original setup makes sense. I did it with my current system, two drives, one for Win7 the other with XP.

I've had legit 95, 2000 Pro, XP Pro & Win7 Pro.

You have also provided the reason most people don't like Win8..

as I cannot get to grips with the metro tile interface and apps, maybe thats just me as I am used to 18 years of using the older system

It's not just you who's having problems with it. But if we stick to what we know, products like Win8 will be shelved & more products like Win 7 will be released.
If people give in & try to learn how to live with Win8, more & more bad products will be released.

[Monty31ot]

windows 8 is the final version of windows 7 supposed to be anyway
Just downlaod and install linux mint or any linux desktop and you will never use windoze again

How is linux at playing bluray discs these days ?

I tried a year ago with a bluray disc but you have to convert it to mkv file where on windows you can play on the fly with Anydvd.

I did try to go with linux but the bells and whistles with Windows won me over.

[Shady]

vlc plays blu-rays pre 2012 (or without bd+) after a slight tweak

[ramjet]

You're right people do have a choice. You decided to do something I see no sense in, but only in relation to modifying Win8 to make it run like Win7.

Testing a new HDD setup while retaining the original setup makes sense. I did it with my current system, two drives, one for Win7 the other with XP.

I've had legit 95, 2000 Pro, XP Pro & Win7 Pro.

You have also provided the reason most people don't like Win8..



It's not just you who's having problems with it. But if we stick to what we know, products like Win8 will be shelved & more products like Win 7 will be released.
If people give in & try to learn how to live with Win8, more & more bad products will be released.

in general I agree, but the OP who posted was complaining about his new laptop having win8 and all your solutions dont stand up

he could have altered his laptop to run in win7 mode using the tweaks, maintained his warranty and effectively been using win7 to all intents and purposes, and that is exactly what I did with my new samsung I7

your solution was to disable secureboot and to put an illegal copy of win7 onto the new laptop and crack it with the daz loader or similar, surely the correct procedure is buy a retail win7 and install it with legit COA key (of which I own several)

you also gave the alternative of using his win8 COA key on win7 providing it was the same family as his win8 versions. tthis is not possible on mine as there is no COA KEY FOR WIN8 (its embedded into the restore facility and the actual OS itself)

it would also mean he could face issues with his warranty

so I cannot and did not agree with your first post that promoted those 2 solutions seeing as one was illegal and the other is not possible when they do not provide the key (yes I know there are ways of extracting it as I have done so on my new samsung)

I do agree that this new interface is cr@p, and I do agree that secureboot is a pita, and I do agree there was nothing wrong with win7 either

in my case I have 2 hdd in this DV8 so cloning the win7 hdd to the SSD I had bought and then upgrading it to win8 for a mere ?15 was my first solution to actually trying win8 but retaining win7 abilities on my new sandisk SSD, and I stand by that assertion, but on my new samsung I dont have those options and as yet havent managed to get it to boot any other hdd as it seems tied to secureboot only, but thats another story so at the moment it gives me win7 abilities and win8 should I wish to try something out and retains the warranty so I am happy with that and glad the win8 tweaks allow me to do so with little or no effort

therefore the original poster only has to spend 5 minutes tweaking his hated win8 os to get his beloved win7 which was always my point, its the easiest route to take, no illegal win7 installs, no messing with secureboot and preserves his warranty , job done , no prejudice, end of

the other comments are just prejudice in favour of all the products from win95 , win98, win98se , win2k, win millenium , win xp , win vista and win7 , most of which I have had legit copies of ( but not all ) and I prefer. we all change windows on a daily basis to suit ourselves so I dont see this as any different from that and will continue to do as I wish in order to provide me with a comfortable start point and I may never use the metro tiles as it all seems too much effort compared to the excellent win7 interface anyway. its MY laptop, MY os , MY choice

I fail to see why I should spend time and effort downgrading this DV8 from a ?15 win8pro with a free WMC upgrade back to win 7 home premium with no WMC just to appease other forum members here, especially when I have the original win7 home premium hdd in storage for just that eventuality. it serves no practical purpose whatsoever ! had they produced a program or addon or app for win7 users to give them this win8 metro interface I may have tried it, not liked it, and uninstalled it, so it works both ways as that is what we normally do with additional programs

I believe a forum should address the issues posted by the OP and not concentrate on trolling any answers you do not particularly agree with and should not be advocating the use of illegal copies of windows either. but that aside I agree in general that these companies wont change for the better and provide what the customer wishes until they are forced to do so, in that we are in agreement
I havent seen anyone trolling an admin or mod in this manner , like in this thread here http://www.digital-kaos.co.uk/forums...ws-8-a-311008/ so if he likes it then its prerogative

but the best advice to give to the guy in post #1 (the OP) with his brand new win8 laptop should be install a few tweaks and run your win8 in win7 mode, that will solve your problems with a minimum of effort and legally preserve your warranty

[Canker_Canison]

I'll keep this short..

your solution was to disable secureboot and to put an illegal copy of win7 onto the new laptop and crack it with the daz loader or similar, surely the correct procedure is buy a retail win7 and install it with legit COA key (of which I own several)

There's nothing illegal about installing Windows 7 without a key. You get a 30 day trail period before a key is required.
It's then upto the user which way they want to go, legal or illegal.

But even your Win8 hacks are frowned upon by microsoft. There has already been one attempt at removing the start menu hack, there will be others.
The thing about microsoft is that they see any change to it's code, or programs designed to change the functioning of windows as a breach of their rights. Apple tried this approach with Jailbreaking, & lost. But both Apple & microsoft will remove warranties from products that have been 'hacked'.

So the same outcome is reached in both cases... No warranty.

[jaws2]

we have a windows 8, i had to put the free classic shell program on, just couldnt handle it without the old start menu. cant hear much shouting i want to go on it ethier this side of the wire

[ramjet]

I'll keep this short..



There's nothing illegal about installing Windows 7 without a key. You get a 30 day trail period before a key is required.
It's then upto the user which way they want to go, legal or illegal.

But even your Win8 hacks are frowned upon by microsoft. There has already been one attempt at removing the start menu hack, there will be others.
The thing about microsoft is that they see any change to it's code, or programs designed to change the functioning of windows as a breach of their rights. Apple tried this approach with Jailbreaking, & lost. But both Apple & microsoft will remove warranties from products that have been 'hacked'.

So the same outcome is reached in both cases... No warranty.

my new laptop is under warranty by samsung and F4 returns it back to pristine factory os, so the microsoft aspect makes no difference to my samsung warranty and I can do as I wish with windows and install whatever I wish too and not invalidate my samsung warranty

therefore my samsung warranty is definitely intact - period

as for my ?15 download, I have the key and the disk so can easily put it back to factory whenever I wish to on this hp dv8

so the OP can easily add these tweaks and still preserve his laptop warranty with his manufacturer , irrespective of what microsoft wish to do

I still maintain his best bet was to install the tweaks and run his laptop in win7 mode, that is my advice to him, and is what I will be doing regardless of what other members think

my laptop, my money , my rules, so f*** microsoft

(maybe if they had given users these option within win8 they wouldnt be complaining about other people tweaking it to provide them - misguided idiots if you were to ask my opinion)

[happy_highlander]

I for one don't mind win8. I use it almost exclusively in desktop mode with the start window tiles pretty much all gone and just installed (most used programs) in there so i click a picture instead of a line of text to launch a program. shortcut to power button pinned to task bar and the usual feature of power user with a right click of the bottom left corner....In a lot of ways I find it easier to navigate than win7 but certainly wouldn't upgrade from win7 to win8 and don't see the benefit of downgrading from win8 to win7. I'm sure there are reason for upgrading or downgrading but for my normal day to day use win8 does me just fine.....dk works and so does dcc so I'm all sorted

[BRASS EAGLE]

I have tried windows 7 mate and it gave me all sorts of problems,like finding the right drivers for my printer,and other plug and play,myself personally I would not entertain it use Windows XP Pro or XP Unattended,no issues with any of them.

[BRASS EAGLE]

Yip ,bin windows 8 and keep to the old stuff,it's always better to have to do some searching and not depend on just hitting a icon or a folder,I don't slate windows 7 as other people may like it but I found the desktop set up and trying to navigate my way around the control panel just that wee bit testing,so I binned it and went back to the old trusted and tested XP Pro

[happy_highlander]

Yip ,bin windows 8 and keep to the old stuff,it's always better to have to do some searching and not depend on just hitting a icon or a folder,I don't slate windows 7 as other people may like it but I found the desktop set up and trying to navigate my way around the control panel just that wee bit testing,so I binned it and went back to the old trusted and tested XP Pro

I run xp pro on another machine and wouldn't change it but We do need to move on as hardware will stop working with xp at some point and apps for the likes of eBay and Facebook and so on use much less resources than running the full site and are quicker to start. But on saying that I will always have a machine that runs xp in my house