Editing the start menu folders in the program data\ms\windows folder will change the start menu's grouping for the ALL APPS setting.

And, add a shortcut to the desktop for quick access to a reasonable menu.

One way annoying bit: cannot copy shortcuts from the taskbar to the desktop. Another stupid MS trick. Idiots.

jm24


The download upgrade works fine for reloading on the same machine, or a new computer.  Unfortunately, most users did not create the ISO and then create the DVD.

Here's another thing I found out the hard way.  I purchased the upgrade from a pair of Windows XP 32 bit machines.  


Problem #1, the ISO download option is not available because XP does not have a built in method to deal with ISO files.  Workaround: open the upgrade link confirmation e-mail on a Windows 7 machine and act like you're going to install, the ISO download option will appear where you can grab it then cancel the installation.


Problem #2, the ISO downloaded was for the same version being upgraded only, namely 32 bit.  The problem was the machines were 64 bit capable, and I was intending to update them very soon to run full 64bit with over 4G ram so 32 bit wasn't going to cut it for me.  There was no workaround for this problem, so I did kick the extra $15 to get a DVD from MS.  I only had to buy it once though, since the same media worked to install 64bit on both machines using their respective licences.


And you will be spending some quality time on the phone with customer service if you attempt to install on a new computer.  That's effectively what I did when I updated the motherboard, processor, memory, and a hard drive and used the same license to re-install.  A "Upgrade license cannot be used for a clean install" error popped up and forced some crazy back and forth with customer service.  Ironically, it seems to be the fresh hard drive that caused the problem, since I did the exact same thing to another computer, with the exception of using the same OS HDD, that time I did have to call, but the automated response line worked.

I downloaded 10 copies for myself and clients using the same windows 7 64 machine. And immediately saved as ISO.

The new hardware issue is begging for a class action suit. Where is government oversight when you need it.  Oh yea, too many Republicans in the way to stop the continued extortion.

Same issue with Office 2013.  What is up with that crap? My computer dies the day after I install Office and I am required to buy it again????

Car companies couldn't get away with such criminal behavior. But software publishers and bankers and insurance execs do.

But don't get me started.

Ha!  At least they didn't stick to their guns and make me re-purchase.  The EULA does pretty explicitly deny what I did :)

That Office 2013 single hardware license if BS... luckily it appears they're backing off that.  It's still single machine, but they'll let you transfer.  That move is clearly to push 365 subscriptions.

Same issue with Office 2013.  What is up with that crap? My computer dies the day after I install Office and I am required to buy it again????

No, not anymore.

http://www.infoworld.com/t/office-software/microsoft-reverses-its-office-2013-license-transfer-rule-213975

Thanks all for the feedback and an interesting thread!

It would seem that apart from the odd GUI, most people who have installed W8 are happy with it.  It appears to be very stable and seems to be an "updated" W7 under the hood with a new front end.

         Scott:  "You'll more than likely need new drivers for some of your hardware, especially your audio interface."


Drivers are THE most important things and I am pleased that Sonar has already released W8 drivers for my VS-100.  Not sure if there are W8 drivers for the Zoom so I'll have to take a look.

         Chuckebaby: "but windows 8 is faster, much faster for me anyways. ......you know me I build my own computers so I was               really surprised, this has been the easiest upgrade I have ever used.      its very close to windows 7 actually

As you know Charlie Roy, I built my own machine too - mainly thanks to you - and I am very pleased with its performance under W7 and with W8 drivers already available for the VS-100 the upgrade should be relatively painless.  

I have watched a few good videos on W8 and I have used it occasionally on my wife's netbook, so the change will take some getting used to, but it can't be more challenging than when I went from DOS3.3  to my Atari ST and then to Windows!!  I will probably upgrade.  I still have my original OEM version of W7 for system builders which I installed a few months ago, so I can always do a clean re-install back to that if necessary.

I guess as it has taken time for vendors to release 64 bit versions of their products, so it will take some time for vendors to take full advantage of the new GUI, so in that respect Cake are to be applauded.  Only time will tell if it was a smart move.

Gary

I installed W8 and woke up one morning to no mouse and no keyboard.

Tried a restore, no luck. Tried a repair ( warning : do not use this option on the Dvd or whatever media you use ).

Ended up re-installing EVERY piece of software.

Back to W7 and will stay there until further notice.

 User error ? Mmmm, me thinks not. Possible system hiccup - probable. But what ?

Anyway, bad experience, so the jury is still out on W8 as far as i'm concerned. And John, my latency was worse than with W7 .......

One of these days, maybe !

Cheers,
Jerry

redbarchetta

Having said that, even when you are in the traditional Windows style UI, things have changed.  They have gotten rid of Window tool bar buttons. So, you don't have the minimize, maximize and close buttons on everything like you had in the past. Rather, you have to grab the window header and drag it all the way to the bottom of the screen. This in my opinion is a HUGE fail! You will find that it's more difficult to navigate at first. There is no "Start" button. However, you can go find Win8 add-ons. I did this immediately. Don't recall the name of the start button add-on that I found, it was free and very slick. 

Not sure where your min, max, and close buttons went, but I have them on every machine of mine that runs W8 (all three of them).  That may be something that Lenovo threw on there as a "feature".


I haven't bothered with the Start button replacements.  I made my start screen be exactly what I want.  I would hate to have to go back to the start menu now.


I think the best advice I could offer if you do end up going with W8 is to resist installing any add ons (like start button restoration) for a couple of weeks.  Spend some time learning how to work the new system and see if you want to go back to the old.

I like it. The oddity of the 'metro' opening screen....with all the touch tiles, is obviously meant for touch devices and the funny thing is, all of the programs you install are going  run from inside the Desktop view anyway, so you're going to be spending most all of your time there.

What I did, was install a 3rd party app that restores the start button and the bonus is, it boots straight to the Desktop view, bypassing the Metro screen. To be fair though, the Metro screen has some really cool apps that are fun to use and look at , like sports, weather and the browser is nice and everything works fast. But for any sort of power use, you'll always want to be where you're likely to end up anyway, inside the traditional Desktop view...

I read somewhere that Win8 made some optimizations for audio but no idea what they are or if it's a noticeable thing in SONAR

The start screen is modifiable. But so is/was the w7 start menu. And with the start menu ALL the programs are where they are supposed to be, where I put them.

The start wall will display ALL 130+ tiles for all the installed programs and utilities which requires scrolling and reading and time wasting. (MS Office, sonar 8.5, X1/2, misc utilities, driver access, manuals,...)

Just as with w7, I have the most used programs on the taskbar. And the secondary programs' shortcuts on the desktop and/or in a folder.

And I have added folders to the "start menu" folder and moved the shortcuts as is reasonable. And the full start-wall displays them as groups with the folder names.

The w8 start-wall is NOT a good replacement for a hierarchical menu structure.

The main problem with the start menu with 7 is the lack of the quick access link that was available with XP.  Partly this is because the ALL USERS start menu is in a buried hidden folder.
Using the start menu there is no way to add a folder, and no way to move more than one shortcut at once. This requires using a windows explorer (file manager) and un-hiding the folders, and then hunting about to find it.

This is the same for w8. It is a buried hidden folder. And the start wall does not provide a  way to create group headings and move more than one shortcut at once.

Pretty much like the Sonar X series: more clicks to get at stuff that used to be quicker to access.

And some really stupid stuff like: there are 2 dialogs for creating and modifying users. BUT, a password can ONLY be entered/changed from the metro interface.   Why move it???  Why not just make both screen completely the same???????????????? Idiots!