Bl**dy Windows 8

Relax -

Use the desktop versions of IE, Skype and a whole load more.

Almost every "app" is crap.

If you want to be able to use the new machine get something like "Classic Shell" and work through the options.

Yes - it's a cop out but Win 8 seems to be designed for tablets and small screen units. On my new Dell XPS 27 (unnecessarily touch-screen) the full fat programs work better, don't over slow the machine and don't make me want to punch the screen.

The ONE tip I took a long time to discover (apart from how to close full-screen "apps") was that they can also be dragged to either side - where they become a sidebar. Which is a relief.

It's a good OS and a total mess. I like it - but that might be the new machine.

Still haven't removed my old laptop from the desk upstairs. so I'm basically just playing with the new toy.  Getting really annoyed by the fact that an Internet explorer window (completely blank!) seems to appear randomly.  Is this related to some sweeping motion across the mousepad?

Classic shell? Do I download that from t'interweb?  And the desktop version of Internet Explorer? Does that mean I go back to Using Explorer 9?

Yours, very confused ...  and that bloody blank explorer window suddenly appeared again when I went to click on Submit reply.  The only way I've found to get rid of that so far is to use Task Manager.

Googling "Classic Shell" gives me "Welcome to Classic Shell" as top result. It might just work for you.

I seem to have been able to install IE 10. I don't use it as I, still, prefer Firefox.

I have just bought a Windows 8 laptop (Dell XPS12) that converts into a tablet.

I think it works pretty well with the touch screen in particular. I don't need many apps really-most strike me as just toys but I like the mail handling, Office etc.

If you only have a mouse then try a touch mouse-mine came with a Logitech one. That gives some of the swipe/hide etc functionality.

I'm in no way a computer boffin but I watched a couple of YouTube clips about W8 and have quite quickly got used to using it. I think it is fairly intuitive!

I like 2 other things-it seems to boot quick and I have actually totally failed to crash it so far.

I'm not sure I'd convert a desktop (non-touch) PC to W8 yet though.

Bruce

My new laptop is now working with Classic Shell installed.  Much better.  I don't like touchpads, as I find that I tend to catch the touchpad with the base of my thumb, making the cursor move whilst typing.  So, I've turned the touchpad off and am now using a standard mouse.  I'll spend the next day or so configuring this new machine to my liking. I got the Windows 8 with the new laptop because I assume that Microsloth will be supporting it longer than Windows 7

Configuration (if you're interested) is :

Do you have any Granchildren ?  I am hopeless on computers and whenever i get stuck(which is often) try to get my 10 yr old grandaughter round to help me. Other half before she retired used to work on Mainframe computers,but refuses point blank to help me with anything silly like games or message boards. Computing appears a young persons game and the older you get the harder it gets.

Mista h

Yes, but the eldest is 4.  Beginning to get to grips with it now that I have installed Classic Shell, but it still seems like a slightly broken version of Windows 7.  If I get really stuck, I may ask my next door neighbour, who is an IT guy!

 Discovered another problem (must go to bed soon).  My ancient HP6L  Laser Printer is supposed to be compatible, but just prints garbage (a couple of lines of what looks like HTML code on each page), although my Canon S900 colour bubblejet works fine.  I'll have to see if there's an uprated driver for it, or if there's something in the settings which is doing it (sigh).  If not, I'll see if one of my daughters wants it.

I've been looking on-line to see if there's a Windows 8, small-footprint all-in-one colour laser device (preferably wireless) out there, but no joy so far.  Why can't life ever be simple?

Just done a Google search on Windows 8........Several books available such as Windows 8 for dummies,which would suit someone like myself .About 8/9 quid on Amazon.

Mista H

go back to your desktop

Ah, but my original laptop was only used a desktop replacement, and that's the main purpose of the new one.  Bought myself a cheapo Windows 8 idiot guide from WHSmith today.  I've managed to get most things working, but some more sorting out is required ... for instance :

When I restart the laptop, the screen brightness reverts to full on, and the mousepad switches itself back on (I like brightness at about 60%, and mousepad off).  Bloody annoying, and I don't know why.

I suspect you have it set somewhere for 'auto' brightness. On the Start menu swipe for the RH edge and look in the Settings for the computer (Control Panel) I'll wager it is in the section about display-just as with previous Windows. That is a laptop setting issue not a W* issue i would say.

Bruce

using one right now. The app page on mine has a desktop icon which I use for everything - I ignore the rest. W8 apps are a chore.

Looked where you suggest and evrywhere else I can think of.  Can't see any such option, and still aven't solved the problem of the mousepad switching itself back on after shutdown   No joy getting my HP6L working, either.

It's amazing how often this IPad fails to respond to my finger touch - hence the odd missing letter! 

Switch to the Desktop view, swipe the 'charms' from the right edge and select 'settings' then 'control panel' Look in the section regarding display settings I think you might find something in there.

Bruce

Earlier today I went into  Control Panel > Display.  Changed the settings for the 'Plan', by reducing brightness to 40 % (which I find about right), and saved.  Still behaves exactly the same.

I am now certain that my HP6L laserjet printer isn't compatible with Windows 8 64bit, although the Microsloth site says it is.  Works fine when attached to my old Windows 7 (64bit) laptop, but just prints the odd line of garbage with multiple blank sheets when attached to new laptop.

Anyone out there know of a small footprint (i.e. not huge, and about the same footprint as my HP6L) Windows 8 (64bit) compatible colour laser printer - preferably wireless?  An all in one version (with scanner included) would be preferable.  The Samsungs (and ?Brothers, Xerox etc) apparently aren't, and the only ones I can see that give some reassurance on this point are Hewlett Packard, but they are physically a bit larger than I would really like.

DG I know nothing about W8 but are you logged in as admin when you're trying to change the settings?

Have you tried updating the driver for the printer?

Yes and yes.  I've been hunting in the more obscure parts of Control panel, and may have found the solutions to the screen brightness and mousepad on/off resetting itself (there was a box to tick for 'disable pointing device if external USB one attached).

I've given up worrying about the HP6L printer, as new drivers etc didn't cure the problem.  Still thinking about a replacement for it, but in the meantime will just use my Canon S900 inkjet.  After all, if I get a colour laser that will become redundant, and I have a box of replacement cartridges for it to use up first!

Firmly of the view that if your finger control is so poor that you can't fully control an iPad then you really shouldn't touch W8 64 Bit. It's a mutant touch/desktop system in its first iteration and it doesn't really work perfectly on either mode. Nor, it appears, do you

My finger control is fine, it's just that the iPad3 often doesn't seem to recognise finger touches, hence missing letters if I am 'typing'.  The other thing about the iPad (and iPhone) is that when accessing a web page it will often 'hang', with the blue bar about 80% full, and then fail to load the page.  Never have this problem with any of the laptops in our house (or my daughter's MacBook when she visits).

Not very impressed with text editing on the iPad, as getting the cursor to actually appear when you hold touch over text sometime fails as well.

Really only got it to control the NDX (now the NDS), but I sometimes use it for websurfing/email when the PC is very busy editing audio or video files.   Oh ... and the grandkids love it for games ...

I do think my Dell laptop/tablet hybrid is a great device for W8

Proper keyboard to enter data etc but touch control for moving around. Great for PowerPoint presentation I was doing yesterday, it seemed really intuitive to use the familiar mouse and key controls then select and move/stretch stuff about on screen with touch.

Bruce

If it's me, then one of my nephews and his sister, and my younger son-in-law.  have the same problem with their iPhones.  I believe the touch screen works by picking up capacitance changes induced by touching it, and I've tried the obvious things such as making sure my fingers are clean, wiping them with a wet-wipe etc when this problem occurs - doesn't cure it.  Perhaps some of us are just not meant to use these devices.  Pity that Naim has restricted nStream to the iDevices so far.  What I'd like is for the same app to be usable on a netbook or equivalent, but I suspect that will never happen.  Luckily enough, I've never had any problem running nStream on my iPad or iPhone

Sorry to hear about your visual impairment problems. I have an appointment in the Cataract clinic next month.  The myopia in my right eye has worsened by 3 dioptres in less than a year, so my optician referred me on (can't really keep changing my lenses every 5 months or so!).  As a retired medic, I suspect that they'll make me wait for treatment until the cataract 'matures' a little more (sigh)