migrating to windows 8.1 from windows 7

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by cybmole

I do like the idea of building a two drive dual boot pc though.then I can flip from being productive in seven to trying out the new gui approach in eight, rather than force 8 to look like 7.

You still do not need Windows 7. Even with Classic Shell you can still use the Metro interface. You just get the added benefit of a proper start menu. So it's the best of both worlds in one OS.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You do not need to run Windows 7. Just install Classic Shell and you'll have your desktop back.

I'm not against that, but I did something within Windows -- no installation required:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-add...dows-8-taskbar

P.S. Above works just as well on Windows 8.1 as Windows 8.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

I'm not against that, but I did something within Windows -- no installation required:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-add...dows-8-taskbar

P.S. Above works just as well on Windows 8.1 as Windows 8.

That is very interesting. Good find. I just tired it and it does work well.

[eschwartz]

I've seen that recommended a few places, but I think I'd rather have a decent looking Start Menu, for instance I do not believe this method would restore jumplists?

[cybmole]

I expect I will add classic shell, but my plan A is to have to use vanilla windows 8.1 with no crutches until I get over the culture shock
- while keeping windows 7 on my old PC and continuing to do most stuff on that. i.e. gradually ease into it
- so far I am not disliking it enough to want to to through the hassle of creating dual boot, but it's early days...
- I have talked myself out of using microsoft accounts though & will stick to local - that means no access to one drive but there's drop box, google drive, amazon cloud... so no shortage of alternatives

- with microsoft accounts & one drive, my two killer issues were 1) that microsoft do scan content & can delete anything they disapprove of. 2) if you not careful you get swept into a forced regular password change routine & you can't ever re-use older passwords. ( & their password reset routine has a bad rep., esp if like me you have no mobile phone to receive security texts on )

[BetterRed]

@cybmole - if you stick as close as possible with vanilla Windows 8.1 that should make the transition to Win 10 simpler, there'll be a new preview release on Jan 21. The April 15 release date is unlikely to be met - more like June/July. Some pundits are predicting they'll disclose some of their consumer pricing strategy on Jan 21. And there's a new browser being discussed - Spartan - will them that use it, be known as Helots

One gadget I like to install on Win7/8/8.1 is 7TT+ Taskbar Tweaker. I've never used the Start Menu much so I am not much bothered by the Win8 start menu. As for the Start button, I haven't had one of those since Win 98!

I also take the covers of the Master Control Panel folder (aka as "God Mode"). But that's not a gadget as such - I think its called an Easter egg, or is it a Russian doll - Fabergé egg ?

I don't use Windows/File Explorer as a file system manager so the goodies that Classic Shell does in that space are also irrelevant to me.

@eschwartz - not sure what you mean about restoring jump lists, if you're implying Win 8 task bar doesn't have them then who ever installed your Win8 must have disabled them. FWIW here's how you can Back Up and Restore Jump Lists in Windows 8 - but if they're disabled there'll be nowt to backup and restore

BR

[cybmole]

yes, I am now thinking just have 1 windows 8.1 install, as learning eperience then expect to leap straight from 7 to 10 with all other PCs in the house, depending on cost.

I read that w10 is likely to be free for 8.1 owners but currently it is £100 to get one PC upgraded from 7 to 8.1 legally
That seems extortionate - and probably you don't even get the fast startup benefits & the smart boot protections if you upgrade an old pc as it will have an old style BIOS.

I'll take some convincing to abandon Chrome as primary browser.
I have my google account set to sync everything except passwords, so adding & setting up chrome on the new PC was just a simple google login, wait a minute or so for all bookmarks and extensions to sync, then login to last pass
all we really need IE for is a banking app called ewise that knows how to login to all finance accounts - it uses an active X technique and some encrypted vault thingie which only works on IE. My wife would be lost without it as it takes care of all teh ID code, secure code, pass code, password.... confusions as well as all the "memorable" stuff that's actually not easy to remember
but we stray from the initial topic.. today is kindle for PC test day - we'll see if I can get at my store bought & freebie amazon books ok on the new PC...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@eschwartz - not sure what you mean about restoring jump lists, if you're implying Win 8 task bar doesn't have them then who ever installed your Win8 must have disabled them. FWIW here's how you can Back Up and Restore Jump Lists in Windows 8 - but if they're disabled there'll be nowt to backup and restore

BR

I am aware that several replacement start menus can acccess them but what about this builtin "tooolbar" replacement?

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I am aware that several replacement start menus can acccess them but what about this builtin "tooolbar" replacement?

If you mean the technique in the magazine as posted by SteveEisenberg then: all that's happening there is standard Windows - add a toolbar (which is, by definition, a folder) to the task bar - that's been available since button-up boots W2K, maybe W'98. I use it to access the so called "God Mode" folder. Why does IT make everything so obtuse - job protection Ψ²



BR

[eschwartz]

Precisely, which is why I think it is only a (ugly) partial replacement for the Start Menu and a real Start Menu replacement is to be preferred.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Precisely, which is why I think it is only a (ugly) partial replacement for the Start Menu and a real Start Menu replacement is to be preferred.

Why is it ugly to add a tool bar to the task bar in the time honoured way, and what the hell has it got to do with taskbar item Jump Lists.

What SteveEisenberg's link does is to provide the equivalent of Start Menu's All Programs drop down menu, as a flyout menu in the taskbar. If all you're yearning for is the All Programs drop down, then IMO its a better option than having to install, configure and maintain yet another program. Especially as Win10 is on the horizon - and cybmole could well be able to get it for free.

I know people who had their Start Menu and Documents folders as toolbars on their taskbar on Win2k, and they still have them on Win8.1 and Win10.

BR

[cybmole]

it was all going far too smoothly, Kindle for PC installed & books downloaded OK, then 40 minutes for pure frustration with networks settings: win 7 PC could see win 8 but not vice verse. tablet could not see win 8 either. lots of repetitive box ticking in advanced sharing & finally it decided to behave, or i hit the magic combination of "share stuff goddammit and "don't hassle me about passwords". so now it is satisfyingly insecure, like other stuff in the house & we can write stuff to public folders from anywhere. But I will add the latest anti-ransomware cryptoprevent to offset that.
I invited myself to join dropbox via a different email and used that link on new PC, picking up 500Mb for the referral, so now I'll sign out, & sign in to to the main dropboax account instead and that will copy over my calibre libraries backup.

when you guys are done with debating jump lists, I'd appreciate your take on ransomware vulnerability. google is telling me that it CAN get into win 8 and can bypass both UAC and defender ? in which case I may as well turn UAC off ?

[BetterRed]

@cybmole - IMO UAC is a WOS.

At best it protects users from shooting themselves in the foot, at worst, and more often, it lulls them into a false sense of security because they don't consider the consequence of their own actions. Just as they click through the UAC messages without reading them, so they click though invitations to get something for free.

I disinfect a couple of computers a month, invariably the malware gets in, because it's invited in by user - more often than not in an email from their granny in Santiago, or some such. I've not seen a ransom-ware infection, I wonder if it's hype by the AV vendors and media.

But I am quite convinced that mouse-centric people are more susceptible to malware infections that keyboard centric people.

And yeah, networking is a pain the proverbial, and it's getting worse. We should have stuck to Token Ring and tunnelled all IP in SNA

BR

[cybmole]

ransomware is real , unfortunately, and new variants are in the wold . Google will confirm.
http://researchcenter.paloaltonetwor...ryptowall-2-0/
...Since we detected the first CryptoWall 2.0 variant with our WildFire engine on September 29, we’ve seen over 85,000 separate attacks attempting to deliver the malware. The majority of these have come through e-mails with executable attachments, sometimes contained in .zip files. Most of the e-mail attacks used fake invoice, fax and voicemail themes ...

it would be nice to think that gmail filters this stuff out, but I suspect it can't

Unlike other malware, once it has done its thing and crypro locked all your accessible data, including network, cloud... there is NO recovery you wither pay up or hope you have an offline copy somewhere . the data cannot be unlocked without the crook's private key and it is strong RSA encyption

[BetterRed]

If they are email attachments, and you are not 100% sure they ought be there, and you don't know what they are, then you don't click on them period - even if it did come from you granny. Users of a computers must take responsibility for their own actions. GM, Toyota, BMW can make wonderfully safe cars but they can't fix the nut holding the steering wheel. Google, MS, Apple etc can only do their best - at the end of the day TINSTAAFL.

If someone left an unexpected ticking parcel on your doorstep - would you open it?

BR