Windows 8 Dev Build Available for Download.

wellhellothere

New Member
While i agree with you - I also think its impossible to create an OS that is great to use on a Desktop, and great to use on a Smart-Phone. The requirements of both are so far apart it just can't work
 

speedyink

VIP Member
Basically this.

Been on it all morning. Its a Tablet GUI, that you can slide out the way and return to, what is basically Windows 7 with some minor changes (on the surface anyway).

Its a big dissapointment to me, and is quite clearly built from the ground up for tablets and smartphones. It also looks like they're trying to take a leaf out of Apple's book in making the grammar and presentation as 'simple' as possible, but it just comes across like its treating you as a retard.

I for one, will not be buying - and i don't think any desktop or laptop user in their right mind should plan on running this OS


-Microsoft is hinting Windows 8 has a smaller memory footprint and requirements than Windows 7. In addition it's more power conscious and offers a new instant-on hibernation mode.
-A newly enhanced restore functionality will be able to reset your Windows install to factory out-of-the-box settings and state. Alternatively you can create a custom baseline state once you're done installing your essential apps.
-Windows 8 cold-boots and resumes way faster than its predecessors as seen in this video. This is the result of kernel-level optimizations and the use of a UEFI BIOS.
-Security notifications have been made more subtle. Windows Defender has extended capabilities.
-The Task Manager has been reworked, can control startup programs and automatically suspends apps when they are idle.
-There are numerous new dialogs and settings that go from an extensive Metro UI-based control panel, new taskbar settings, multi-monitor options for handling programs and customizing looks (wallpaper, etc).
-Windows 8 will ship with DirectX 11. No mention about a newer version than that.
-There's no word about different editions of Windows 8, but it's expected that most devices will be based on the exact same OS: tablets, laptops, etc.


I'm installing it now, so haven't tried it personally(well, this new of a build), but all these are new things that have nothing to do with metro. As far as I'm aware, and I'll find out soon, but Metro is pretty much as optional as Windows Media Center. I'm gonna bet there's an option for the classic start menu, as they mentioned on lower res screens metro won't even be an option.
There are gonna be some neat new features to the core of windows that I'm excited about, mainly more efficient overall, reworked backup system, reworked task manager, better multi-monitor support, etc.

The main thing with Metro is that with including it, Windows can be run on computers from desktops to tablets while remaining easy to use, and keeping your OSes unified. I think it's a great idea, and for those not planning on using metro like me on my non touch computers, we can opt out and enjoy the other benefits of Windows 8.

In about half an hour I'll some some first hand experience though, so I shall see.



While i agree with you - I also think its impossible to create an OS that is great to use on a Desktop, and great to use on a Smart-Phone. The requirements of both are so far apart it just can't work

When the hell did anyone say it's for smart phones? It's for TABLETS
 
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strollin

Well-Known Member
There's a registry tweak that allows you to kill the Metro GUI but otherwise, for the time being, it's what you get. Hopefully, the final version will let you choose.
 

wellhellothere

New Member
On a posotive note, the Task Manager is a lot better. The other 'improvements' you've quoted aren't anything to get excited about imo. I've still not worked out how to close running apps in Metro, and it took me a good 10 mins to find the shutdown button :)
 

speedyink

VIP Member
There's a registry tweak that allows you to kill the Metro GUI but otherwise, for the time being, it's what you get. Hopefully, the final version will let you choose.

Yeah, I found that out. It also gets rid of some of the other features I liked though. In fact it makes it behave a lot like the leaked builds that didn't have metro enabled.

Yeah, I have mixed opinions on it, but then again we're still over a year from release, so I'm sure a lots going to change still
 

CrayonMuncher

Active Member
Microsoft have just missed the point again:

http://www.techspot.com/news/45484-microsoft-puts-flash-on-notice-with-plug-in-free-metro-ie10.html

To be able to view flash you have to switch to the normal desktop as they want the metro ui to be a plugin free experience, HTML 5 is great yeah but we cannot just move over to html and forget flash right away too much relies on it currently, regardless of whether that is a good thing or not it is just the way it is.


@wolfeking thanks for putting me in your sig :)
 

speedyink

VIP Member
Windows 8 will support smartphone / tablet architecture

But they want it to have a minimum 1280x800 screen resolution...what smart phone has that? Just because it supports ARM doesn't mean it's designed for smart phones. No where has it been shown or mentioned that they put any thought into putting this OS on smart phones.

Apple may want people to believe that tablets and smartphones are for the exact same shit but they aren't.



On a posotive note, the Task Manager is a lot better. The other 'improvements' you've quoted aren't anything to get excited about imo. I've still not worked out how to close running apps in Metro, and it took me a good 10 mins to find the shutdown button :)

If faster startup times, lower memory footprint, and greatly improved system restore aren't improvements, what the hell is?

Yes, Metro is buggy, but we're not even at the beta stage yet. Have you forgotten this is a developer preview?
 
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CrayonMuncher

Active Member
I know this is a dev build but i just installed on a fresh partition and got terrible overscan, I installed the nividia drivers and then a black screen, windows is still operating behind, when you press alt and tab it shows the window but the only UI i now have is a black screen, so i need to uninstall the drivers right but, unless i am mistaken, there is no safe mode Have i missed it or am I right that MS has omitted it?

I havent got time to screw around with it now to get it working, but i will :)
 

S.T.A.R.S.

banned
I know this is a dev build but i just installed on a fresh partition and got terrible overscan, I installed the nividia drivers and then a black screen, windows is still operating behind, when you press alt and tab it shows the window but the only UI i now have is a black screen, so i need to uninstall the drivers right but, unless i am mistaken, there is no safe mode Have i missed it or am I right that MS has omitted it?

I havent got time to screw around with it now to get it working, but i will :)

LoL have patience.Windows 8 is not even at it's first beta stage.It is normal that you already have problems.Windows 8 programming code is still fresh a lot.Give Microsoft some time :p

By the way...NO SAFE MODE?!?!?!
Man if Microsoft does not put SAFE MODE in Windows 8 then.......THAT SUCKS!
 

CrayonMuncher

Active Member
LoL have patience.Windows 8 is not even at it's first beta stage.It is normal that you already have problems.Windows 8 programming code is still fresh a lot.Give Microsoft some time :p

By the way...NO SAFE MODE?!?!?!
Man if Microsoft does not put SAFE MODE in Windows 8 then.......THAT SUCKS!

yes I know that it is a dev preview, not even a beta, Hence the first line of my post I am not stupid, if you read the post I was not complaining about the problem regarding the installation of the driver, that is obviously to be expected in a build as early as this, the point I was trying to make is that surely they would not have omitted safe mode unless it was either deemed unneeded at this stage or, and I hope this isnt true, they have omitted it altogether in favor of their other troubleshooting options.

A thread over here seems to confirm it

http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22094

To access safe mode you first have to reconfigure msconfig to boot into it, helpful if you can't boot your pc. Still plenty of time for change.
 
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S.T.A.R.S.

banned
...the point I was trying to make is that surely they would not have omitted safe mode unless it was either deemed unneeded at this stage or, and I hope this isnt true, they have omitted it altogether in favor of their other troubleshooting options.

I hope you are right because if Microsoft removes SAFE MODE I am gonna kill them :D
 

wolfeking

banned
currently hoping for the best. And hoping it will Dual boot with 7, as it deleted 7 on me acer.
Some pics of the install.
IMAG0078.jpg

IMAG0083.jpg

love how they say "read this carefully (dont worry, there isnt a quiz on it)". Funny kinda.
IMAG0084.jpg

IMAG0085.jpg

IMAG0086.jpg


Pros:
there are many more basic drivers (didnt need anything but Nvidia driver, see cons)
Firefox 6.0.2 is 8 compatible already. (Ie: worlds most popular engine for downloading other browsers!)
so far seems faster in both setup and operation.

Cons:
Sticks to the "1GB" minimum that they have set forth. Would not install on a 756MB computer
Nvidia driver wont install.
hard to navigate
 
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wolfeking

banned
Download the newest beta drivers on the Nvidia website. Worked fine for my 9500m GS

And it dual boots fine with windows 7
I should have clarified. It detects the card, but it wont power anything (game).

thanks, but have you tried installing 7 after 8? thats what I would need to do.

And farther complaint. My game will only start in 98/me compatibility mode, and in openGL the mouse doesnt respond, so it is practically useless (DX8.1 shows @ 60FPS and everything works)
 

CrayonMuncher

Active Member
I should have clarified. It detects the card, but it wont power anything (game).

thanks, but have you tried installing 7 after 8? thats what I would need to do.

And farther complaint. My game will only start in 98/me compatibility mode, and in openGL the mouse doesnt respond, so it is practically useless (DX8.1 shows @ 60FPS and everything works)

Really worth clarfiying here that this is a the dev preview and this issues are to be expected. It does dual boot with 7 btw in the startup options you can choose to boot to another os, I think you can use the GUI or use f9 on startup.

I love how on the screenshot you posted above I choose the customize option and it just froze. :p
 

S.T.A.R.S.

banned
Are you saying you cannot install Windows 7 on empty partition if Windows 8 is installed?
Maybe it's like that just temporary until they finish first beta editions.
I am just afraid that Microsoft may make that no other Windows can be installed together with Windows 8 on the same HDD.On that way they will be forcing users to use and buy only Windows 8 so they can make a lot of money lol.They did the same thing with Windows Vista.Once it was installed,you were not able to install Windows XP or older Windows OS on the same HDD on which Windows Vista was installed to_Of course there WERE ways to install older OS on the same HDD,but it was harder since you were not able to install it normaly on an empty partition.So I am just afraid that Microsoft does not make it even harder to install older OS on the same HDD on which Windows 8 is installed to.Considering what they have been doing until now,they might actually do that and if they do,that sucks lol!
Same applies for the file systems.Since Microsoft made NTFS file system,they have been forcing it all the time and they made that FAT32 file system in Windows does not support bigger partitions than 32 GB and that sucks because we all know that FAT32 can support partitions up to 160 GB and even more.

I am not saying new WINDOWS OS(s) are bad.They are great,but if Microsoft keeps pushing new stuff without letting users to use something older too together with the new stuff then that sucks lol.

...I choose the customize option and it just froze. :p

LoL. ^.^
 
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wolfeking

banned
I havent tried to install on an empty partition. Simply because I havent found the partition manager, and am unsure if the MBR will get messed up. Its fine like it is, as all of my files are intact.
 

S.T.A.R.S.

banned
Hey imagine this lol :D:

Microsoft decides to remove the partition manager so you can install Windows 8 immediately,but once the installation starts,you realize that entire HDD is being formatted and that ONLY one partition is created which will be big as the entire HDD and on which Windows 8 will install.A second later you realize: "OH SH!T ALL MY DATA IS GONE!!!"

LOL!!!
Oh man I wish I can see people's face in that moment :D:D:D

Anyway I am just kidding lol.Microsoft will surely put partition manager.I hope lol because if they don't that is going to be the worst Windows ever xD
 
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