Windows 8

[MessiaaH]

Very weird....

I did "upgrade" as well, and I didn't loose anything. I was coming from Windows 8 Pro on the surface though. And the Preview build MS provide is Pro, so that's maybe why. Maybe upgrading from Ent to Pro Preview strip everything.

But when I log back in after install, all my metro was there, my start screen was intact, my apps and pinned apps on startbar was intact. Didn't have to reinstall a single app. Only thing that got stripped was Avast cause it not compatible.

Capt. did u install the preview update from windows updates before using ISO?
Cuase d steps from store is 1. Install preview update, 2. install from store.

But I did, 1. install preview update, 2. upgrade from ISO

[Spazosaurus]

I think the problem was that I was running a legit Enterprise version. They specifically said that you cannot install the preview from the Windows Store if you're running Enterprise in particular but still, it saved the data, it should have saved the apps as well...

Yes, updates did install prior to the installation. (Btw I just mounted the ISO and mash setup. Didnt do a clean install).

[MessiaaH]

I also mounted the ISO and just hit setup. Sounds like the only thing different in our method is the fact that you was on Enterprise.

You could have tried this though:

Move c:\windows.old\users\%username% folder to c:\users\%username%

And that should have restored all apps etc, because I think the registry itself remains intact.

Mite be too late to try that cause im guessing you already start re-installing apps.

[MessiaaH]

Xbox Music App Only 50% Complete; More Features To Come

DRRROOOOLLLLLL~~~~~

I hated the Music app in Windows 8, utter rubbish, xbox music sucked! And I went from hating it to Loving it in this 1 update. And to know now that what I have is only 50% complete..........cant wait to see what they bring in RTM.

http://microsoft-news.com/xbox-music-app-only-50-complete-more-features-to-come/

The Xbox Music App has been redesigned in Windows 8.1.  The main focus of the app in Windows 8.0 was discoverability, the focus has now been shifted to playing music quickly from your own collection.  The new new Xbox Music app will feature a navigation column on the left side significant performance enhancements.  Other features include:

[MessiaaH]

Download GeForce 326.01 WHQL Windows 8.1 Preview Driver



Posted by  Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 06/29/2013 10:46 AM | Source | 46 comment(s) ]

 
  You can now download the official 326.01 WHQL Windows 8.1 Preview Driver which was released by NVIDIA moments ago. Since a few users have reported this driver did not show up in their Windows Update, NVIDIA is releasing them separately so that users may have access to them.

If you already installed these drivers and are not experiencing any issues, you do not need to reinstall these drivers below. If however you did not see this driver through Windows Update and had to install a modified version, we ask that you first attempt a clean install using the driver below. Many support cases we receive from end users are easily solved by performing a clean install.

Please post your feedback on this driver right here. This driver supports Windows Vista, 7, 8.

DOWNLOAD

[MessiaaH]

Avast Beta for Windows 8.1 Preview

Try avast! V 8.0.1492.B

http://files.avast.com/test5beta/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/test5beta/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/test5beta/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/test5beta/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=128185.msg957889#msg957889

....

Installed and tested. The behavior shield was blocking some metro apps so I just disabled that along with a few  others I don't need.

And that completes the circle, all the essentials required to upgrade. (There's a supported AMD driver out there as well)

[Spazosaurus]

Good find on the drivers. Gonna take them for a run later.

[Arcmanov]

http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/ms_now_confirms_directx_11_2_is_a_windows_8_1_exclusive.html

[Spazosaurus]

326.01 wokking BESSS in battlefield. Nice and steady frames 80 and over constantly. Really really can't argue with performance.

LMAO @ les plebs. For real, time to upgrade, bitches.

[Arcmanov]

Finally got through with installing 8.1 on my 'test' system, and I have to say, THIS is what Windows 8 SHOULD have been
from the start.  Including the option to boot straight to desktop is GOLDEN.

I will NEVER be a fan of the Start screen, but there's an app for that. 
It's a compromise, and now the Power Users' menu can be accessed with a right-click on the Start button.  Progress. (well, 'kinda')

Very clever 'tiefing' of Decor8's use-desktop-as-Start screen-background feature.  Way more options in Decor8 though, so that's a keeper.


Still have ZERO interest in Modern UI apps though, but overall, the entire UI feels leaner.
Not quite ready to abandon my Stardock apps yet.  They still do a stellar job of squelching out errant Modern UI traces where necessary.

I guess there are some other great under-the-hood improvements that I wont see until my main rig gets upgraded,
but this gets a solid thumbs-up from me. 

[MessiaaH]

And 8.1 metro apps is the features I like the most about it. So MS finally get it right, appease the traditional users whiles still simultaneously advancing their metro UI. And 8.1 Preview is only 50% of what coming in 8.1 RTM.

Cant wait. And everybody happen now.

[EmperorXavier]

There is a feature called storage spaces in Server 2012 and Windows 8 this is a key feature that I am interested in.. It requires specific disk types, to summarizes what it does is basically for example makes 200GB of physical disk look like 500GBs to the OS.. Check out t link for more info. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822938.aspx

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[MessiaaH]

Run from storage spaces. RUN!

Ok, let me calm down lol, it depends on ur usage.
I was using it for months on windows 8, then I had to build a Vm lab, and performance sucked! Anytime d Vm try to write virtual memory to my storage space, d thing was rel rel slow. Storage spaces nice and cconvinent but d performance compared to hardware raid is atrocious. So if u using it for like videos and photos eetc. should be fine. If u using for anything that requires constant read / write , it wont be good Atal. I ultimately ended up blowing away my storage space and going hardware raid 5. So when comes to servers, flat out don't use it.

[EmperorXavier]

Hmm well that will explain why the  requirements is SAS and SSD drives.. Good points to note and appreciate the review I was going to use them for the same purpose cause I am a "VM junky". Now I was going and use it for my servers in work but I will test it.. As it is 900GB 10k SAS drives but then again performance is must.. It is a nice feature but it looks like it suffers in performance.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[MessiaaH]

I've installed Windows 8.1 RTM on my Surface Pro Yesterday, and wow, it good.
It RELLLL GOOUUDDD!

Extremely polished, everything just feels fast, smooth, sexy, and polished compared to 8.1 Preview.

All the features have been unlocked, I can actually replace Outlook now with Metro Mail, some more settings have been ported to metro settings are. But overall d OS just feels so fast and nice boy.

All the quirks and lil bugs and errors I experienced in 8.1 preview, they appear to be all gone in 8.1
Very good upgrade, very very good.

Come Oct 18 when retail available, everyone go like theyself.

[Fkacn_tt]

Well stop telling and show us the new changes.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

[TriniXaeno]

I honestly have no problem with Windows 8 (thanks to classic shell) so I don't know what they could improve again nuh.

Hell, I have no problem with Windows 7

[MessiaaH]

I honestly have no problem with Windows 8 (thanks to classic shell) so I don't know what they could improve again nuh.

Hell, I have no problem with Windows 7

There is actually quite a bit they've improved. I've included a few screenshots below with he new mail app and improved sharing feature between apps. I personally love sharing tracking numbers to my tracking app!
And i love the fact it remembers my recent shares.

Going from Windows 8 to 8.1 Consumer Preview, is an entirely different experience, so if u happy with 8, u'll love 8.1, and 8.1 RTM just flush out d features, add more and polish everything up. Honestly, Windows 8 feels like a beta compared to 8.1. Its faster, smoother, sleaker, more features, it just feels ggooudd.

They also add some noob features, like visual highlights of how to use d OS as u move through it. Simple thing users want like animated background on start screen, more customizations, lil touches and tweaks here and there. And did i mention it's FAST!? if u running on an insane desktop u mite not notice a speed difference, but on my surface, it feels like a new machine, its way faster, so for mobile use they come good. They come rel good.

Anyways, here just a few screenshots: (Dont have time for anymore than that)

[Spazosaurus]

Microsoft appears to be readying some significant changes to its next version of Windows. Paul Thurrott reports that Microsoft is planning to make the Start menu available as an option in the next major Windows release, currently codenamed "Threshold." The Start menu change will follow a recent reversal that Microsoft made in Windows 8.1, bringing back the Start button UI. It’s not clear if the Start menu will be made available for all versions of Windows Threshold, and Thurrott speculates it may appear as an option for those that only support desktop apps.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/9/5192742/windows-threshold-start-menu-rumor


Well...this is interesting. What I am gathering from these rumours is that there will be two distinct categories of windows os.

Category 1: Touch centric; for all touch devices (phones and tablets either Arm or x86). This spans from phones, to tablets to full blown touch enabled PC's. Of course these touch enabled PC's will run x86 variants of tablet software but will look cosmetically identical. For those invested in the metro ui, I would hope that the app store would offer identical options in terms of Metro apps for both Arm and x86 devices.

Category 2: Non touch: for all non-touch enabled devices (mostly PC's like mine and 99% of all gaming machines in the universe) for consumers not interested in touch or enterprise users who also would like to see metro exorcised from a corporate centria OS. No metro or app store to be found here.


If these rumours ring true, it will signify an EPIC backpeddle on MS's adamant path of forcing Metro on everybody and their dog whether they like it or not. THIS....is what it should have been like from the start. I am THRILLED that consumer backlash is strong enough that this might even be considered. (we sill have a voice!!!).

Can't wait to see how all this unfolds come 2014.

[Arcmanov]

Daizwhawetalkinbout.