WTF Windows 8

[Hawaii Hiker]

So I finally upgraded to a newer, faster computer....Yes, its definitely faster, but its been freezing/locking almost once a day,

Has anyone else had similar problems w/Windows 8?...

Thanks for any info you can provide....

[NobodyHere]

1. You sure it is not a hardware problem?

Anyways don't worry, Windows 10 is right around the corner

[Hawaii Hiker]

2. I guess it could be hardware problem

but i was under assumption that its a browser issue when the screen locks/freezes...

You're right Windows 10 is around corner - being released July 29th i think..

[bigwillq]

3. I don't like Windows 8.

I just preordered Windows 10. I heard it's better.

[olddots]

4. I punched the screen in on my Windows 8 garbage puter

it sits unrepaired because even if it was a free repair it would still be Windows 8

[mythology]

7. If only there were other operating systems, even some that are free.

[hobbit709]

5. Replacing Windows 8 with 7 is an upgrade.

[Tipperary]

9. Can you do that? I hate Windows 8.

Can I do that? God, I would love to do that.

[hobbit709]

11. If you can find drivers for all the hardware and have a valid product key, no problem.

[Tipperary]

15. Sadly lol, you are speaking Greek to me.

I would love to go back to Windows 7.

[GoCubsGo]

17. You should be able to get a free upgrade to Win 10.

Look on the bottom bar on the far right, where the time, date, volume icon, etc. are. There should be "Windows" icon there. Click on it. It will have instructions on how to reserve an upgrade, which should be coming out in early August.

Win 10 supposedly will remedy a lot of the crap that non-tablet users hate about Win 8/8.1.

[Tipperary]

18. Thank you!

[ohnoyoudidnt]

22. I concur.

I have done that. I really do not like Windows 8, and that's putting it nicely.

[antiquie]

6. From the other camp...

I have no problems with an up-to-date WIN 8.1, however I use Firefox and not IE.

P.S. They'll take me kickin' and screamin' into WIN 10 'cause I don't want to be forced onto their Cloud and, while I appreciate a "free" OS, I don't have a budget for annual licenses.

[we can do it]

8. It's a complete piece of shit. Time wasting garbage.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. I had to upgrade my laptop running XP

It's an 8 year old Dell that just refuses to die, but it is slow and I couldn't put new software on it. So I got a refurbed Dell with Windows 7

[hobbit709]

12. You could probably put some version of Linux on that Dell and it would work just fine.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. That's a great idea, but I don't know much about Linux

Would I need to wipe my hard drive and start from scratch? That's certainly not a deal breaker, but I'm just wondering. From what I read, I would have to choose a particular distribution. Do you have a favorite?

[hobbit709]

16. It would be easiest to wipe the drive.

Just save all your data files on an external drive first.
I prefer to use Mint since you won't have to load any restricted packages after the install just to play CDs and DVDs.
Depending on the processor in your Dell, the 32 bit or 64 bit version would work. 32 bit will work on just about anything but you're not using the full potential of a 64 bit cpu that way.

[OxQQme]

19. Go to a large news stand

there a few magazines that have an attached dvd with Mint or Ubuntu that you can run right from the dvd with no installation.
Web surf, check your e-mail, anything you currently can do.
This 'live' preview won't allow saving anything, but if the experience is favorable you can install the OS right alongside your windows flavor.
Just click 'install now'.
Automatic.
Either choice probably has all the drivers needed and will hook you up.
The initial power on boot-up gives an option to continue with your choice of OS.

[hobbit709]

20. Why dual boot to XP

just save any data files and do a clean install. Eliminates the possibility of a boot choice glitch especially since it's unnecessary to run XP.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. I have no reason to keep XP. I have Win 7

on my newer laptop. I just want to make use of my old one.

[Tobin S.]

13. Windows 8 was what came installed on my computer when I bought it,

and I had a hell of a time with it, initially. Right around that time, Microsoft came out with the Windows 8.1 upgrade and I haven't had any issues since I got that.

I basically use my computer as an Internet machine and word processor. I use the Firefox browser. If you have more complex needs then I suppose Windows 8.1 might not be for you.

[davidpdx]

23. Thankfully I just got my computer and it had 8.1

It is proving a little interesting to get use to. I really like Windows 7.

Shit! I just remembered what I forgot to do today. I was suppose to pick up two computers from the repair shop. I had the drive on the really old one zapped so we can dispose of it and the newer one (which is almost 5 years old) cleaned and Windows 7 reinstalled for my wife. Yikes she is not going to be happy I forgot.

[clarice]

24. Hate Hate Hate windows 8. nt

[steve2470]

25. ok put on your geek hat here

1- Make sure all your drivers are up to date, especially your video (graphics) drivers. Go to the Nvidia or AMD or your OEM website for this. You might want to totally uninstall your graphics drivers and reinstall them with the very latest. I use Revo Uninstaller or if you feel more geeky, you can use DDU.

2- Scan your hard drive. Do an elevated command prompt, type in "chkdsk /f" (without the quote marks), tap the Enter key, then type Y to the question, then exit out of it. Reboot. Windows does its magic on your hard drive.

3- Again, do an elevated command prompt. Type in "sfc /scannow" (without the quote marks) and tap the Enter key. This fixes some flaws in Windows 8. Anything it can't fix, it tells you in very arcane geek language in a .log file.

4- The nuke software fix is to save and backup all your data, totally wipe and reformat your hard drive, and reinstall Windows 8. A pain in the ass, but always fixes the problems unless you have a hardware problem.

5- Could be a hardware issue if all this fails. Unless you have a good geek friend, take it to a reputable shop.

6- Come to the Computer Help and Support sub-forum. Hobbit709 and other very proficient people hang out there. I'm just the lowly moderator.

eta: Oh yea, if you upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free, it boots up by default to the desktop, which I like much better than that atrocious Metro/Modern screen. You upgrade by going to the Microsoft store.

[AtheistCrusader]

26. No problems here. Run it on every pc in the house.

8 sucked for multi-mon, but 8.1 fixed a lot of that.

[Paulie]

27. Make sure you only have one a antivirus program installed

You have classic symptoms for competing AV running scans at the same time.

[MicaelS]

28. You may have crapware / bloatware.

Free "trial" version of this or that software. Hardware companies bundle these bloatware programs because software companies pay them to.

Note this is NOT malware aka virus or trojans.

Google your computer model and bloatware. This will tell you if you have it, how much and how you can uninstall the bloatware.

Good luck.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-installed_software

[hobbit709]

29. PC Decrapifier works wonders at getting rid of the crap.

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

[MicaelS]

30. Interesting, never seen that, thanks. N/T