upgrading to Windows 8...

[taxico]

okay, here's the deal.

i bought a new badass elitebook laptop a few months ago, signed up for the Windows 8 upgrade offer and yesterday i finally shelled out $17.99 (i don't know what currency) for the upgrade.

the upgrade manager listed a bunch of software/hardware that won't work properly - including an HP USB 3.0 HOST CONTROLLER which i think is quite important as i use the USB ports quite frequently.

others that don't have a fix yet include my TPM controller and mostly proprietary security-related software which i can do without (for now).

it's done downloading all the files from the internet and i'm currently at the screen where it tells me if i want to proceed with the installation now, install through media (or something along that line) or install later from desktop shortcut.

Q: should i go ahead or stop and wait until more fixes/updates are released?

the laptop's currently hibernated - i don't want to end up with a laptop i can't use after the upgrade but i DO want this laptop to be eventually running windows 8 and office 13 for at least the next 5 years (it's warranted for 5 years so i hope to use it for 6).

input from the tech guys most appreciated.

[nakatago]

Get software that will a 'snapshot' image of your hard drive. You can use this snapshot to restore your computer to the state before the snapshot. Sorry, I haven't been using Windows at home in a loooong while.

After that, you can just proceed with Win8. If you're happy with it, you can keep it. If not, you can just restore the image.

You can also check the manufacturer's (HP?) website to see if they the drivers available for download.

For USB, I think it won't be too much of a negative. I'm assuming your USB ports will still run but at 2.0 speeds instead of 3.0. I'm assuming of course but what I'll do is Google info specific to your machine in the hopes that other people have gone with the upgrade before you did.

[v4jr4]

I won't suggest it. Win8 is a "fresh meat". I wonder how many "holes" we can find this time

[nakatago]

I won't suggest it. Win8 is a "fresh meat". I wonder how many "holes" we can find this time

He already paid for it and he wants Win8 as his daily driver.

[Steve1960]

The usual challenges facing Microsoft guinea pigs

[v4jr4]

I won't suggest it. Win8 is a "fresh meat". I wonder how many "holes" we can find this time

He already paid for it and he wants Win8 as his daily driver.

Yeah. For me, as a code monkey, upgrade the OS will not be suggested until at least the next 1-2 years (cause next time, it may be something difficult which is not simple as USB-related stuff)

[Steve1960]

The company I work for are still using XP, they didn't upgrade to Vista thank goodness and are only now looking at rolling out Windows 7.

My rule of thumb wait until Microsoft releases Service Pack 2

[taxico]

Get software that will a 'snapshot' image of your hard drive. You can use this snapshot to restore your computer to the state before the snapshot. Sorry, I haven't been using Windows at home in a loooong while.

After that, you can just proceed with Win8. If you're happy with it, you can keep it. If not, you can just restore the image...

good idea! i'll do just that before upgrading. thanks for the advice.

The usual challenges facing Microsoft guinea pigs

my last 2 laptops ran vista which i downgraded immediately to XP. when microsoft announced they're gonna stop releasing updates for it, i upgraded them back to vista and got all the updates at one go.

my current laptop is still running vista and is awesomely stable... (somehow - maybe from ignoring the updates from the past year).

i'm not usually an early adopter, but i needed a new work computer a few months back and bought one with windows 8 in mind as i knew i wanted something reliable for work that i can depend on for a good many years.

in fact i'm still running office 2003 i bought many years ago - i don't see a point in buying office 2010 since 2013 is around the corner... and for "compatibility's sake" i'm sure office 2013 is designed to work best with win8 (IMO).

and as i'm getting old, i take longer to get used to a new OS. i can't figure out how my wife's win7 laptop works some times coz all the functions are seemingly "hidden." until yesterday, my "new" w7 laptop has sat mostly unused.

it also appears that based on my equipment upgrade cycle, i will have to use win8 sooner or later - in my case it might as well be earlier, i guess... wish me luck!

i'll be sure to check back from time to time to complain about it. : )

[nakatago]

Get software that will a 'snapshot' image of your hard drive. You can use this snapshot to restore your computer to the state before the snapshot. Sorry, I haven't been using Windows at home in a loooong while.

After that, you can just proceed with Win8. If you're happy with it, you can keep it. If not, you can just restore the image...

good idea! i'll do just that before upgrading. thanks for the advice.

The usual challenges facing Microsoft guinea pigs

my last 2 laptops ran vista which i downgraded immediately to XP. when microsoft announced they're gonna stop releasing updates for it, i upgraded them back to vista and got all the updates at one go.

my current laptop is still running vista and is awesomely stable... (somehow - maybe from ignoring the updates from the past year).

i'm not usually an early adopter, but i needed a new work computer a few months back and bought one with windows 8 in mind as i knew i wanted something reliable for work that i can depend on for a good many years.

in fact i'm still running office 2003 i bought many years ago - i don't see a point in buying office 2010 since 2013 is around the corner... and for "compatibility's sake" i'm sure office 2013 is designed to work best with win8 (IMO).

and as i'm getting old, i take longer to get used to a new OS. i can't figure out how my wife's win7 laptop works some times coz all the functions are seemingly "hidden." until yesterday, my "new" w7 laptop has sat mostly unused.

it also appears that based on my equipment upgrade cycle, i will have to use win8 sooner or later - in my case it might as well be earlier, i guess... wish me luck!

i'll be sure to check back from time to time to complain about it. : )

My windows laptop is currently experiencing power problems. As soon as I fix that, I'll try the 40-dollar upgrade for windows machines bought before July 2012.

[nutnut]

Personally, I ran Win 8 RTM on my second machine to test and I hate it, nothing is compatible and it sucks from a UI perspective IMO.

Win 7 is far better at this stage, but, may go for Win 8 again in a year or so.

Good Luck!

[ScoobyDoes]

my current laptop is still running vista and is awesomely stable... (somehow - maybe from ignoring the updates from the past year).

My Toshiba has been Vista since Day 1 and apart from a couple of issues early on with regards finding wireless networks (until SP1) I've hardly had any problems in the last 5yrs or so.

Now my battery lasts about 2min before the machine shuts down without warning so am eagerly awaiting a suitable W8 laptop, trying to eek out my current unit through to March. The new Toshiba with touchscreen looks promising but will see what the next 1/4 brings.

Not sure I would do what you are attempting, upgrading an old machine, but good luck. As an older timer myself I agree with you.....we're going to have to learn it sooner or later and I'm only trying to eek it out until there is more hardware choice available.

[taxico]

my current laptop is still running vista and is awesomely stable... (somehow - maybe from ignoring the updates from the past year).

Not sure I would do what you are attempting, upgrading an old machine, but good luck. As an older timer myself I agree with you.....we're going to have to learn it sooner or later...

i'm actually upgrading a new laptop i bought a few months ago for work. it came with win7 but i've never used it for anything apart from surfing the internet... 3 times.

it was then left on my table until i got the email from microsoft last week to upgrade for $17.99. i took up the offer yesterday but didn't go through with the installation.

until i've installed it and MS office, my current laptop will continue to be used for work and home - not ideal but it now works great with a replacement battery ($60 9-cell 5-hour long life battery from sim lim square).

i hope all the kinks will be ironed out in time. fingers crossed...

meanwhile, i recommend a new battery for your laptop to keep it going until you have a better win8 choice of puters. battery.com.sg was the place i used.

[ScoobyDoes]

i'm actually upgrading a new laptop i bought a few months ago for work. it came with win7 but i've never used it for anything apart from surfing the internet... 3 times.
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until i've installed it and MS office, my current laptop will continue to be used for work and home - not ideal but it now works great with a replacement battery ($60 9-cell 5-hour long life battery from sim lim square).

When I said old, I didn't mean old as in old, just old as in needing an upgrade.

That's for the battery company, I wrote them so let me see what price they come back with......thanks.

[curiousgeorge]

okay, here's the deal.

i bought a new badass elitebook laptop a few months ago, signed up for the Windows 8 upgrade offer and yesterday i finally shelled out $17.99 (i don't know what currency) for the upgrade.

the upgrade manager listed a bunch of software/hardware that won't work properly - including an HP USB 3.0 HOST CONTROLLER which i think is quite important as i use the USB ports quite frequently..

Win8 has its own USB 3.0 Host controller - uninstall the HP one and you will find it will just work after the upgrade (did for me, YMMV).

Alternatively, http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_ ... e&lang=eng new Intel USB 3.0 controller released on 27th October, good for Win8 also.

Despite what some people are saying, I am running Win8 on my desktop, laptop and SurfaceRT...loving the integration and synchronisation between all my devices

[ScoobyDoes]

Despite what some people are saying, I am running Win8 on my desktop, laptop and SurfaceRT...loving the integration and synchronisation between all my devices

Since I need to get both a new laptop and a new phone in the coming months the question would be, and best to you maybe, which first?

I am planing to get the new Nokia on WP8 and a suitable W8 laptop, maybe another Toshiba since they will soon be bringing a new Salellite model with touch screen.

I am hopefull of multiple calendar sync which is currently troublesome.

The streamlining of a single OS hopefully can solve this.......my only issue maybe that my MS Live login is my GMail address?? Do you think I would need to set up a new one? Please say no