Just bought a windoze 8.1 laptop

ukcarper

Iv 'e been using windows 8 now 8.1 for nearly a year I did find a couple of things annoying at first but I've found plenty to compensate. I normally just boot into charms screen and check emails from there then depending on what I want to do I either go straight to program from there or go to desktop which is fairly similar to windows 7 desktop. Right clicking on windows symbol give you a few useful programs including control panel and you can shut down from there.

I use the built in anti virus and have not had any problems yet but I do run MBAM now and again I do not use PC for online banking etc but if I did I'm not sure I would really on built in anti virus if I did.

Wife has just bought a windows 8 laptop and with that you had option to create recovery file on a USB stick.

You will find plenty of people on here slanging off windows 8 but after using in for a few month I really like it.

Jivesinger

TheSaint wrote: »

Check the documentation you got with the laptop. It should have a built in recovery partition, so you don't need to mess around making backups.

It probably will have a recovery partition, but:

1. that will be of no comfort if the hard disk itself fails a couple of years down the line, including the recovery partition, and
2. it is entirely possible to break the link to the Recovery Partition (guess how I know this ) so having a version on DVDs or a USB stick can be very useful.

almillar

Windows 8.1 (you have upgraded haven't you?) is great. I think people just don't want to spend 5 minutes learning new features.
I use Windows Defender which is built in. I don't like having several AV products installed, but some people like to have 2 - I think it just slows you down too much.
IE is much improved in Windows 8. I still prefer to use Chrome or Firefox.
Finally - imagine losing everything on your computer. Imagine it happens NOW. Now make sure that you have the materials available to get yourself up and running IF it did happen. Recovery advice is above. And BACK UP OFTEN!

mutley74

Jivesinger wrote: »

For the full backup you could use an external hard drive with Macrium (or whatever).

You may be able to use a USB memory stick to create a Recovery Drive; it depends on what options your computer manufacturer has built-in.

macrium free?

(I got a new win 8 desktop coming soon!)

jaydeeuk1

Works best on a touch screen but still fine with a mouse, and you do need to spend a couple of minutes working out how to access thr charms menu, switch between programs and then close them, but once you do you wont want to use 7 or the asthmatic xp again.

Jivesinger

mutley74 wrote: »

macrium free?

(I got a new win 8 desktop coming soon!)

Yes that's the one I was thinking of.

adamc260

Not necessarily on topic but may be helpful.


The following key shortcuts will help a lot


Windows key + S brings up a universal search where you search for anything on your computer or online.

Windows key + X brings up a quick menu to access control panel


Windows key + E brings up 'my computer'

Lum

Do you actually give a damn about the metro UI and metro apps (sorry, "Windows Store Apps") or do you just want to use it like a traditional computer?

If the latter, install Classic Shell (free) or StartIsBack (£2) and you'll be fine. There's a few other tweaks but one of those will sort out 90% of Windows 8 pain.

mutley74

adamc260 wrote: »

Not necessarily on topic but may be helpful.


The following key shortcuts will help a lot


Windows key + S brings up a universal search where you search for anything on your computer or online.

Win key + S brings up "One Note" on my Win 8 machine

KxMx

I have short cuts on my desktop view to Apps & Control Panel. Found them via google.

I spent some time with Windows 8, and once i'd identified which things I was fiddling round for most I went onto google and found short cut instructions.