Windows 8 will be available Oct.26 2012

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:16 pm

Well, it can't be that difficult. I'm sure FP will comment.

Googled how to turn off PC running Win8:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m6-ExUSFGQ

The point of the article is that, sure techies will be able to manage, but the average joe. Your Mom or Dad... they will be totally lost. And they don't understand the concept of Google. This a dangerous move by Microsoft. One dangerous enough to either keep people using their old computer for longer or for people to consider other OS's. Or they'll just call me every 15 minutes for the next 5 years till they get it all sorted out.

I would like to know if there's a sure fire method to know if Win 8 64 bit will definitely run in my Vista laptop besides letting the installer tell me otherwise after the purchase.

Only sure way is to see if the major components (audio, network, wireless, video) have updated drivers (at least Win7 drivers). The video card in particular. From personal experience, laptops aren't supported for crap as far as drivers are concerned unless you have ATI or Nvidia's higher end mobile chips.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:25 am

Only sure way is to see if the major components (audio, network, wireless, video) have updated drivers (at least Win7 drivers). The video card in particular. From personal experience, laptops aren't supported for crap as far as drivers are concerned unless you have ATI or Nvidia's higher end mobile chips.

There's also a MS Win7 update adviser that checks your PC and tells you if it'll run Win7 or not but that doesn't say if 32 or 64 bit version's OK or not on your PC. To date, there is no Win8 update adviser from MS.
I've searched that topic too, some say 64 bit can run on anything while others say that some PCs are too old for 64 bit.

EVIL: Intel introduced x64 Pentium 4 CPUs around 2005. I assume AMD introduced them around the same time. Why in God's name would you want to install Win8 on a laptop more than 7 years old? There may not even be drivers for it.

If you want to know if your laptop will support x64 then Google the CPU model number. That will tell you if it's an x64 CPU or not.

HOWEVER: There is no point in installing an x64 OS is you have less than 4Gb of RAM.

Well, that's why MS still makes 32 bit versions of Win7, 8....for those who want a newer OS on an older system w/o buying yet another PC. I thought that you once said that if it'll run Win7, it'll run Win8? The Win7 update adviser tells you if it'll run it and what will need new drivers.

Min win8 64 bit requirements according to Toms:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Window ... 14847.html
Doesn't say 4GB ram's required.

My '07 Dell Vostro 1000 with 2GB (max) ram running Vista specs:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Window ... 14847.html

So....32 or 64 bit?

The point of the article is that, sure techies will be able to manage, but the average joe. Your Mom or Dad... they will be totally lost. And they don't understand the concept of Google. This a dangerous move by Microsoft.

Agreed. That's also why I'm not going to change the OS (XP) on my wifes laptop (same Dell model as the one in our kitchen running Vista) anytime soon. She's use to both but I think she'd be unhappy if if put Win8 on her laptop after seeing the video above.
For younger people who are use to smart phones, Apple devices, etc, I doubt they'll have problems with it but older non techie types, yeah.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:14 am

With 2Gb RAM don't even bother with 64bit.

You would be much better off installing XP on that laptop. It'll fly. Vista runs like a pig on 2Gb. Win7 or 8 SHOULD run okay but i'd be concerned about drivers.

I have the Dell OEM XP installer disc if you need it. It'll install on any Dell PC with no key or activation required. LMK

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:18 am

Vista actually runs quite well on the Dell with 2GB ram. Win 7 32 bit Home version runs well on my even older Lenovo Thinkpad
Specs:
http://www.shopping.com/Thinkpad-T42-2373K9U/info
Has been upgraded to a larger HDD and 2GB ram.
Will likely also upgrade that to a SSD when I find another good SSD deal (always by chance via search and usually offered by NewEgg).

That's the laptop that wouldn't do a 64 bit upgrade due to it's older CPU. Not sure of it's age yet, maybe around '05?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:30 am

If you're happy with Vista performance on that laptop, then you would be blown away by XP performance. While they fixed a lot of performance issues in SP2, Vista still runs like a pig compared to XP or Win7 in my opinion. It comes from a LOT of disk thrashing. Watch the HDD light: on a Vista system it's flickering constantly. I suspect that it's using a LOT of virtual memory and constantly accessing the swap file.

They fixed it in Win7 and as such Win7 actually runs on 1 or 2Gb almost as well as XP (especially if you disable unnecessary services). Case in point: I have an Acer Netbook with 1Gb RAM that is almost unusable with Vista and runs fine under Win7.

I still prefer XP on an older system with less than 4Gb because XP was designed to run just fine on 1Gb and with 2Gb it flies.

According to Dell support there are no official Win7 drivers for the Vostro 1000, so you would be entirely dependent on generic drivers and from past experience the audio driver might be a problem.

As concerns Win8, while Win7 & 8 are the same code base there are driver differences.

FYI: There are also no Vista 64bit drivers listed for the Vostro 1000 so I suspect that it's not a 64bit CPU.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:21 pm

I do see the HDD light flashing alot. I don't want to go back to XP anymore. For $40, it's worth taking a chance vs $90 for Win7.
The only driver update that the Win7 upgrade adviser comes up with is for my printer and I know that there are Win7 drivers for that as I've already done that.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:21 pm

Oh, just realized another issue. You can't upgrade 32bit to 64bit, so if it's 32bit now you'll need to purchase a 32bit update.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:32 pm

I've got the new 128GB SSD for the Dell Laptop currently running Vista on its HDD but I'm a bit concerned if and how I'll be able to use the Win8 upgrade to do a fresh install on the new SSD.

I know that for $40, it's an upgrade which means that it'll check your current OS at some point. I've been searching but I'm unable to locate the Laptops recovery disc with Vista so at what point will the upgrade need to check the existing OS, before you DL it with the option of burning a DVD (or using a USB drive) or will it check the existing OS during install, like does a working OS need to be on my new SDD before it'll upgrade?
Being that it's been said here that we can do a fresh install from a DVD (or USB drive), I'm hoping I can DL the upgrade with the existing HDD now running Vista, then swap in the new SDD and do a fresh Win8 install. That's how I think it might work, right or wrong?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:57 pm

From this thread it sounds like when you do the download of the upgrade media, it "certifies" your computer as qualifying for an upgrade, so it sounds like you can do a clean install on the SSD and not get prompted for a Vista CD:

Can I do a "clean" install? Yes, you can, but not using the Upgrade Assistant.

Instead, here's what you'll want to do to format the hard drive before installing Windows 8 Pro.

Step 1: Use the Upgrade Assistant to qualify the PC and pay the $40.
Step 2: When the "Install Windows 8" message appears, select "Install by creating media" to create a bootable USB flash drive or an .iso (a disk image) file.
Step 3: Wait for the Assistant to download the Windows 8 Pro installation package and create the bootable media or .iso file. The flash drive must be have 3GB or more of free space available.
Step 4: Burn the .iso file, if that's the path you chose, to a blank DVD.
Step 5: Use that USB drive or DVD to boot the PC.
Step 6: When you get to the screen in Setup that asks, "Which type of installation do you want?' choose "Custom."
Step 7: Select a disk partition for the OS in the next screen. At this point, you can create a new partition if there's enough space available, or reformat the drive.
Step 8: Continue with the installation of Windows 8 Pro.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r273270 ... 8-Upgrade-

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:18 pm

Well, I'll know soon enough (fingers crossed).

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:59 pm

Worst case you clone the existing drive to the SSD then download the Win8 installer and run it from Vista and select to either upgrade or do a clean install.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:04 am

I guess we'll both find out. I'm going to take that $40 upgrade offer and use it on the laptop I have the pre release version on. I'll put the Win7 image back on it and then try to do a clean install.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:01 pm

Any Luck?
I've got the ISO file and "Install Windows" on my desktop but I'm having problems with the DVD in that every DVD R disc I put in it says "write protected" and it won't format it. Same discs format fine on my Desktop so I guess I'll move those files to my desktop via external HDD, burn them on that and try.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:59 pm

No time to deal with this until the weekend, and I have to put Win7 back on the laptop first to run the assistant.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:06 pm

So far I'm having problems getting the iso folder unzipped to be bootable on either a DVD drive or an external USB HDD. My free winzip trial version isn't cutting it so far. The iso file in itself isn't bootable.
Try more tomorrow.