Windows 8 fail

[Steve Luke]

If you don't want to hear someone vent about Windows 8, please move on

So I got Windows 8 a few weeks ago. I didn't like it so much, but it kind of grew on me as long as I didn't use any of the Metro style apps. The start page is actually a pretty functional launcher. I was so determined to give it a fair try I bought a touch screen laptop. I have been using it a lot. I could get used to it despite the fact that MS seems to hate their users (and so made user-discovery of required configuration options impossible, and took out personalization of the UI).

Then on Friday the first round of Windows 8 updates came out. Sadly, I had automatic updates turned on (should have known better). The result was that my laptop's built in keyboard and clickpad stopped working. Plugging USB keyboard and mouse in stopped working as well. Only the touch interface worked. I learned that Windows 8 really is not touch friendly at all outside the Metro UI, so you know, things like control panel, device manage, Microsoft Office all are pretty hard to use. So are web pages (even in the Merto IE app). Touching the screen itself is not very easy (lots of arm reach).

So the other thing I learned about Windows 8 is that there are some Windows 8 updates that you aren't allowed to uninstall - and the one that breaks my keyboard and mouse is one of them. Only fix: reset to factory conditions. Another fun fact, despite turning Automatic Windows Updates off, Windows will still run some updates it thinks you need even when you insist it not do so. The update which breaks my keyboard and mouse is one of them. So right now I am stuck with a system where I have three options: (1) reset to factory every couple days when MS runs the update that breaks my system, or (2) never connect to the internet so Windows can't download updates, (3) install a different OS. And, no, this is not a corporate machine where the IT folks could push updates, this computer has never been on a corporate network.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

You can always edit the hosts file, or otherwise block all the update sites; see here for example: http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-311.html

[Paul Anilprem]

Ernest Friedman-Hill wrote:You can always edit the hosts file, or otherwise block all the update sites; see here for example: http://support.bicestercomputers.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-311.html

I read somewhere that Windows 8 does not allow you to modify the hosts file anymore. Apparently, this was done to protect from malicious s/w that high jack your website requests.

[Steve Luke]

Ah nice! I had blocked the update sites that I knew of from my router, but it was obviously an incomplete list. That page has more sites, so it may be worth a try (if installing another OS seems too cumbersome). Thanks EFH

I will also take all suggestions for a Linux distro to put on - preferably something with decent touchscreen support (I paid for that damn touchscreen I want to use it). I will probably image the system in Win 8, then play with Ubuntu. But if someone has another favorite distro I am all ears (I have tried Linux a couple times in the past but always fall back to Windows because the there I just can't get some piece or another to work right.)

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Paul Anilprem wrote:
I read somewhere that Windows 8 does not allow you to modify the hosts file anymore.

More correctly, the default antivirus software restores the original if you change it, but you can thankfully change this behavior. See http://www.howtogeek.com/122404/how-to-block-websites-in-windows-8s-hosts-file/ .

[Paul Anilprem]

Ernest Friedman-Hill wrote:

Paul Anilprem wrote:
I read somewhere that Windows 8 does not allow you to modify the hosts file anymore.

More correctly, the default antivirus software restores the original if you change it, but you can thankfully change this behavior. See http://www.howtogeek.com/122404/how-to-block-websites-in-windows-8s-hosts-file/ .

Ah...bringing in a bigger gun

[chris webster]

Steve Luke wrote:I will also take all suggestions for a Linux distro to put on - preferably something with decent touchscreen support (I paid for that damn touchscreen I want to use it). I will probably image the system in Win 8, then play with Ubuntu. But if someone has another favorite distro I am all ears (I have tried Linux a couple times in the past but always fall back to Windows because the there I just can't get some piece or another to work right.)

Oh boy, you are in Windows Hell, aren't you! I really like Linux Mint (it's based on Ubuntu but with a much cleaner UI), but I don't have a touchscreen so no idea if it supports one. I've read that Ubuntu has had touch screen support for a while now but have no experience of it myself, obviously. Also, I understand that Windows 8 uses the new UEFI replacement for BIOS, which means it may be hard to set up dual-booting on a machine that's been pre-installed with Windows 8, so you'll need to Google for the appropriate UEFI work-arounds. But it can certainly be done e.g. this guy managed it.

Reckon I'll stick with Windows 7 as long as I can!