Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
I recently installed Windows 8 on one of my systems (the other desktop has Win7 and the rest are Androids). It replaced Windows XP Pro, so the transition required a clean install, to the point of formatting the target disk. Upgrades from Vista or Win7 do not require that, but XP does. I'm told there is a way around the disk re-format for XP, but it was not immediately obvious and I had already backed up the data anyway, so I just did it. The penalty is that you have to re-install all your applications, but it had been at least three years since I had cleaned house so I didn't mind spending the time to do that.
The Windows install went easily, but the learning curve is every bit as steep as you may have heard. I even had to do a web search to learn how to shut the darn thing down! The Metro interface, which Microsoft calls the "new Start Page", is pretty and has some tablet-like functions (apps) that are decent, but I suspect most people will choose to immediately launch the Desktop app, which goes to a more familiar Windows-style desktop. A "Desktop" button is pre-installed on the Metro Start page, so you don't have to worry about a way to get there. I also installed a non-MS piece of software called Classic Shell, which provides a traditional Windows Start button on the desktop. It provides most of the familiar Start button functions, so makes it easier to adapt. MS provided practically no Help to advise on using the new interface, either in Windows itself or via their website, but there is quite a bit of help from third parties like CNET, including You Tube videos.
Just about all of my previous applications installed and ran fine. The only major exception was a really old one that pre-dated even Windows 95 and Win8 would not allow to run at all. I've been meaning to replace it for years, but never got around to it! Software install generates a button on the Metro Start screen so you can launch direct to it without going to the Desktop first. Most of the applications also installed a shortcut on the Desktop page, but I had to create a few manually. Oddly enough, I had problems installing MS Streets & Trips 2013, which debuted after Win8 came out. It omits some required DLLs when installing in a 64 bit environment and also failed to activate the license properly. Microsoft had some advice but basically said "call customer support to get the details", but I found some help elsewhere online and got it straightened out after 45 minutes of putzing around. I didn't want to deal with the help desk people in India - it's just too frustrating for me.
Had no problem at all with the various device drivers - Windows handled everything without asking me for help. I've got an old Sony dye-sublimation photo printer I haven't tried yet, but everything else works fine.
As a retired computer professional, I was motivated to get acquainted with newer Windows technology and knew I had the skills to cope with the changes. I also wanted to replace my 32 bit version with 64 bit to take full advantage of the cpu and recently expanded memory in my system. All in all I am happy with the transition, but it's not one I would encourage anybody to make without good reason. Especially if your PC skills are on the light side. If you are running Win7 or even Vista and are happy, I think that staying there is the smart choice. Even staying with XP is ok, though it is getting long in the tooth.
The Windows install went easily, but the learning curve is every bit as steep as you may have heard. I even had to do a web search to learn how to shut the darn thing down! The Metro interface, which Microsoft calls the "new Start Page", is pretty and has some tablet-like functions (apps) that are decent, but I suspect most people will choose to immediately launch the Desktop app, which goes to a more familiar Windows-style desktop. A "Desktop" button is pre-installed on the Metro Start page, so you don't have to worry about a way to get there. I also installed a non-MS piece of software called Classic Shell, which provides a traditional Windows Start button on the desktop. It provides most of the familiar Start button functions, so makes it easier to adapt. MS provided practically no Help to advise on using the new interface, either in Windows itself or via their website, but there is quite a bit of help from third parties like CNET, including You Tube videos.
Just about all of my previous applications installed and ran fine. The only major exception was a really old one that pre-dated even Windows 95 and Win8 would not allow to run at all. I've been meaning to replace it for years, but never got around to it! Software install generates a button on the Metro Start screen so you can launch direct to it without going to the Desktop first. Most of the applications also installed a shortcut on the Desktop page, but I had to create a few manually. Oddly enough, I had problems installing MS Streets & Trips 2013, which debuted after Win8 came out. It omits some required DLLs when installing in a 64 bit environment and also failed to activate the license properly. Microsoft had some advice but basically said "call customer support to get the details", but I found some help elsewhere online and got it straightened out after 45 minutes of putzing around. I didn't want to deal with the help desk people in India - it's just too frustrating for me.
Had no problem at all with the various device drivers - Windows handled everything without asking me for help. I've got an old Sony dye-sublimation photo printer I haven't tried yet, but everything else works fine.
As a retired computer professional, I was motivated to get acquainted with newer Windows technology and knew I had the skills to cope with the changes. I also wanted to replace my 32 bit version with 64 bit to take full advantage of the cpu and recently expanded memory in my system. All in all I am happy with the transition, but it's not one I would encourage anybody to make without good reason. Especially if your PC skills are on the light side. If you are running Win7 or even Vista and are happy, I think that staying there is the smart choice. Even staying with XP is ok, though it is getting long in the tooth.