Reconsider not upgrading to Windows 8

[Jim W.]

If you are not upgrading to Win 8 because it lacks a start button, check out Classic Shell http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ , a free download that adds a start button and menus to Win 8. With it you can even skip metro and go directly to the desktop. Classic Shell works great on both my upgraded computers. No problems at all. I will be upgrading my trading computer soon.

I have upgraded my backup desktop running Win XP Pro x32 and Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop running Win VISTA x32 with $40 Win 8 Pro x64 upgrade. All required drivers were on the install DVD. Did a full backup of each computer then a clean install. VISTA would have upgraded if I was not going from x32 to x64. Used Windows Easy Transfer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971759?wa=wsignin1.0 for VISTA computer to transfer settings and data. The XP computer had so many years of accumulated software crud that I only installed the applications that I still use and manually transferred the data.

You must enter a purchased Product Key before installing Win 8. Read my post http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/f...02265#poststop section "How to Install Windows 8 without a Product Key" if you want to do a trial install.

The $40 upgrade price to Win 8 Pro expires 1/31/2013 http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbpage.Windows_8_Pro?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_HP_nav_BuyWSof tware . There is no software check for installed software prior to upgrade. Went to local MicroCenter to buy Win 8 Pro upgrade DVD. Have to ask for the upgrade. They are keeping them in the back of the store and I overheard the staff trying to sell a $200 Win 7 to a customer. After the sales rep handed me the Win 8 Pro upgrade box, I asked him if they would put the upgrade out after the price goes up $100-$150 on 2/1/2013. He just smirked.

[koganam]

If you are not upgrading to Win 8 because it lacks a start button, check out Classic Shell http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ , a free download that adds a start button and menus to Win 8. With it you can even skip metro and go directly to the desktop. Classic Shell works great on both my upgraded computers. No problems at all. I will be upgrading my trading computer soon.

I have upgraded my backup desktop running Win XP Pro x32 and Dell Inspiron 1720 laptop running Win VISTA x32 with $40 Win 8 Pro x64 upgrade. All required drivers were on the install DVD. Did a full backup of each computer then a clean install. VISTA would have upgraded if I was not going from x32 to x64. Used Windows Easy Transfer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971759?wa=wsignin1.0 for VISTA computer to transfer settings and data. The XP computer had so many years of accumulated software crud that I only installed the applications that I still use and manually transferred the data.

You must enter a purchased Product Key before installing Win 8. Read my post http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/f...02265#poststop section "How to Install Windows 8 without a Product Key" if you want to do a trial install.

The $40 upgrade price to Win 8 Pro expires 1/31/2013 http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbpage.Windows_8_Pro?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_HP_nav_BuyWSof tware . There is no software check for installed software prior to upgrade. Went to local MicroCenter to buy Win 8 Pro upgrade DVD. Have to ask for the upgrade. They are keeping them in the back of the store and I overheard the staff trying to sell a $200 Win 7 to a customer. After the sales rep handed me the Win 8 Pro upgrade box, I asked him if they would put the upgrade out after the price goes up $100-$150 on 2/1/2013. He just smirked.

Hm. Interesting. I went for Windows Server 2012 instead, and also use Classic Shell. For my setup, it just made more sense to use the Server Version, as I run everything in VM's anyway. Funny thing is the it has Hyper-V, but I installed VirtualBox . Guess which Hypervisor I use.

[Jim W.]

Useful Window 8 Upgrade Links

How do you get the best deal on a Windows 8 Pro upgrade?

http://www.zdnet.com/how-do-you-get-...de-7000006718/

“You can get a smoking deal on an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro if you're ready to make that purchase before January 31, 2013. But there are some gotchas, and one inexplicable and unfair pricing decision means that early buyers of Windows 8 PCs pay more than Windows 7 users.”

The ultimate Windows 8 upgrade FAQ

http://www.zdnet.com/the-ultimate-wi...aq-7000006815/


“You've got questions about the Windows 8 upgrade. Can you burn the upgrade files to DVD or a USB flash drive? Is it possible to go from a 32-bit Windows PC to 64-bit? Who qualifies for cheap upgrades?”

Bend Windows 8 to your will with these free tools

http://www.pcworld.com/article/20115...ree-tools.html

“So if you miss the Start button from Windows 7, if you’re an Apple fan who needs a little more visual consistency to ease your transition to Windows territory (or just install it on a virtual machine), or if you’re tired of looking at the same ol’ lock and start screens on Window 8, we have a great list of free utilities that you can use to bend Windows 8 to your will.”


Upgrade to Windows 8

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...e-to-windows-8

“Before upgrading to Windows 8, we recommend that you run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. It scans your current PC to see if it is ready for Windows 8 and then provides a compatibility report and optional steps for you to buy, download, and install Windows 8.”

[sledge]

We just upgraded at work from XP 32 bit, to NT7 64 bit... (xeon workstations, 12 gb, 2.667, 6 core)....

McAfee was destroying us on XP 32 bit dual core machines from 2008. 20 minutes to open up out developer software!!!!

They didn't lock out machines down from changing themes.. I chose the XP Classic..which still isn't like it with the start menu that was started back in NT 4.0 ActiveX upgrades...(if I remember correctly)...
but it is close.

I've got the hang of the NT7 task bar... even gotten to understand the ubuntu task bar..... I get it.. worth the upgrade from XP?? NOPE... I had a folder I always used to "go to" for my development programs with links...

but I'll take the speed of the *new* workstation (it was a hand me down)... and suck up the graphic issues.


logitech has some new devices out to deal with Windows 8.. I haven't watched the videos or touched Win 8... but I'm not sure I could do without a task bar... I have at least 20 "go to" programs.... I can drop back to a folder with my links in win8 allows.. it would be like XP days...

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/promotions/win8-landing

How do you get the best deal on a Windows 8 Pro upgrade?

http://www.zdnet.com/how-do-you-get-...de-7000006718/

“You can get a smoking deal on an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro if you're ready to make that purchase before January 31, 2013. But there are some gotchas, and one inexplicable and unfair pricing decision means that early buyers of Windows 8 PCs pay more than Windows 7 users.”

The ultimate Windows 8 upgrade FAQ

http://www.zdnet.com/the-ultimate-wi...aq-7000006815/


“You've got questions about the Windows 8 upgrade. Can you burn the upgrade files to DVD or a USB flash drive? Is it possible to go from a 32-bit Windows PC to 64-bit? Who qualifies for cheap upgrades?”

Bend Windows 8 to your will with these free tools

http://www.pcworld.com/article/20115...ree-tools.html

“So if you miss the Start button from Windows 7, if you’re an Apple fan who needs a little more visual consistency to ease your transition to Windows territory (or just install it on a virtual machine), or if you’re tired of looking at the same ol’ lock and start screens on Window 8, we have a great list of free utilities that you can use to bend Windows 8 to your will.”


Upgrade to Windows 8

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...e-to-windows-8

“Before upgrading to Windows 8, we recommend that you run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. It scans your current PC to see if it is ready for Windows 8 and then provides a compatibility report and optional steps for you to buy, download, and install Windows 8.”