8.1 update 1 return of the start menu

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#1017969 3-Apr-2014 16:01

paulmilbank: So we are not getting start menu or windowed apps with update 1? Those are in a future update?
Boot to desktop was already there, so not sure why the article made a big deal about it.

It is my understanding that the start menu stuff will appear in the "next" windows update. The word "next" may refer to the end of the year as update 2 to Windows 8.1, or may be in windows 9 due out (as I understand) somewhere around April next year (or around then).

I have not really been following the Build conference this year, so I may be out of date with things.

Personally, I don't really see the point of a start menu - there is already one in the bottom left corner and it appears again I one swipes in from the right. I would, however, think it would be nice if on the 'Apps' menu (accessed at the bottom of the start screen) we could put things into folders (instead of having each product title underlined it could be a folder) that can be either left expanded, or contracted.

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nathan

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#1017970 3-Apr-2014 16:05

All apps view, by category, control + mouse wheel, or pinch to zoom out is similar to the old program group folders, sounds like you want a mix of folders and apps tho

muppet

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#1017997 3-Apr-2014 16:55

I just upgraded to 8.1 from XP (Yes, well done Microsoft, you nagged me to death. I avoided the XP update but MISSED the Security Essentials one, so it nagged its face off at me. Arrrrgh) and boy, it's confusing to start with.

There's sort of a start menu, but it's not really, and it only works if you right click. Otherwise you get this LSD induced tiles cluster-a-rama. No, thanks. Right click gives me a start menu, but with no programs. Ok. How do I see my Startup folder so I can drag my putty key there? Oh run start shell:startup. Well THAT was obvious.

Anway, my point is that this seems like tipping the balance back in the right direction. While I don't hate Windows 8, I can certainly see where all the bad press must have come from for 8.0. 8.1 is still confusing enough! I'm sure the Tiles/Touch interface is great for tablet users, but it needs to still have a "really, go away unless I really want you" option.

(I thought about putting Linux on my laptohahahahahaha please no I didn't.)

CB_24

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#1017998 3-Apr-2014 16:55

Is IE11 Enterprise (part of Win 8.1 U1) going to be available for other OS's like Win 7 and 2008R2 any time soon?

nathan

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#1018009 3-Apr-2014 17:13

Enterprise Mode IE, yes it will be for IE11 on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Update next week and for Server 2008 R2 too, basically anything that can run IE11 (except for Windows Phone 8.1!)

Behodar

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#1018016 3-Apr-2014 17:27

Some updates were not installed

The following updates were not installed:
Update for Windows (KB2919355)

Does anyone know how to make it give me the reason? It's really hard to troubleshoot when there are zero details given...

Edit: It worked after a reboot, despite the first attempt being on a freshly-booted system.

TwoSeven

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#1018019 3-Apr-2014 17:44

nathan: All apps view, by category, control + mouse wheel, or pinch to zoom out is similar to the old program group folders, sounds like you want a mix of folders and apps tho

I don't have to remember 50 million different key combinations and gestures with folders. Mind you, these days I'd be happy with CP/M.

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nathan

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#1018020 3-Apr-2014 17:47

muppet: I just upgraded to 8.1 from XP (Yes, well done Microsoft, you nagged me to death. I avoided the XP update but MISSED the Security Essentials one, so it nagged its face off at me. Arrrrgh) and boy, it's confusing to start with.

There's sort of a start menu, but it's not really, and it only works if you right click. Otherwise you get this LSD induced tiles cluster-a-rama. No, thanks. Right click gives me a start menu, but with no programs. Ok. How do I see my Startup folder so I can drag my putty key there? Oh run start shell:startup. Well THAT was obvious.

Anway, my point is that this seems like tipping the balance back in the right direction. While I don't hate Windows 8, I can certainly see where all the bad press must have come from for 8.0. 8.1 is still confusing enough! I'm sure the Tiles/Touch interface is great for tablet users, but it needs to still have a "really, go away unless I really want you" option.

(I thought about putting Linux on my laptohahahahahaha please no I didn't.)

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

or right click taskbar, new toolbar -> C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\

old3eyes

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#1018021 3-Apr-2014 17:48

muppet: I just upgraded to 8.1 from XP (Yes, well done Microsoft, you nagged me to death. I avoided the XP update but MISSED the Security Essentials one, so it nagged its face off at me. Arrrrgh) and boy, it's confusing to start with.

Kind of surprized that were able to install Win 8 on and old Win XP hardware. Most of the ones I've tried to refuse giving the BSOD when you try.. Wasa the PC a late model one bought at the end of the Win XP life cycle??

Regards,

Old3eyes

Behodar

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#1018027 3-Apr-2014 18:00

This really doesn't inspire confidence.

freitasm

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#1018085 3-Apr-2014 20:19

Downloaded from MSDN, installed on laptop - since this is my "desktop machine" I use it with Start8 and no Modern UI programs installed. Clicked around with mouse, saw some good changes (Modern UI pin to taskbar, right-click options, menus on Modern UI apps) but no big deal for me. I like Windows 8 because it's fast on my laptop.

Now installing on my tablet - where I exclusively (ok, with a couple of exceptions such as VPN which doesn' have modern UI app and IE desktop because the Modern UI version doesn't have source view and a LastPass support) use the tiles. Let's see how it goes.

Will let the HP Microserver running Server 2012 R2 update via WU next week instead of manually applying the patches. That's the way to go.

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OldGeek

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#1018122 3-Apr-2014 21:27

Most new devices are touch though

Some of our biggest Windows fans are diehard keyboard and mouse users, just like you and me. we listened to their feedback. So while we think touch is the future, for people using a PC without touch or folks who just prefer to mouse/keyboard we made Windows 8.1 Update easier

I think this is the sign of a company that is listening, that is reacting that wants to please people

While most new devices might include 'touch' There is still plenty of new hardware that does not include 'touch'. However your spin on the evolution of Windows 8 is wide of the mark. MS introduced a new GUI (Metro) - based on the premise it would appeal greatly to users running 'touch' hardware. The familiar desktop, task bar and Start menu were either hidden or eliminated. The reappearance of the old GUI (with 8.1 capability to boot to the desktop) is driven by the fact that existing users running prior Windows releases were not interested in upgrading to the Metro UI. The desktop and Start Menu have been brought back because MS did not 'listen' in the first place but have now been forced to listen to overwhelming feedback against Metro.

Metro's time will inevitably come (especially when users become accustomed to using live tiles and using 'touch' (mouseless?) hardware).

freitasm

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#1018157 3-Apr-2014 22:50

Installed on tablet. Modern UI Mail app still doesn't hyperlink URL in text emails. If they can do it on Windows Phone why don't they do it on Windows?

Yes, I know it's an app, not OS. But seriously, the OS had two major updates since launch, the app itself has been updated tow or three times and no one could actually make this work?

Seriously farked up.

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TwoSeven

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#1018268 4-Apr-2014 09:26

Personally, I don't think there is an app that I actually use (ok, there was Packman and space invaders for a while).

The main problem is that MS have been removing perfectly good functionality that existed in Windows 7 and not replacing it with something equivalent, or even making it worse, so for me, it is always better to go back to the old desktop version of a piece of functionality than to try and use an app.

Then there was the issue of the UI design that insisted people only wanted to run one App at a time full screen - this is for people that have spent the last 20 odd years of windows being able to multi-task. I can understand this on an RT type device, but on a hybrid or desktop?

Having said that I do like some of the new UI features, such as moving the mouse to the corners to open up menus (it takes a while to get used to) and the gestures (when using a touch screen), although I do feel that the on-screen keyboard can be made smaller.

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muppet

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#1018271 4-Apr-2014 09:32

old3eyes:
muppet: I just upgraded to 8.1 from XP (Yes, well done Microsoft, you nagged me to death. I avoided the XP update but MISSED the Security Essentials one, so it nagged its face off at me. Arrrrgh) and boy, it's confusing to start with.

Kind of surprized that were able to install Win 8 on and old Win XP hardware. Most of the ones I've tried to refuse giving the BSOD when you try.. Wasa the PC a late model one bought at the end of the Win XP life cycle??

The laptop was actually released with Vista installed. Downgrading to XP required a manual downgrade, but Dell knew it was so common they actually released hardware drivers for XP! (Very kind of them I thought)

So yeah, I guess that's why it works. It actually works really well, though I did have some major grief with skipping audio, fixed buy _downgrading_ the Intel WiFi card driver to an older version.

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