I’ve had a great run with my laptop I got in 2009, but it’s been acting up a lot lately. I didn’t want to do it, but I broke down and bought a new computer. After hearing all the horror stories about Windows 8 and 8.1 supposedly being better, I plunked down my hard earned (plastic) cash and bought an 8.1 equipped laptop.
The horror stories? They weren’t horrible enough. I’ve had no luck trying to understand this system, what was Microsoft thinking anyway?
Out of desperation, I’ve ordered a user manual for it while my old laptop (which I’m writing on now)is still hanging in there. I passed on Windows 8.1 for Dummies and moved on to Windows 8.1 for Total Computer Idiots.
I’ve also ordered a large box of tissues for use as I cry my eyes out trying to learn this *#@^*&% crazy system.
Remember my background is fixing things with hammers. If they are stubborn, then I use a bigger hammer. Bit, bytes, “0”s and “1”s are over my head. Gee, I wonder if Rick, the all knowing Computer Guru makes house calls? ;c)
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
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Oh you are scaring me to death. I finally upgraded to Windows 7 from XP which I loved on a laptop that I also bought in 2009. It's still hanging in there but I wonder if I should get a new one while I might be able to get Windows 7 on it. Dell will do that if you buy the right machine. Good luck! I want to know how you do so you can help me when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteAND - Happy Anniversary. I'm belated on your 3rd Full timing anniversary.
DeleteAnother month or so and we'll be buying new computer equipment in Arizona. Damn computers! If they ever perfect them, they sure will sell a pile of them!
ReplyDeletewww.travelwithkevinandruth.com
I bought a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 with Windows 8.1 and love it. The touch screen is great. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to use the new OS. Hope you figure it out soon.
ReplyDeleteI'll be holding onto Win 7 with all my might & then some. I just don't have the interest or the patience anymore to wrestle with a whole new radically changed system. Thought I did hear something somewhere about Microsoft's next version being more traditional & user friendly. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.........
ReplyDeleteHang on tight, Paul. Play around with Windows 8 for a while and you'll love it. A little practice and you'll think it's great. It's always a little difficult to teach an old dog new tricks .... or, did I already tell you that? :)))
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to find a new laptop with Windows 7 on it but not Kathy. A year later she is still learning things about it. One tech told her learning Windows 8.1 was easier if you had never touched a computer than if you had become proficient with XP or older operating systems. Be patient with yourself and you'll get the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
I read somewhere amongst the bloggers there was a Programe you can download and it overlays on 8.1 to make it like 7 ...?.Someone must know the name of it....sorry I don't maybe ask google Dr. .good luck lesalp.blogspot.com.au
ReplyDeleteWe just got 8.1 and one of the items on the start page is a link to the windows7 look and feel. Another way is to install one of your old programs, we have Quicken 2013 for example, Chrome is also an example. when the program is launched you end up in that mode. Swipe up on the 8.1 screen and you will see the programs you installed. Press and hold the program and a customize options will appear on the bottom of the screen. Click 'pin to start' and then you can launch the program from the 8.1 start screen. Hope this helps
ReplyDeleteMy son gave me a five minute tutorial on 8, and that's all it took. I then upgraded to 8.1. No big deal. You can do it. I really like it. Do you want to talk to my son? It's easy if you have Teamviewer.
ReplyDeletei took mine back to Best Buy where I bought it and asked for a refund! No problem. He just smiled. He knew there was issues.
ReplyDeletePaul, Paul, Paul - it's all quite simple! But, if you truly want to wimp out then you can magically turn your beautiful, shiny, wonderful new Windows 8.1 computer back into an old relic of Windows 7 by downloading and installing this utility:
ReplyDeleteClassic Shell
Try it out...it's free and you can also remove it at any time.
Ah! that's it Rick classic shell. Rick to the rescue - good job - but I must admit I was a bit bamboozled with 8.1 at first - I love a challenge and explored....
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking it is time to get a new computer, but exactly the issue you are having makes us hang on to what we have!!!
ReplyDeleteI just want EXACTLY what I have with newer hardware. I don't want to have to learn how to use it ;o((
Hope you figure out a solution so you can then 'splain it to the rest of us:o))
I was lucky enough to buy a new Toshiba with 7 on it. Least I'll be able to jump over 8 to whatever the next version is when this one dies :) George needed a new laptop and bought a Dell with 8.1 and isn't happy either. His old laptop is now magically working just fine...lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm running Classic Shell. Computer runs just like it has XP or Windows 7
ReplyDeleteJim
I'm going to wait out 8.1 hoping my 7 laptop hangs in there long enough to go directly to Windows 10. They are skipping 9 altogether :) Wonder if we should be worried about that???
ReplyDeleteI am sure it will take a bit of a learning curve, and will work just fine, but you just need to give it some time.
ReplyDeleteI would love to play with, but love my MacBook, because I switched 6 years ago and learned this system, amazing.
I'm just hoping that I never need another computer, but I suppose that wish won't come true. Good luck
ReplyDeleteI'm babying my laptop as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteMy Windows 7 computer crashed and burned on this trip forcing me to buy an 8.1 machine as well. After staring at the "tiles" page and trying to see how to actually do anything, I gave up. I found the Classic Shell program as well. It does make things quite a bit better in that I can now actually find my programs and I got my "Start" button back!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I don't like it either. Well, not most of it. I love my touch screen and the tiles are ok, but it sure can be hard to find my documents or settings!
ReplyDeleteI suspect that many windows 7 users will do as they did with the
ReplyDeleteXP operating system. Our 2009 laptop works without many problems, but the updates take forever and geez is it slow.
99% of the time I use a Android tablet or my wife's iPad. They react so fast and seamlessly, that going back to the laptop is excruciating.
If I want to continue to write a blog, I will just break down and get the mac laptop. I had 3 macs, never had 1 instance of trouble.
They cost more but they are worth it. You can process and edit your photography very nicely on them
Catherine made the religious conversion to Mac in 2008 and after I could not get my little net book to up date to Window's 7 I followed Catherine. I have to say ease of use is my favorite thing about Apple.
ReplyDeleteI have been using Wondows 8 and not 8.1 for a while now and don't really have any problems with it. I don't installing that Classic shell program others have mentioned, but maybe I did. All I know, is that it opens with the tiles page, but I switch to the desktop view and have my favorite programs pinned to the bottom. It works much like my old versions did. My last one had Vista on it which everyone hated, but I didn't mind it. Go figure. Good luck. You got some good advice.
ReplyDelete