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 Malkin   Manager  |
For a course that I'm doing in library studies (and because my old Mac is about to give up the ghost), I've decided to get a cheap Windows laptop with a modern version of Windows. I haven't used Windows on a regular basis since XP, so I'm feeling a little out of touch. Does anyone have any experience with Windows 8.1? I've still got the perception of Windows as being more virusy than Mac, how do you protect your Windows from viruses? Is the inbuilt protection any good, or do I need to add more? What's your impressions of the new version of Windows? How well does DS run on Windows 8? I know that google is my friend, (as the old saying goes) but we're pretty computer literate in the Creatures Community, so I thought I'd ask here as well - a lot of the tutorials about are 'never used a computer before' not 'never used Windows 8.1 before'. Thanks for any help! My TCR Norns |
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 Senior Wrangler Nutter |
If I were buying a computer with Windows 8 pre-installed, I'd delete it and install Windows 7, but that's just me.  Windows 8 is a bit of a mashup. It's basically got 2 of everything - an app version designed to be used with touch-sensitive devices like tablets and phones, and a more traditional program version which is more suitable to standard desktops and laptops. 8.1 has at least allowed booting into the desktop, bypassing the Metro (app) interface. The start button is back, but doesn't work like it used to; if you want a Windows 7-style interface you'll need to install something like Classic Shell. Yes, Windows can be more virusy (although Macs aren't as virus-free as they were) but 8 comes with Microsoft Security Essentials which isn't bad for basic anti-virus. If you want to install something different (McAfee or Kaspersky or whatever) you'll need to disable MSE. The Windows firewall is pretty good; I've never felt the need to install a different one. |
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 Ghost_Norn |
I think windows 8.1 is a great OS; it runs smoothly, boots faster, and I like very much the Metro apps, and I never felt the need for the normal start button. Despite some problems with some older games ( Creatures Exodus works fine though, and I have a 64 bit pc!), others run smoothly. I also like the graphic changes; I like how everything is based on rectangles and squares, and the matte-like colors too. Overall, 5/5 Btw, keep an eye out for Windows 8.1 Update 1  EDIT: I use Avast Free as an antivirus. It is very good Previously known as Norn_XXL |
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 Pixis |
I'm not really sure if I have Windows 8 or 8.1, but it's difficult for people who aren't used to computers - my mom has a lot of trouble with it. It's very clearly made for a touch screen, like on a tablet or a touch screen laptop, so when your computer doesn't have a touch screen it can be kind of a jumbled mess. I'm totally used to it now, but back when we first got it it was such a headache. x_x As for Creatures, I've been able to get Docking Station running just fine My Albian Years copy of Creatures 1 seemed ok too, although I hadn't played it much. Creatures 2 wouldn't open. (Finnicky thing, isn't it?)Creatures 3 works for me too, but the screen was blown up kind of strange and I couldn't find a way to fix it. I just dock my worlds in DS anyway, so eh. (shrugs)   |
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 For Science! InsanityPrelude |
I got a new laptop for my birthday and it came preinstalled with 8.1. So far the biggest issue for me has been display scaling. As I understand it, 8.1 added an option, "make items larger or smaller", to help compensate for how tiny everything is at high resolutions; however, pre-Win8 programs (and even some current ones, e.g. Chrome) don't play entirely nicely with it, so at the higher level things get artifacty like you blew them up past their original size in Paint. It seems to be more noticeable in some programs than others: it's relatively subtle in Firefox (and text is rendered properly, thank goodness), but it makes DS look washed out and a little blurry. Alas, if I disable scaling for DS through the compatibility options, it's crystal clear but much smaller than I really want to deal with. Desktop Mode is less unfamiliar than I feared, overall. However, things like the settings menu are opened up by moving the mouse to a certain part of the screen and I keep pulling it up by accident. (And don't even get me started on Internet Explorer. I only put up with it for as long as it took to download Firefox, because I was constantly pulling up the tabs selector by accident.) The new Start Menu is pretty, but it's a little irksome having to drop into a fullscreen thing to open a new program instead of just pulling up a little menu. One more gripe: it doesn't come with Solitaire. (Or Hearts, Mahjongg, etc.) What kind of Windows release doesn't come with Solitaire? They want you to download it separately from their App Store, and according to reviews the app is riddled with ads. Ugh. Overall: I can deal with this just fine, but it's quirky and I can certainly see where it would be a PITA for computer newbies. Also if anyone has any advice on getting DS to look good (I'd put it in fullscreen, but then it's stretched out because of the widescreen resolution) I'd appreciate it. |
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Ghost_Norn |
I usually play it in window mode, and then when it launches, I put it in full window, which makes it keep the ratio, and it doesn't stretch out. You may need to go to Compatibility tab in Properties and see what mode makes your pc launch correctly (try Windows 98, around it) and always check "Run as administrator". It works flawlessly to me. Previously known as Norn_XXL |
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Malkin Manager |
Thanks so much, everyone! I was hoping to create the computer as an offline computer, at least initially, but that doesn't seem like it'll be possible because Microsoft Office will want to be updated on a regular basis. Can anyone tell me what I need a 'Microsoft account' for? (and if it's compulsory?) My TCR Norns |
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Ghost_Norn |
The Microsoft account is the one you have for Hotmail (or Outlook now) or if you had registered for Messenger (again, now Skype). I think the main reason to use it is to save documents directly to SkyDrive (again, now OneDrive). SkyDrive, if you don't know, is a service online to save your documents, images, files, etc. and have them available when you access SkyDrive in another device. By the way, SkyDrive is built in with 8.1 EDIT: my example on the first paragraph was about the Office part, it may do or be required to something else on other programs Previously known as Norn_XXL |
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Malkin Manager |
Thanks, Ghost_Norn! Wrestling with the laptop manufacturer's Norton trial software now - i want to disable it. I was surprised to find that the privacy options in Windows 8.1 include 'let all apps use my webcam' and 'let all apps use my microphone' by default.  My TCR Norns |
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Ghost_Norn |
You're welcome My father bought a PC with 8 that had Norton, and I uninstalled it right away and installed Avast too. I think it is a great antivirus Previously known as Norn_XXL |
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Senior Wrangler Nutter |
Yeah, they're trying to steal all your data, all the time.  As I understand it, the e-mail address is a requirement, but I didn't think it had to be a Microsoft one. I'd recommend uninstalling Norton as quickly as possible! Avast is OK, not as good as it used to be (in terms of user friendliness and ethics of the owners) but is still a decent anti-virus. It's quite customisable so you can turn off all the intrusive stuff, and the many, many things they swiitch on by default that you don't need. |
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 Wee Scrivener Trell |
My recommendation for anti-virus would be Kaspersky, especially for a Windows 8. Never had issues with that one. Trell "Holy crap in a casket!" |
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For Science! InsanityPrelude |
A useful tip for games: It wasn't letting me click if I'd used the keyboard within the last second or two, which obviously is a problem in games where you want to be able to move and perform actions at the same time (Terraria in my case.) Turns out it's a "feature" of 8.1 that's supposed to stop you from accidentally moving the mouse while typing. If anyone else is having this problem, here's what you do: Go to PC Settings (not the control panel! Click the "Settings" charm and it's at the bottom of the sidebar that comes up). Under "PC and devices", go to "Mouse and touchpad". Under "Touchpad", there should be a setting to change the delay after typing. Change that to "No delay" and things should work normally again. |
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Ghost_Norn |
Well, that explain much! Thank you InsanityPrelude! I was having a problem with Minecraft, but I didn't even noticed it was from 8.1! I thought it was a problem with Minecraft. Previously known as Norn_XXL |
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For Science! InsanityPrelude |
The settings for the touchpad itself make a difference too- mine has Synaptics drivers and I had to turn off their "SmartScreen" thing before Terraria would really work properly. (Though I sometimes need to turn it back on if I'm doing a lot of typing...) |
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Malkin Manager |
I'm having a problem with Firefox on Windows and my trackpad - sometimes, when I use my trackpad, the font size shrinks or grows a lot, and I can't fix it without exiting the screen and reopening it. Has anyone else come across this? Is this a Windows setting or a Firefox setting? How do I turn it off? My TCR Norns |
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 Siinamon |
You should be able to turn it off in Firefox; it's usually due to a gesture. Pressing Ctrl+0 (zero) will reset the size. |
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nOrton |
I personally detest Windows 8. The interface is obviously intended for a tablet or someone who never, ever, ever wants to play any video games at all ever. I'm sticking with 7 until Windows wises up to the wants of their userbase. So yeah, I would suggest just downgrading. As for virus protection, I just use Avast. I know it's kinda mainstream, but it's never really given me problems before. I also use MBAM and AdwCleaner for the few things my siblings intentionally get past the radar (stupid toolbars and useless software/adware, etc) I am a cyber god! Bow before me! |
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 Espeon_DS |
I have Windows 8.1 on my laptop (recently upgraded from Windows 8 ). I don't particularly like it, but I put up with it for the sake of life. That is all. "If you're not the one, then why does my soul feel glad today?" |
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Malkin Manager |
Is there a way to set up one-click unzipping of zip files on Windows 8? This WinZip/Windows Explorer process seems like it's harder than it should be. My TCR Norns |
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For Science! InsanityPrelude |
I've used ALZip since forever, so I can't help you with WinZip. I thought that was something that was always built in to the program, though? Did you figure out a fix for your accidental-zooming problem? I was able to turn off certain trackpad gestures in the touchpad-specific settings (same place that SmartScreen thing I mentioned was.) |
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Malkin Manager |
I honestly don't know - so far, 7Zip is working ok, though. Thanks for mentioning the SmartScreen thing - I just managed to find a Guide about how to turn off some oddities of the trackpad.  My TCR Norns |
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