A Windows 8 Thread

[aCunningGnome]

Hi guys, I wanted to get a thread going with a couple of useful things for Windows 8. I was researching before I decided to purchase it and had quite a fun time finding things (or not finding things).

First (off topic of EQ),--I want to mention that, at least in my case, I purchased the Windows 8 upgrade ($10 through work), burned the ISO, and performed a "custom" install which does not ask for a prior operating system. It will function as full Windows 8. The only downside is, you aren't technically complying to the terms. Alternatively from what I've read, you can start the upgrade atop an illegitimate Windows (cracked) and your upgrade will still perform as 100% legitimate.

Now, onto the EQ stuff. I noticed that windows of the same flavor cannot be swapped around on the Windows Taskbar in some cases (they move as a group when dragged). I don't know what change causes this, but it seems to be default behavior in Windows 8 (and occasional in Windows 7).

http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker allows you to fix this. I just found the program yesterday for a friend. I suppose it just edits some registry keys, so perhaps soon myself or someone else will post the registry locations here to avoid using software.

When I get home, I'll post a link to the flavor of DirectX runtime I had to install to get Everquest to work on my Windows 8 install. The DirectX 9.0c runtime no longer works on 8.

TLDR:
http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker to rearrange EQ windows in Taskbar.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 Run in Windows 7 Compatibility Mode

 

[Darkon]

I bought a new laptop last weekend it came with win8 preinstalled. I went and got the VOA installer and it actually went and installed the dx9 SDK for me.

 

[aCunningGnome]

I did read that some people don't have a problem. I was vanilla install of Windows 8 other than drivers and didn't have as much luck.

Run this in Windows 7 Compatibility mode: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 to get the missing DLLs.

 

[Noah3]

I"m using the pre release version on all my pcs. My lady hates it, but I love it.
At first I was all fucked up with no start button, I figured out you can download all the crap that other windows version has onto windows 8. I wanted to challenge myself though and get along without it. I navigate smoothly and efficiently now and I really enjoy it.

Just curious, how different is the real version from the pre release?

 

[aCunningGnome]

I don't like that when I want to open a program via start, it takes up my ENTIRE screen. I'm guessing I'll be looking for a way around that soon. There has to be a little box I can pop up to open something.

And I don't like it that when I open something that uses metro from classic, then alt-f4 to close it, it lands me back on the metro menu.

 

[htw]

When I played with it a little bit, I disabled metro ui. I didn't stick with it long enough to see if something could be done about the fullscreen crap.

htw

 

[Noah3]

you can download a start button

 

[SiegeTank]

No XP mode with Windows 8. If you need to run 32-bit or 16-bit programs in XP mode you need to install an add-on like VirtualBox and that means "acquiring" an XP license, since none is provided. Maybe this matters not to most people but it's one big annoyance connected to moving from Windows 7, which is a perfectly fine OS already.

 

[cudacuf]

I've always operated under the EOW Rule or "Every Other Windows" Rule. So, with Windows 7 being rock solid, I've expected Windows 8 to be absolute ass and I'll be waiting until Windows 9 comes out to upgrade.

 

[devestator]

I've always operated under the EOW Rule or "Every Other Windows" Rule. So, with Windows 7 being rock solid, I've expected Windows 8 to be absolute ass and I'll be waiting until Windows 9 comes out to upgrade.

The core of Windows 8 is just as good possibly slightly better than Windows 7. The problem with windows 8 is the idiotic decision to go full on metro crap ui and remove the start menu completely.

I personally refuse to move to Windows 8 unless they provide a way to completely disable the metro crap and the ability to enable a classic start menu. They had this option in one of the early developer editions and removed it.

I still can't figure out how they thought it would be a good idea to try and force a user interface designed for touch down the throats of desktop users without touch screens. I wouldn't even want a touch screen on my desktop. I don't sit close enough to my monitors to touch them. If they don't fix it in Windows 8, and release Windows 9 with the same problems then I will just stay on Windows 7, and switch fully to Linux when it gets better gaming support =/

 

[Noah3]

I had no choice, I lost 2 hard drives back to back, and paying for an os was not possible at the time, and especially now. Thankfully someone posted on the thread I posted about needing advice on an OS , they posted about the windows 8 pre release...Thank you poster for that, and now im just going to ride it out till im booted, cuz that trick to upgrade for free to real version is outta my knowledge level

Crippie was the poster ... Thank you.

 

[cudacuf]

I've always operated under the EOW Rule or "Every Other Windows" Rule. So, with Windows 7 being rock solid, I've expected Windows 8 to be absolute ass and I'll be waiting until Windows 9 comes out to upgrade.

The core of Windows 8 is just as good possibly slightly better than Windows 7. The problem with windows 8 is the idiotic decision to go full on metro crap ui and remove the start menu completely.

 

[aCunningGnome]

I've always operated under the EOW Rule or "Every Other Windows" Rule. So, with Windows 7 being rock solid, I've expected Windows 8 to be absolute ass and I'll be waiting until Windows 9 comes out to upgrade.

The core of Windows 8 is just as good possibly slightly better than Windows 7. The problem with windows 8 is the idiotic decision to go full on metro crap ui and remove the start menu completely.

PURE GOLD

I want to backhand the project heads who repeatedly make shitty decisions like requiring a full screen to launch a program from start, or the wasted steps when working between metro and classic, or even shutting down.

btw
http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-launch-apps-from-the-desktop-in-windows-8 for recommendations of fixing stuff you shouldn't have to.

 

[hawthorne]

But that would mean I'd have to install Windows 8 and I just can't bring myself to do that. I loaded up the RTM in my virt box and.. yeah.. it's never going on my machines.

 

[aCunningGnome]

I'm finally getting annoyed with it. The start menu I downloaded bugs out occasionally, and my keyboard driver breaks when I restart (I have to replug my USB in). It's almost to the point I regret even trying.

 

[Noah3]

Any computer savoy people on that know how to get full version of windows 8 onto a flash and then trick the prerelease version into thinking you have full version??
I don't know if I am saying the right thing, but I heard and read somewhere about this being possible, and I can't recall where. However, I remember when I read it I was lost so I gave up, thinking I could just use Pre launch version forever, however today I got booted due to invalid license and when I logged back on (just now) the action center prompted me to get a valid license , so I imagine I will be booted again and again till I get it fixed..
So if anyone knows what I am talking about , and could walk me through how to do that , or something similar, please let me know.

Thank you

 

[aCunningGnome]

Another tip I found. For full screen applications (like EQ login screen), you cannot access the system tray. Use Winkey-T to pop up the task bar so you can get to the task bar.