Windows 8 upgrade

[Pepi]

Hi all
Has anybody tried to upgrade the Win8 in scenario with Windows 7 and Fedora? I'm using the Grub for the boot loader.

[StephenH]

Originally Posted by Pepi

Hi all
Has anybody tried to upgrade the Win8 in scenario with Windows 7 and Fedora? I'm using the Grub for the boot loader.

Yes. Fortunately, I have Fedora on a separate HDD from Windows. I actually had to physically disconnect the Fedora drive (which also has Grub) in order for the Windows 8 to complete and not fail. Once I did that, I reconnected the Fedora drive and all was well again.

I really should edit it to change the description for the Windows drive from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

A hint for when you do succeed: Download and install Classic Shell. It will restore the start button that Microsoft got rid of. I thought that Gnome shell was lame. Metro is much worse! It requires moving the mouse to either of the right-hand corners, moving to the start button and clicking it to get to the metro UI from the regular desktop. Then one has to go to the bottom right and select the option to show all before one can find the non-default applications. I'm sure that over time, one can pin one's favorites to the main page, but why bother since Classic Shell is so much easier?

I have not yet gotten the Microsoft Email account. I have no interest whatsoever in patronizing their "apps" store.

On one computer, it is running as I got the free (until January) media center addition. The main computer got the upgrade while it is bargain priced, but it stays booted into Linux with the rare exception of booting the Windows partition, mostly so it can get the accumulated fixes and updates. After that, it gets booted back to Fedora for daily use.

[Jean Pierre]

Has anybody tried to upgrade the Win8 in scenario with Windows 7 and Fedora?

I have (with the Win8 Release Preview), using the scenario described in http://techingiteasy.wordpress.com/2...and-windows-8/

I'm using the Grub for the boot loader.

As Fedora was previously installed, I saved the MBR and restored it after installing Windows 8.

Beware if you want to share ntfs files between Fedora and Windows 8, better disable the fast restart in Windows 8. See http://jp-andre.pagesperso-orange.fr....html#windows8

This probably also applies to fat (I have not tested).

Only the very latest ntfs-3g update (ntfs-3g-2012.1.15-5.fc17) detects the new condition and refuses to mount a partition left by Windows 8 in an inconsistent state.

[StephenH]

I figured out a long time ago to not hibernate Windows but to shut it down instead. It is asking for trouble to share ntfs files without doing so. This is an unexpected change. It would have been nice to be warned about it. It is another example of Microsoft thinking nobody would ever run another operating system in dual-boot and attempt to interact with files on the NTFS partition.

Thanks for the heads-up. Next time I boot the other OS, I will be certain to go in and turn that one off.

[Pepi]

Ok friends, thank you for your advices. Let see do I get anything up with in next days...

[Chilly Willy]

So, just how big of a POS IS W8, anyway?
From what I've read, (including this thread) it appears to be pretty big & GROWING!

[StephenH]

Originally Posted by Chilly Willy

So, just how big of a POS IS W8, anyway?
From what I've read, (including this thread) it appears to be pretty big & GROWING!

If you install Classic Shell like I mentioned above, it isn't too bad. However, Metro is the one thing I've seen lately that makes Gnome 3 Shell look well thought-out and good looking. Metro looks like some kid got loose in Microsoft's design department and just started coloring in blocks with different color crayons. It is flat, two-dimensional to the extreme.

I understand Microsoft is trying to get a unified experience across devices (phone, tablet, desktop), but while such a simplistic interface may be good for a small touch-screen device, it is horrible for a desktop where one wants to get things done. It takes more mouse movements and clicks than even Gnome 3 shell to get to where one can actually do something productive.

I think that people will form their own opinions as to whether it is bigger turkey than the one in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. To me, it looks like it has the potential to be a disaster for Microsoft. Then again, I forked out the money to "upgrade" two systems. At least it was at a super bargain price. I did not want to wait until the price increase if I waited and had a need to do so later. Only one of the two will have any kind of regular use. If I find a suitable Linux front-end to my Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 that will drive the composite, svideo, and radio ports as well as the tuner, then even that use of Windows might disappear. However, I will still have a couple of programs that will never run under anything but real Windows, so at least one machine will need to be dual-boot to satisfy the times I need to run one of them.

[Chilly Willy]

I guess time will tell. But from all the info I've managed to gather so far, it appears that it's gonna bomb more than all there other losers combined.

Yeah, I have to agree that the interface IS geared more for the "postage stamp" displays. And DOES look a bit chintzy!

As for people buying it, well P. T. Barnum said it best... & considering it comes [forced upon you] with most purchases, like a toy in a box of CRACKERJACKS, I guess there will be a lot of people "stuck" with it.

I see that HP upped there status in the LINUX community, I wonder if they will offer computers (in stores) W/O the REDMOMD VIRUS on them. I HOPE so! Especially notebooks!

---------- Post added at 03:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:55 PM ----------

You know, if what I see with M$ DOES happen, here is a good opportunity for LINUX (Fedora especially) to get a better foothold in the game. Here's hoping that F18 proves to be a winner, as predicted!