Sun City Summerlin

Computer Club

Upgrading to

Windows 8

Tom Burt

December 26, 2012

Upgrading to Windows 8

Agenda • Windows 8 Versions

• Hardware Requirements

• To Upgrade or Not

• How To Get Windows 8

• Windows 8 Upgrade Paths

• What’s New and Different?

• Re-learning Windows – AGAIN!

• Important Keyboard Shortcuts

• Important Mouse Actions

• Key “Windows 8” Apps

• Key Desktop Programs

• Compatibility Issues

• Upgrade Issues Found

• Moving Data, Settings & Programs

• Configuring and Customizing

• Microsoft App Store

• Web Links

Upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 Versions

• Successor to Windows 7 Family

– Based on Windows 7

– New “touch-oriented” UI “Windows 8) (was called Metro),

similar to Windows Phone.

– Also has a traditional Windows Desktop UI, similar to Windows 7.

• Retail PC Versions and Prices: Upgrade OEM

– Windows 8 (retail box) $60 ~$100

– Windows 8 Professional (web) $40 ~$130

• Also for Windows Tablets using the ARM CPU

– Windows RT (only available when you purchase a device)

Upgrading to Windows 8

Hardware Requirements

• A PC that runs Windows 7 will be able to run Windows 8

• Tom’s Recommended Configuration: – 2 GHz or faster dual core CPU, 2 GB of RAM or more

– DirectX 9 Graphics Card with WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2,

32 bits / pixel (for full video effects)

– 40 GB free hard disk space on a 80GB drive or more.

• There are few application compatibility issues – Most Windows 7 – compatible applications should run fine on Windows 8

via the Desktop.

• There may be some device compatibility issues – Most Windows 7 – compatible devices (printers, scanners, web-cams, …)

should run on Windows 8.

Upgrading to Windows 8

Hardware - 32-bit or 64-bit

• 32-bit Windows 8 will run on ANY CPU & RAM memory size

– Maximum usable RAM memory about 3.3 GB

– Good choice for systems with up to 4 billion bytes of RAM

– 32-bit CPU access and processes data in 32-bit wide chunks.

– Very good backward compatibility to Vista drivers.

• 64-bit Windows 8 requires a 64-bit capable CPU

– AMD Athlon 64, Athlon II, Phenom series, “A” series, “E” series

– Intel Core 2 series, Core I3, I5 or I7 series

– 64-bit CPUs access and process data in 64-bit wide chunks.

– Can be faster on compute intensive applications.

– 64-bit versions of programs often larger.

– Can access up to 256 GB of RAM.

– Require new 64-bit “signed” drivers (may not exist for old devices).

– Runs almost all 32-bit programs with no problems.

• Can’t do an “in-place” upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit

Upgrading to Windows 8

To Upgrade or Not?

• Windows 8 will ship pre-installed on most new PCs.

– $400 to $700 buys a very nice desktop or laptop PC.

– For a desktop, recommend you have a 20” or 24” wide-screen flat panel.

• Windows 7 is still mainstream and will be supported until about 2020. For most SCSCC members, there’s no compelling reason to upgrade an existing Windows 7 PC.

• But … the special $15 / $40 Windows 8 Pro upgrade deal ends at 11:59 PM on January 31, 2013.

• MS says Win XP Home “Extended Support” to end in April, 2014.

Upgrading to Windows 8

How To Get Windows 8

• Easiest – Buy a new PC on or after October 26th, 2012

– Windows 8 comes pre-installed

– Product Activation handled by the hardware vendor

– Windows 8 tested and verified by the vendor

– Still need to install your other applications and tools

• Buy and install an online copy of Windows 8

– Upgrade your PC hardware as needed / desired

– Online upgrade install for $40 (http://windows.com) – may qualify for $25

discount if bought a new Win 7 PC after June2.

(https://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US). Must buy before Feb 1, 2012.

– Best to run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before trying to install the

upgrade. Checks your hardware and apps for compatibility.

– Still have choice of “Upgrade” installation or a “Clean” installation

• Persuade (or pay) someone to do Windows 8 Upgrade on your PC

Upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 Upgrade Paths

• The only in-place upgrade option will be from a Windows 7 OS to a

Windows 8 OS

– Windows 7 Home Basic / Premium to Windows 8

– Windows 7 Home Premium / Professional / Ultimate to Windows 8

Professional

– Recommended to use the “online upgrade”

• The “Upgrade” versions will still permit a “custom install”.

– You will need to generate an actual ISO image and burn it to a DVD.

– Any Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 system will qualify for

the $40 upgrade price.

– XP or Vista upgrades require a custom (clean) install.

– You can also install in a Virtual Box or VMWare virtual machine.

– You can also install Windows 8 in a separate partition as a “dual boot”.

– Note – the Windows 8 upgrade EULA states that, after Windows 8 is

installed, the prior version of Windows should no longer be operable. In

practice, this is not enforced, so dual boot and VM installs do work.

Upgrading to Windows 8

What’s New and Different

• Videos: http://windows.com

• Windows 8 Start Screen with Tiles

– Each Tile can show “live” data while running.

• Built-in “Windows 8” (aka “Metro”) Apps

• “Windows 8” Apps run full-screen, like on a smart phone.

• New “Windows 8” Internet Explorer 10

• Microsoft has a Windows 8 App Store

• Also a Desktop version of Internet Explorer 10

• Enhanced Search – just start typing

• No Start menu in the Desktop space

– Third party apps may recreate this

– Can also create shortcuts on the Desktop

• Need to learn new ways of doing things

Upgrading to Windows 8

Re-Learning Windows – AGAIN!

• Where IS it?

– New “Windows 8” GUI has very different look and feel.

– Some things easier to find, but many not.

– Experience is like dealing with a split personality.

• Start Page vs Desktop

– Start Page used for launching “Modern” (aka “Metro”) Apps

– Desktop used for launching “Windows XP / Vista/ 7” programs

– Windows automatically chooses where to run the App or program.

• How do I DO that?

– Many new features require new learning.

– In Metro, screen controls fade away – or you have to know where

touch or mouse “magic hot spots” are.

• Bonanza for book and training vendors

• Our Club has several seminars on Windows 8, plus coverage

in Boot Camp

Upgrading to Windows 8

Important Keyboard Shortcuts

• Windows key by itself - Opens the Start Page

• Winkey + Tab - Cycles between apps

• Ctrl + “-” - Zooms out on Start Page

• Ctrl + “=“ - Zooms back in on Start Page

• PgDn – Pans Start Page tiles to left

• PdUp – Pans Start Page tiles to right

• Winkey + C – Displays the Charms & shows date/time

• Winkey + I – Opens the Settings Charm, including Power

• Winkey + K – Opens the Devices Charm

• Winkey + X – Opens the Desktop Quick Menu

• Winkey + E – Opens the File Explorer

• Winkey + Z – Displays the App Commands Bar

• http://blogs.msdn.com/b/santhoshonline/archive/2012/08/05/windows8-

desktop-keyboard-shortcuts.aspx

Upgrading to Windows 8

Important Mouse Actions

• Hover in upper right or lower right corner – displays the Charms

• Click in the extreme lower right corner on Start Page to zoom in/out

• Press Ctrl key and use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in/out

• Hover in upper left to display a tile of the most recently accessed app

• Hover in mid-left to display a set of tiles of running apps

• Can use the horizontal scroll bar at the bottom of the Start Page to pan

tiles left or right

• Click any app tile on the Start Page to launch that app

• Click the Desktop tile to launch the Windows 8 Desktop

• On the Desktop, can right click in the extreme lower left corner to

display the Quick Menu of useful system functions

• Double click to start any Desktop programs (mainly earlier Windows

applications).

• Right-click on the desktop to bring up the “Personalize” control panel

or to adjust the screen resolution.

BIO

BREAK

Upgrading to Windows 8

Upgrading to Windows 8

Key “Windows 8” Apps

• Mail App

– Supports IMAP4, Hotmail, Outlook.com, Gmail, …

– But … Doesn’t support POP3 (major downer)

– May have to use a “classic” desktop e- mail program; Windows

Live Mail 2011 will install and run (demonstrate)

• Calendar App

– Insists you to sign in to your “Microsoft Account”

• Photo Viewer App

– Insists you to sign in to your “Microsoft Account”

– Accesses web photo accounts (Facebook, …)

– No editing features – does slide shows

• Music App

– Music Player

– Interface to the Xbox music store

Upgrading to Windows 8

Key Desktop Programs

• No Start menu

– But – can right-click in lower left corner (or press Winkey+X) to

pop up a list of management functions.

• File Explorer (“Computer”)

– Has the Ribbon interface

– Otherwise not much different than Windows 7

• Control Panel

– Similar to Windows 7

• Most Windows Accessories still present on the “All Apps”

screen (Winkey + Z)

– Notepad & WordPad

– Calculator

• Can create Desktop shortcuts for frequently used programs:

– Locate the EXE

– Right click, then hover over Send to and then click Desktop

Upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 Compatibility Issues

• Download and run the Win 8 Upgrade Assistant http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-advisor#1TC=t1

• Hardware

– BIOS (might be out of date on old PCs)

– Most Win 7 drivers will run on Win 8, but watch 32-bit vs 64-bit

– May be no Win 7 hardware drivers from MS or vendors for older devices

• Video and Sound cards

• SCSI Disk Controllers and Wireless LAN cards

• Printers and Scanners

• System Utility / Tool Software

– Anti-virus and backup programs may need upgrades

– CD Burners – some may need firmware updates

– FAX, Scan and Print Tools

• Application Software – Especially OLD Programs

– Games

– Graphics applications

– Video processing

– Music Processing

Upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 Issues Found

• Requires Acronis True Image 2013

• iTunes & Quicken

– Upgrade Advisor recommends to uninstall before upgrade and then reinstall afterward.

• Windows 8 only supports IE10

– May still be some issues with non-standards compliant web sites.

– Consider Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome or Apple Safari

• Built-in e-mail, photo viewer, calendar, People apps are pretty lame.

– Still can download Windows Live Essentials 2011 suite: • Windows Live Mail

• Windows Live Movie Maker

• Windows Live Photo Gallery

– Or Get Free Open Source Programs: • Mozilla Thunderbird

• GMail

• GIMP

• Paint.Net

• Picasa

Upgrading to Windows 8

Moving Data, Settings and Programs

• This is automatic if you do an in-place upgrade from Win 7

• For “Clean Installs” or a new Windows 8 PC, use Windows 8’s built in Easy Transfer Tool to migrate settings http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-easy-transfer.aspx

– Can transfer files from XP, Vista or Windows 7 to a Windows 8 PC

– Transfer via an easy transfer cable, an Ethernet LAN or an external drive

– Transfers data files & folders, e-mail contacts & messages, program settings, user accounts and settings, Internet settings, pictures, video and music.

– You still need to reinstall all your applications.

• Consider Laplink PC-Mover Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/pcmoverupgradeassistant.html

– Claims to be a more complete solution.

– Moves programs as well as settings and data.

– Review indicates process is complex

– Street price is $15 to $30, worth shopping around.

Upgrading to Windows 8

Configuring and Customizing Win 8

• Winkey+I brings up the Settings panel to access many settings tools.

– Includes Control Panel, Network and “Change PC Settings”.

• Winkey+X brings up the Desktop Quick Menu, which links to many system management functions.

• Right click on the Desktop background and choose “Personalize” or “Screen Resolution”.

• Windows 8 “God Mode” Folder

– Comprehensive categorized panel of links to change Win 8 settings

– On Desktop, right click and choose New > Folder

– Name it “Win 8 God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”

– Demo …

Upgrading to Windows 8

Microsoft App Store

• An “App” is a computer program written to conform to the “Metro / Modern / Windows8” look and feel, using a specific set of programming interfaces.

– Most Apps written in “interpreted languages” – HTML5 + JavaScript

• A “Desktop Program” is a computer program written to conform to the classic Windows look and feel, using a programming interface called “Win 32”.

– Programs mainly written in C, C++, Visual Basic, Visual C#, Java or Delphi

• To go to the App store, on the Start Page, click the tile for Store

– This takes you to the store on the MS website

– Store shows broad categories like Games, Lifestyle, Tools, Security

– Pan across the display and click on a category to see specific apps

– You can filter for Free, Paid or both

– You can sort by various categories

• Demo … Go to the store, locate and install an App

– “Speed Test Pro” does a speed benchmark of your PC.

Upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 – Web Links

• Microsoft’s Windows Site: http://windows.com

• Purchase Windows 8 Upgrade: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/buy

• Windows 8 $14.99 Upgrade Offer: https://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US

• Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-advisor#1TC=t1

• Windows Easy Transfer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2735227

• ZD-Net: http://www.zdnet.com http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-special-report?tag=header;header-sec

• Paul Thurott’s Windows Supersite: http://www.winsupersite.com/

Upgrading to Windows 8

Questions

And

Answers