Win 8.1: few questions

JayPee · October 21, 2013

I would like to give W8.1 a try before EDGE comes out as I've read reports of better overall performance compared to W7. However the reason I've skipped 8 is the tabletization of Windows. Hence I have two pressing concerns:

Is there a way to get a full 8.1 update installer?

Is there a way to completely disable and remove the Apps sandbox and every single app in it?

I'm using one and one only (admin) account and I can't even get in the store because of built-in restriction.

I've Googled these issues but haven't been able to find a working solution. Probably a little early given the release of 8.1

xxJohnxx · October 21, 2013

I bought myselfe a new laptop for work. It has windows 8 on it, and now I updated it to 8.1. I haven't found any way to disable that app sandbox at all. You still ocasionally will get there. The startbuton itselfe will also bring you there. Only if you right click it, you get some tiny menu with some options.

By the way. I couldn't upgrade to 8.1 without creating an Windows Live account (or however it is called). I couldn't find a way arround it. I removed it after installing.

Personally I hate Windows 8 and 8.1. If you can stick to Windows 7, I don't think it is worth upgrading.

coolts · October 21, 2013

I would like to give W8.1 a try before EDGE comes out as I've read reports of better overall performance compared to W7. However the reason I've skipped 8 is the tabletization of Windows. Hence I have two pressing concerns:

Is there a way to get a full 8.1 update installer?

Is there a way to completely disable and remove the Apps sandbox and every single app in it?

I'm using one and one only (admin) account and I can't even get in the store because of built-in restriction.

I've Googled these issues but haven't been able to find a working solution. Probably a little early given the release of 8.1

You can boot straight to desktop with 8.1 but Metro screen cant be disabled. Think of it as your "what's going on in the world" page. Mine has all social media / news pages with live tiles. pretty useful. I look at it once In a while. Like RSS feeds on steroids.

You can only get a standalone installer update if you have win 8 enterprise. For everyone else its the MS store. (you need to be fully updated with 8 then the 8.1 update appears In the store).

JayPee · October 21, 2013

I do have the W8 enterprise installation source...

Where do I get the standalone update installer? I don't have an MSDN/TechNet account.

cichlidfan · October 21, 2013

I don't have an MSDN/TechNet account.

I really miss mine, perk of a previous job. :(

Lange_666 · October 21, 2013

You can boot straight to desktop with 8.1 but Metro screen cant be disabled. Think of it as your "what's going on in the world" page. Mine has all social media / news pages with live tiles. pretty useful. I look at it once In a while.

You can use 3th party software to create an "old" Windows like startbutton with "old style" startmenu.

I'm using ClassicShell (there's lot's of others) which gives you a full range of option to create the start button + menu you like.

And... you can set it to boot straight into the desktop and you can use it to disable the active corners so you can't get into Metro without enable-ing it first.

You can also remove almost (if not all) tiles and apps on the Metroscreen but just like coolts, i'm taking a peek now and then there. Live tiles are nice.

You can bypass the Microsoft account to install Windows 8 but as far as i could see, it was not possible to do that on Windows 8.1 upgrade, however, you can delete it or set it to non-active. But without MS account, no shopping in the store...

For my new computer i build last weekend i had the option to go either with Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 8 Pro. Went for Win 8 Pro...

coolts · October 22, 2013

You can use 3th party software to create an "old" Windows like startbutton with "old style" startmenu.
I'm using ClassicShell (there's lot's of others) which gives you a full range of option to create the start button + menu you like.
And... you can set it to boot straight into the desktop and you can use it to disable the active corners so you can't get into Metro without enable-ing it first.
You can also remove almost (if not all) tiles and apps on the Metroscreen but just like coolts, i'm taking a peek now and then there. Live tiles are nice.

You can bypass the Microsoft account to install Windows 8 but as far as i could see, it was not possible to do that on Windows 8.1 upgrade, however, you can delete it or set it to non-active. But without MS account, no shopping in the store...

For my new computer i build last weekend i had the option to go either with Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 8 Pro. Went for Win 8 Pro...

That all sounds like a lot of work to make windows 8 look like windows 7. Like a steampunk PC case in brass and polished wood.

The only bits of the old start button anyone ever used are still there (winkey+x). Did anyone ever use the crappy expanding mega lists of apps that always folded up just when you were about to click on something?

SkateZilla · October 22, 2013

Windows 8.1 supposedly offers better use of AMD Chips (APU and CPU w/ AMD GPU)

Lange_666 · October 22, 2013

That all sounds like a lot of work to make windows 8 look like windows 7. Like a steampunk PC case in brass and polished wood.

No it isn't, install, setup and done.

The only bits of the old start button anyone ever used are still there (winkey+x). Did anyone ever use the crappy expanding mega lists of apps that always folded up just when you were about to click on something?

I do, i like an empty desktop with only some icons on it. Most used stuff is pinned to the taskbar, the rest i get out of the MEGA menu...LOL. The Win + key on Windows 8 only gives you some shortcut to parts of the control panel and 2 or 3 other things.

Ratfink · October 22, 2013

You can bypass the Microsoft account to install Windows 8 but as far as i could see, it was not possible to do that on Windows 8.1 upgrade, however, you can delete it or set it to non-active. But without MS account, no shopping in the store...

I upgraded to 8.1 without having to create an MS account. At the "login with MS account" or create one stage, I hit something like "I don't have an account" and hit next. It gave me an option something like "use existing account" and carried on. It must have meant existing user account on the machine, and it works just like normal. I did it the other day, so can't exactly remember the words used, but I don't have, nor intend to have, an MS account.

Still needs Classic Shell....

Lange_666 · October 23, 2013

Yeah i got back on track without an MS account thanks to the help from someone in here. Problem is that if you go the wrong way at the beginning you always end up with an MS account and to get rid of it there's lot's of reading about it on the net but the actual solution is burried way down in those zillion posts somewhere. Hard to dig up.

JayPee · October 23, 2013

Coolts, where do I get the standalone update installeer you mentioned in your first reply?

coolts · October 23, 2013

Coolts, where do I get the standalone update installeer you mentioned in your first reply?

I'm not sure mate. I've been talking to my MS account rep at work as we have a few machines we need to update to 8.1, (bought with OEM win8 on). And we have had to do the "dance" to update our test PC's.

We use WSUS to update machines internally and I'm waiting for 8.1 to appear on that but I'm getting confused messages from MS.

They apparently are treating 8.1 as a new OS and not an update or a SP.

this would mean no update.exe, only a full .ISO to volume license customers and any machines bought with 8 preinstalled have to do the dance through the store.:cry:

I will update when I get confirmation.

Winfield_Gold · October 23, 2013

Anyone who purchased a legit copy of windows 8 receives the free update to Windows 8.1 from the Windows store. Updating from windows 8 to windows 8.1 is optional at this stage but updating from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 requires the consumer to purchase a copy of Windows 8 at full price (pro is currently $200 in Australia) About the only thing I see different is a start button as well as a fancy new background image, the store icons are the same but different colours now, same as my program icons in the start menu. The biggest change though is to the apps themselves. Weather now shows 3 different sat views of Australia etc etc. This is only an example of the store apps, I haven't bothered to look at the other apps

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Win 8.1: few questions

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