I have the Explorer & Programs shortcuts that Drew provided & that's all the customization on this setup (I completed this new one today, where CP was), other than security, that I have.



Finally, after an hour on hold with the folks at ESET, I was allowed one activation, & one more only if I purchase Windows 8, to have ESET Smart Security 5 on this install. Being that all is clean, I backed it up so that I won't have to go through a reset.

Cat

Nice n clean, Cat

Cheers,
Drew

That's the way I intend on keeping it, too. No more "Start Menu 7" & other ways to work around the native Windows 8 look. I did leave the other install on the 40GB HDD that's it's on, as I have a few potential customers who may want it (4 does, at the time). If I decide to try anything new, I'll do it there, where no damage will be done here.

What I wanted to do was move it to where I wanted it, in a tri-boot with Win 7 & XP MCE. Those OS's gain some of the benefits of 8 RP, like the new CHKDSK option (or way it's done). This is the way that CP was running (after a couple of days testing on that old HDD mentioned above.

Cat

The only problem I have encountered is it takes me longer to find my most commonly used apps because I have to drill down. Plus a couple of apps did not show up until I added them. For me personally, I like the Shortcut Toolbar I added better. It shows just my app executables, not the whole Programs folder. I do not have to drill down to anything. I like that better, it's quicker for me.

Since I did leave Classic Shell installed I simply use that for those less often used apps. Simple for me. I guess at heart I'm an old foggy as well and just like it that way!

I also had a couple of apps missing from the Program shortcut, neither of which I use daily. For those, I use the Explorer shortcut that Drew introduced us to earlier.

The install that's on the 40GB HDD is still in place, I may try the Classic Shell on that one. This one, unless I find something really useful to me, is going to stay as clean as possible.

Cat

Hey, Cat,

Thought I might share this w/ you. Somewhere, recently I put in a Win8 desktop that was a Bar & Shield w/ nothing else atop or beside. Well, here's a wee Snipit of the Gadgets that aren't kept showing & the Taskbar that was hiding.

NB: The Snipping Tool... that is in the Applications folder whilst something may be in Programs (too), so there's more that 1 access point or path handy, that's ok.
Can get @ Task Mgr, @ least 2 ways, cat skinners have lots of choices. Yeah, baby, power to the people

Cheers,
Drew

Hey, Cat,

Thought I'd share this w/ you. Recently I showed a Win8 Desktop w/ a Bar n Shield, nothing more atop or beside. Here's the Gadgets that don't show most of the time & the Taskbar that was hidden.

Wish I could explain why the core temps seem generally lower when the box is running Win8, as opposed to Win7.



cheers,
Drew

That's cool, Drew! I can tell that you do this for a living.

As far as the difference of temps/CPU usage goes in Win 8 RP vs Win 7, it's more than likely going to be more noticeable on those who has lower spec computers. Such as my desktop.

On my notebook, there wasn't much difference, in either. CPU usage doesn't jump to the ceiling, either. This is why I state that those with low resource computers has a lot to gain with Windows 8. The power management is exceptional. One of my close relatives just last year, after I bought mine, bought an HP (against my advice) notebook, I know that it has a Pentium dual core CPU (Intel's cheapest line). She bought it because it was "on sale on QVC".

Anyway, she called me because she thought it was running "wide open" all the time. And yes, it was. Windows 7 HP x64, 2GB RAM, on that CPU (I believe it's the B940). After cleaning the junk off it it, & disabling some unneeded startup items, resource usage was lowered a bit, but not impressively. More RAM was desperately needed, as I never seen it run at less than 60%, that was at idle. Seemed to run warm for a new computer also. After all, we're talking a 64 bit OS with 2GB RAM, MS's bare minimum suggestion.

So I asked her if she would be willing to try something new, that would make the computer not work as hard. She agreed, & after backing up her notebook, I installed Win 8 RP, along with her favorite programs. Being that she doesn't make online transactions, I left WD in place for her & showed her how to run it, & installed MBAM Free. She was running MSE 4 & MBAM Free on Win 7, so this eliminates her security as being the culprit.

The difference in performance was even more so on her notebook than my desktop! It idles at an average of 15% CPU, 30% RAM. The computer was also more responsive, & under hard, heavy use, wasn't as warm as before. She wasn't crazy about the Tiles, so I installed the Explorer shortcut on the Taskbar, & earlier today (yesterday now), I installed the Programs Toolbar.

Anyway, she's happy for now, & it also proved to me that it is consistent with what I've been stating. That the users of these type of computers stands the most to gain with Windows 8. And that the power management of Windows 8 is the best ever.

Unfortunately, she won't be buying the OS, as she stated that she refuses to pay for an upgrade, & has called HP several times demanding a free copy of Windows 8, stating that it was unusable with Windows 7, or a full refund of the purchase price. She won't be getting either, as first, she didn't buy from HP, secondly Win 8 wasn't available when she bought it. It still isn't. But she's hot as hell over the issue, stating that both HP & MS has screwed her.

But keep in mind that this is my mom-in-law, she's 74, & didn't own a computer until 2004. She's not as reasonable minded as she was in prior years. Ever since I installed RP for her a couple of weeks ago, it's HP this & MS that. Only heard "QVC" come from her lips once, when she thought she landed a great deal.

I may offer her a reasonable price for it & give it to my wife for Christmas. Could use a RAM upgrade, other than that, I feel that it will make a decent Windows 8 notebook. It's been taken care of & not abused, & a little over a year old, with less than 30 days of HDD use, I believe that my wife will like it.

Not to mention that it'll quieten her mom down.

Cat

This was so nice, you posted it twice, Cat?

Well, don't get me wrong... I think I notice a difference but, nothing big. And my machine can't be considered 'low end'.

That's quite the story, Cat.

I swear, if you didn't have long-range plans, you'd have none, lol.

Yeah, somebody somewhere recently was saying the Network meter worked in CP & not RP... well, obviously it works in RP.

Cheers,
Drew

Didn't notice that last night Drew, the double post. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, I'll fix that. Seems like this new version of Firefox is causing this, as I had to remove a couple of these.

I'm sure that in your line of work, even your portable computers has to be good ones, spec wise. That's why the CPU usage isn't as noticeable to you. It's that way on my notebook. That's why I feel that those with lower spec computers will benefit from a move forward to Windows 8.

Anyway, that new toolbar is a good one, & I recommend it to all.

Cat