PS Windows 8.1

On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:13:00 -0500, Keith Nuttle
wrote:

On 1/20/2014 1:47 PM, Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 08:57:20 -0500, "Silver Slimer"
wrote:

On Sun, 19 Jan 2014 20:48:13 -0500, migrante wrote:

Win 8 would be perfect if it had option to get old start menu and option
to boot system directly to desktop.

Windows 8 didn't have it but Windows 8.1 does.



It does *not* That "old start menu" is not there in 8.1. A third-party
program is required to get it.

Depending on what you consider on the Old Start Menu. The primary
items on the old start menu were the ability to shut down the computer,
the access to the control menu, and the drive, printers, and network
information.

These are all available by right clicking on the MS Icon in the lower
left corner of the Desktop in Windows 8.1.



Being available and being on the "old start menu" are two very
different things.

Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows, email,
a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine, I
was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something better
gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able to
make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was forced
to make.
Months ago, I commented (possibly here and elsewhere) that Win 8x and
later is all about adaptive behavior which has been a requirement for
just about anything electronic....though setting the clock on a VCR
still seems to have escaped most owners on the planet for as long as I
can remember.

--
....winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On 1/22/2014 2:09 AM, "...winston‫" wrote:
Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows, email,
a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine, I
was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something better
gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able to
make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was forced
to make.

Months ago, I commented (possibly here and elsewhere) that Win 8x and
later is all about adaptive behavior which has been a requirement for
just about anything electronic....though setting the clock on a VCR
still seems to have escaped most owners on the planet for as long as I
can remember.


Will Windows 9 will have a computer version and a mobile device version?

IOW, getting back to it's roots with the computer version start menu and
all...while have an app version for mobile devices.

Ron wrote:
On 1/22/2014 2:09 AM, "...winston‫" wrote:
Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows, email,
a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine, I
was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something better
gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able to
make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was forced
to make.

Months ago, I commented (possibly here and elsewhere) that Win 8x and
later is all about adaptive behavior which has been a requirement for
just about anything electronic....though setting the clock on a VCR
still seems to have escaped most owners on the planet for as long as I
can remember.


Will Windows 9 will have a computer version and a mobile device version?

IOW, getting back to it's roots with the computer version start menu and
all...while have an app version for mobile devices.



The Modern UI (and its apps) and Desktop mode are here to stay....and
will continue to be relatively common in features/apps as a function of
Windows 8x/9x/....Phone.Lot's of rumors, but everything is unknown.

For the rumor follower keep your eyes on these two authors articles

http://www.zdnet.com/leaked-windows-...rs-7000025451/

http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/wi...re-integration


Though, imo, if expecting a return to the Win7 style type of Start
Menu...don't hold your breath.....think of something more akin to a fold
out menu with that duplicates the existing Win8.1 All Apps grouping.




--
....winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On 20/01/2014 6:03 AM, Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows, email,
a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine, I
was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something better
gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able to
make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was forced
to make.

Did you ever document the modifications you made to win 8 and have /
would you publish them foe others to follow.

I ask because my son has just replaced his wife's old laptop (major
failure and will only run in safe mode)(Got all the Data off ok) and his
own laptop as well.
He has upgraded to win 8.1 and is busy trying to modify 8.1 to make it
operate more like win 7 or with a conventional desktop.

I have helped him where I can but I only run Win 7 pro and plan to wait
until Microsoft brings out win 9 -- so I am of little help to him.

A step by step howto would be really good not only to my son but to many
others as well


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maurice Helwig
~~~~~~~~~~~~

On 2/9/2014 1:59 AM, Maurice Helwig wrote:
On 20/01/2014 6:03 AM, Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows, email,
a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine, I
was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something better
gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able to
make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was forced
to make.

Did you ever document the modifications you made to win 8 and have /
would you publish them foe others to follow.

I ask because my son has just replaced his wife's old laptop (major
failure and will only run in safe mode)(Got all the Data off ok) and his
own laptop as well.
He has upgraded to win 8.1 and is busy trying to modify 8.1 to make it
operate more like win 7 or with a conventional desktop.

I have helped him where I can but I only run Win 7 pro and plan to wait
until Microsoft brings out win 9 -- so I am of little help to him.

A step by step howto would be really good not only to my son but to many
others as well


The major change was found in the Desktop toolbar. Right click on the
desktop taskbar at the bottom of the desktop screen, and select
properties. In Navigation Tab click "When I sign in or close all apps
on screen got to the desk top instead of Start"

In the Jump List Tab click both options. If nothing else "Store and
display recently opened items in the Jump list"

One of the best things was discovering the right click on the MS Icon in
the lower left of the Desktop. Right clicking this icon gives you
access to all of the computer's functions, including the ability to shut
the computer down, like the old Start button. As I said it gives you
access to all of the computer options like Printers, Network, devices,
and some I am not sure what they do. Using the right click menu on the
MS Icon, you never need to make circles on the screen to try to get the
menu you want to come up.

In Windows 8.1 you can pin (Put) items on the taskbar. Since W 8.1 all
incidences of a give program on the taskbar are shown as shadows on the
original, you can put all of your programs on the taskbar. To pin an
item to the Desktop taskbar, go to the W 8.1 Start or Apps menu and
right click on the desired items. At the bottom of the screen a menu
will come up with several options including Pin to taskbar. You can
also do this to the file explore, so you can access all of your folders
from the task bar. Right clicking on the FE icon gives you access to
your recently opened folders. You can pin any you like to that Jump list.

Once the program is on the taskbar you can right click it to get a list
of recently opened files. IMO much better that the old Documents in the
older versions of Windows.

When you need an infrequently used program, left clicking the MS Icon
(discussed above) brings up the Windows 8 floating icons start menu. I
have deleted many that I had no use for, and grouped those programs I
use in logical blocks. When there is a program you rarely use click
the down arrow at the lower left of the W 8 Start screen to get the Apps
menu. In the upper right of the Apps screen there is a search window
where you can search for the program you want by typing in part of its name.

It seems there were a couple of other items I click when exploring the
computer but the above made the difference between a game machine and a
working computer that I could have dozen of open items on the desktop.

On Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:59:04 +1000, Maurice Helwig
wrote:


Did you ever document the modifications you made to win 8 and have /
would you publish them foe others to follow.

I ask because my son has just replaced his wife's old laptop (major
failure and will only run in safe mode)(Got all the Data off ok) and his
own laptop as well.
He has upgraded to win 8.1 and is busy trying to modify 8.1 to make it
operate more like win 7 or with a conventional desktop.

I have helped him where I can but I only run Win 7 pro and plan to wait
until Microsoft brings out win 9 -- so I am of little help to him.

A step by step howto would be really good not only to my son but to many
others as well



Read he "How to Make Windows 8 or 8.1 Look and Feel Like Windows 7"
at http://www.howtogeek.com/elk/298/45121/4206

On 20/01/2014 6:03 AM, Keith Nuttle wrote:
Just a note. I have posted several articles in support of Windows 8.1
especially about how to make it a usable system.

I want you all to known that I have nothing to do with the Microsoft
organization, or any one who distributes systems with Windows 8.1.

I am an old fart who after upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP got
use to having a dozen or more window open at the same time and working
between them to get my job done. At any one time I use a couple of
spreadsheets, several text document, a couple of browser windows,
email, a PDF document, and several image files.

When Windows 8 came out with the floating Icons with all kinds of
advertisements on them and they proudly announced it could have two
total windows open at the same time. It turned me off completely and I
did every thing I could to keep my Windows XP system running. That
became impossible and logically I had to go with a Windows 8 Machine,
I was not happy with Windows 8, so with the promise of something
better gladly upgraded to 8.1.

By the normal curve I am not the only one in the same boat, and was
completely put off by Windows "Modern" Interface. I have had Windows
8.1 for some months now and slowly having gotten Windows 8.1 to be a
useable system. My contribution are made in hopes that I will be able
to make it easier for some one else who is facing the decision I was
forced to make.

I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Windows Live Mail 2009 v14
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 7 Home SP1

On 2014-02-09, BillW50 wrote:



I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.


Not if the problem is the microsoft usb 3 drivers. As the drivers
don't work & the manufacturers aren't doing win8.x drivers because
ms says that ms will implement ms's usb drivers that don't work as
part of win8.x.

Not able to get around the ms win8.x usb drivers as there is NO
replacement; my 2 terabyte usb 3 drive with over 1 terabyte of
files are inaccessible in win8 which means don't use win8.x no matter
what the user interface look like.

The usb 3 drivers are a very big deal to many people.

Hi, GN.

USB 3 works fine for me in Win8 and 8.1, using the Microsoft drivers. My
only USB devices are a couple of flash drives and a 3 TB Seagate GoFlex
external HDD. Took me a while to get the HDD to recognize the whole 3 TB,
but that was because of the 2.2+ TB limit of the MBR file system. Device
Manager says the driver is the (Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller =
0096 (Microsoft)". version 6.3.9600.16459, dated 11/8/2013.

My netbook, also with Win8.1 Pro with Media Center also recognizes the USB 3
flash drives, but I haven't tried the HDD on it yet.

What is the make and model of your 2 TB HDD? What are the specs of your USB
3 driver?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3508.0205) in Win8.1 Pro


"generic name" wrote in message ...

On 2014-02-09, BillW50 wrote:

I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.


Not if the problem is the microsoft usb 3 drivers. As the drivers
don't work & the manufacturers aren't doing win8.x drivers because
ms says that ms will implement ms's usb drivers that don't work as
part of win8.x.

Not able to get around the ms win8.x usb drivers as there is NO
replacement; my 2 terabyte usb 3 drive with over 1 terabyte of
files are inaccessible in win8 which means don't use win8.x no matter
what the user interface look like.

The usb 3 drivers are a very big deal to many people.

generic name wrote:
On 2014-02-09, BillW50 wrote:



I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.


Not if the problem is the microsoft usb 3 drivers. As the drivers
don't work & the manufacturers aren't doing win8.x drivers because
ms says that ms will implement ms's usb drivers that don't work as
part of win8.x.

Not able to get around the ms win8.x usb drivers as there is NO
replacement; my 2 terabyte usb 3 drive with over 1 terabyte of
files are inaccessible in win8 which means don't use win8.x no matter
what the user interface look like.

The usb 3 drivers are a very big deal to many people.

My usb 3.0 external device (MiniPro Oyen Digital 2TB USB 3.0) works
great on 8.1 Pro (and did on 8.0) when plugged into any of the 6
available usb 3.0 ports on my i7 Asus Z87 Sabertooth system. The
drivers are all provided and configured by Win8x.

--
....winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On 2014-02-10, ...winston??? wrote:
generic name wrote:
On 2014-02-09, BillW50 wrote:



I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.


Not if the problem is the microsoft usb 3 drivers. As the drivers
don't work & the manufacturers aren't doing win8.x drivers because
ms says that ms will implement ms's usb drivers that don't work as
part of win8.x.

Not able to get around the ms win8.x usb drivers as there is NO
replacement; my 2 terabyte usb 3 drive with over 1 terabyte of
files are inaccessible in win8 which means don't use win8.x no matter
what the user interface look like.

The usb 3 drivers are a very big deal to many people.

My usb 3.0 external device (MiniPro Oyen Digital 2TB USB 3.0) works
great on 8.1 Pro (and did on 8.0) when plugged into any of the 6
available usb 3.0 ports on my i7 Asus Z87 Sabertooth system. The
drivers are all provided and configured by Win8x.


I have an usb 3 2 TB Hitachi Touro Desk Pro. Have tried in both
win8 & win8.1 where the msft drivers claim that the drives must be
"initialized" before it can be used; this would wipeout nearly 1 TB of
music/video files. The Hitachi IS the BACKUP of my WD nas drive.

The mb is a msi z77a-gd65. Have read about other people's
problems with usb 3 on the msft "community forums"; did read a claim
by a purported msft driver programmer when googling, that any driver
problems were the hardware makers fault.

When win8 won't access the Hitachi, I went back to win7; decided to
try win8.1 when it came out but the same problem persist. Have
happily gone back to win7 where everything works. And there was NO
guarantee that if the Hitachi was initialized by win8, that it would
still work in win8.

On 2014-02-10, R. C. White wrote:
Hi, GN.

USB 3 works fine for me in Win8 and 8.1, using the Microsoft drivers. My
only USB devices are a couple of flash drives and a 3 TB Seagate GoFlex
external HDD. Took me a while to get the HDD to recognize the whole 3 TB,
but that was because of the 2.2+ TB limit of the MBR file system. Device
Manager says the driver is the (Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller =
0096 (Microsoft)". version 6.3.9600.16459, dated 11/8/2013.

My netbook, also with Win8.1 Pro with Media Center also recognizes the USB 3
flash drives, but I haven't tried the HDD on it yet.

What is the make and model of your 2 TB HDD? What are the specs of your USB
3 driver?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3508.0205) in Win8.1 Pro


Thanks for the info on the driver's date!

I need to find when I re-installed win7 after formatting. So far I
think that it was 10-28-2013 as that is the date for the "users"
directory; also that is the same date for installing my scanner
stuff.

Too bad the system info doesn't tell date the system was installed.
Your 11/8/2013 drivers look to be an update from what I had; perhaps
a msft fix. Have printed posting for future reference when 9.x
is available as it took now takes longer to do the win7 updates than
the installing of win7 w/sp1!

On 2/10/2014 4:55 PM, generic name wrote:
On 2014-02-10, R. C. White wrote:
Hi, GN.

USB 3 works fine for me in Win8 and 8.1, using the Microsoft drivers. My
only USB devices are a couple of flash drives and a 3 TB Seagate GoFlex
external HDD. Took me a while to get the HDD to recognize the whole 3 TB,
but that was because of the 2.2+ TB limit of the MBR file system. Device
Manager says the driver is the (Renesas USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller =
0096 (Microsoft)". version 6.3.9600.16459, dated 11/8/2013.

My netbook, also with Win8.1 Pro with Media Center also recognizes the USB 3
flash drives, but I haven't tried the HDD on it yet.

What is the make and model of your 2 TB HDD? What are the specs of your USB
3 driver?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3508.0205) in Win8.1 Pro


Thanks for the info on the driver's date!

I need to find when I re-installed win7 after formatting. So far I
think that it was 10-28-2013 as that is the date for the "users"
directory; also that is the same date for installing my scanner
stuff.

Too bad the system info doesn't tell date the system was installed.
Your 11/8/2013 drivers look to be an update from what I had; perhaps
a msft fix. Have printed posting for future reference when 9.x
is available as it took now takes longer to do the win7 updates than
the installing of win7 w/sp1!


You can approximate that date by looking at the creation dates in the
primary folders on the hard drive C:

On my computer the system volume folder is dated 05/23/2013

The basic files for the graphics etc were placed on the hard drive on
June 27, 2013.

The Windows OS and associated folders are dated 08/22/2013, There are 8
folders Windows, users, Program data, Program files etc.

So the disk or computer was probably manufactured about the 23rd of May,
The factory install of the OS was on 27th of June. I bought the
computer on the 8th of September, and placed the my first folders on the
disk is the 8th of September.

generic name wrote:
On 2014-02-10, ...winston??? wrote:
generic name wrote:
On 2014-02-09, BillW50 wrote:



I don't get this put off attitude about Windows 8. I am also an old fart
and I have been using Windows since 3.1. I also use many other OS and
devices, so maybe that is why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to me.

Windows 8 has the old desktop, the same one since Windows 95. And it has
a second desktop we call Metro. Since it has the old desktop, why
complain about anything? It is still there like it always has been. No
need to cry.

What is new is the Metro side. If you don't like it, no big deal, don't
use it. There really isn't anything to get excited about on the Metro
side anyway. I often work weeks with Windows 8 and I don't even see or
use the Metro side.

Some people don't like IE either. So what? Don't run it then. What's the
big deal? It is the same sort of thing.


Not if the problem is the microsoft usb 3 drivers. As the drivers
don't work & the manufacturers aren't doing win8.x drivers because
ms says that ms will implement ms's usb drivers that don't work as
part of win8.x.

Not able to get around the ms win8.x usb drivers as there is NO
replacement; my 2 terabyte usb 3 drive with over 1 terabyte of
files are inaccessible in win8 which means don't use win8.x no matter
what the user interface look like.

The usb 3 drivers are a very big deal to many people.

My usb 3.0 external device (MiniPro Oyen Digital 2TB USB 3.0) works
great on 8.1 Pro (and did on 8.0) when plugged into any of the 6
available usb 3.0 ports on my i7 Asus Z87 Sabertooth system. The
drivers are all provided and configured by Win8x.


I have an usb 3 2 TB Hitachi Touro Desk Pro. Have tried in both
win8 & win8.1 where the msft drivers claim that the drives must be
"initialized" before it can be used; this would wipeout nearly 1 TB of
music/video files. The Hitachi IS the BACKUP of my WD nas drive.

The mb is a msi z77a-gd65. Have read about other people's
problems with usb 3 on the msft "community forums"; did read a claim
by a purported msft driver programmer when googling, that any driver
problems were the hardware makers fault.

When win8 won't access the Hitachi, I went back to win7; decided to
try win8.1 when it came out but the same problem persist. Have
happily gone back to win7 where everything works. And there was NO
guarantee that if the Hitachi was initialized by win8, that it would
still work in win8.

Just plugged mine in. It told me the device was being prepared, once
complete it was good to go.



--
....winston
msft mvp consumer apps