Win 8.1 hassles

J

johnwhelan

Well-known member
The latest laptop came with Win 8, its been upgraded to win 8.1 and I find that many terms used for many years have changed and trying to work out what they have changed to is problematical.

At the moment I'm looking for some sort of backup. In win 7 the Microsoft backup program worked well. In win 8 its called something else. I want to back up the laptop so that if the hard drive fails I can reinstall the operating system etc. Win 7 created a restore disk on a DVD and the rest of the system files were on the external backup drive. I can't see how to do this on win 8.

I also noted that it wants to recommend things like which drive it uses for backup to the rest of the homegroup. Could someone translate what its trying to say? Normally with home versions of the operating system you can't back up to a drive across the network but win 8 seems to imply you can. Has this changed?

Thanks John
 
norfolksouthern37 said:
Use the search feature. It looks like a magnifying glass.
Click to expand...

Back up does not appear to be in the search feature it has something called file history that wants to back up every five minutes, not very practical on a laptop with an external hard drive.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks John
 
Hi John,

The Windows 7 backup is now called File History.

Why, oh why, did they ever change this? In Windows 8 there was the old Windows 7 Backup (NT Backup) which worked perfectly.

I know what you mean about frustration!

John
 
As a windows user for a very long time, I can officially say I think Windows 8 and 8.1 rather suck. They're too complicated to use for not so experienced user. Even for the experienced Windows user, it can take hours to find one thing you're looking for. Use the search feature to find everything that you're looking for. Also the control panel is not a bad place to start looking. Most of the things like back-up and those kind of utilities can be found in the control panel like they always have with any other windows! Good to know that hasn't changed at least!
 
Microsoft seem good at alternating good with bad. Just think; 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8. So on this history Windows 9 should be good.
 
teddytoot said:
Microsoft seem good at alternating good with bad. Just think; 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7, 8. So on this history Windows 9 should be good.
Click to expand...
WIn98 was good, never tried ME, I used XP for a long time, best OS I've ever seen. I hated the torture chamber known as Windows Vista. Windows 7 fixed Vista to not be a torture chamber. Win7 is a very good OS. Windows 8 and 8.1 are good OS's. They just weren't meant for Desktop PC's and Laptops.
 
JCitron said:
Hi John,

The Windows 7 backup is now called File History.

Why, oh why, did they ever change this? In Windows 8 there was the old Windows 7 Backup (NT Backup) which worked perfectly.

I know what you mean about frustration!

John
Click to expand...
But how do you tell it to back up now?

and as far as I can see the old method of a bootable DVD and connecting to the backup external drive doesn't exist but you can sacrifice a couple of USB drives to it.

Mutter mutter.

Disgruntled John
 
johnwhelan said:
The latest laptop came with Win 8, its been upgraded to win 8.1 and I find that many terms used for many years have changed and trying to work out what they have changed to is problematical.

At the moment I'm looking for some sort of backup. In win 7 the Microsoft backup program worked well. In win 8 its called something else. I want to back up the laptop so that if the hard drive fails I can reinstall the operating system etc. Win 7 created a restore disk on a DVD and the rest of the system files were on the external backup drive. I can't see how to do this on win 8.

I also noted that it wants to recommend things like which drive it uses for backup to the rest of the homegroup. Could someone translate what its trying to say? Normally with home versions of the operating system you can't back up to a drive across the network but win 8 seems to imply you can. Has this changed?

Thanks John
Click to expand...

Find out if you can roll it back to Windows 7. Since W8 is regarded as an "upgrade" :'( to W7 I think you can normally do this. I foolishly bought W8 in November 2012 and, after a week of being virtually unable to use my PC, I deleted it and phoned Microsoft UK to request a refund which they did without a murmur. They sent me a Notice of Electronic Destruction and the evil thing went back to Hell from whence it came.
 
lewisner said:
Find out if you can roll it back to Windows 7. Since W8 is regarded as an "upgrade" :'( to W7 I think you can normally do this. I foolishly bought W8 in November 2012 and, after a week of being virtually unable to use my PC, I deleted it and phoned Microsoft UK to request a refund which they did without a murmur. They sent me a Notice of Electronic Destruction and the evil thing went back to Hell from whence it came.
Click to expand...

Win 8 pro comes with downgrade rights, win 8 doesn't.

Cheerio John
 
I've just had a week having to use my Win8 laptop while my PC had power problems. Absolutely hated it! So pleased to be back with Win7 - a proper PC operating system!

John - I was looking to backup too and came across File History. Couldn't make head nor tail of it! Sorry I can't help.

Paul
 
I've dug further and I think I've found the conventional file back up.

I managed to find a replacement screen for the old XP laptop so that's now back in service under Win 7. The newer win 8.1 machine is currently resting.

Cheerio John
 
j_maybury said:
John, See if this helps you out.
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/the-complete-guide-to-windows-8-file-history-backup/
Click to expand...

I think the problem is more that after programming and using computers for nearly fifty years now I have a very clear idea of what I want to do.
Unfortunately win 8 does two things, the first is it uses new terminology for example sign out rather than log out, file history rather than backup.
File history doesn't do what I'm after, which is the ability to take out a defective hard drive put in a new one and restore the computer's operating system and system settings and I'm finding win 8.1 very frustrating to use.
The search function works fine if you know what the new terms are. If you don't then you're dead.

Little things like click on the IE icon in apps OK I can get to the internet but where is the small X in the top right hand corner that closes the program when I've finished.
Sorry that should be app of course silly be but after calling them programs for fifty years why should I have to learn a whole set of new names? Starting at the desktop is better and
Firefox does have a little X in the corner etc etc.

I have it working configured and working now but the six year old laptop with win 7 installed is also working now and that's the one that is getting used at the moment no matter if the LED screen on the new one is better looking.

Cheerio John
 
If you use Category under Control Panel: System and Security, then File History
If you use older style Icons under Control Panel: File History

On the File History Window: Very Bottom Left of Window ... you should see System Image Backup. I think the rest should be self-explanatory ... and sounds like what you are looking for.
 
It OK John, you don't have to explain, I my self am getting on a bit now, only 56 years young, and a rapidly diminishing memory.
The problem is always going to be the next generation, like it or not, just like all the other generations before them, they want to change the world and put there stamp on every thing, so they do silly things like renaming things that have served us well for years, like calling a bottle of cleaning fluid Cif instead of Jiff and Marathon bars, Snickers, and Opel Fruits, Starbursts. another example is the Return key, is now the enter key, and so on it go's.
 
lewisner said:
This video is a year old but tells you all you need to know http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0fsyb-ttcw
Click to expand...


It just seems to say nothing is where you would expect it to be, to search you have to be in the correct place eg to find out how to uninstall, etc.

I need to run certain programs, I need to be able to back up the machine, I need to transfer files within the homegroup.

The video rambles on for 20 odd minutes and talks in terms of Win 8 not Win 8.1 which is not what I have and as I have stated previously in the thread I now have running in a way that I can use.

I have no interest in listening to pop music mp3s on the computer. I create my own higher quality ones and play them back on a portable CD player on the bus.
I have a traditional stereo system with high quality components and speakers which is far superior to any computer mp3 system.
If I want to watch a DVD I have a DVD player and a comfortable settee to sit and watch it on.

I understand Win 8.1.1 is due out shortly which addresses some of the issues that people who use a mouse and keyboard are having.

I also understand that Win 8 machines have the highest return rate of any computers so it's not just me.

My personal view is Win 8 is a disaster which is a pity because it has some technical bits I like under the bonnet.

I have the Win 8 machine configured and backed up. I also have my old XP laptop running once more after upgrading to Win 7 and replacing the screen. I haven't touched the Win 8 machine since I brought the old laptop back up with win 7.

Cheerio John
 
johnwhelan said:
It just seems to say nothing is where you would expect it to be, to search you have to be in the correct place eg to find out how to uninstall, etc.

I need to run certain programs, I need to be able to back up the machine, I need to transfer files within the homegroup.

The video rambles on for 20 odd minutes and talks in terms of Win 8 not Win 8.1 which is not what I have and as I have stated previously in the thread I now have running in a way that I can use.

I have no interest in listening to pop music mp3s on the computer. I create my own higher quality ones and play them back on a portable CD player on the bus.
I have a traditional stereo system with high quality components and speakers which is far superior to any computer mp3 system.
If I want to watch a DVD I have a DVD player and a comfortable settee to sit and watch it on.

I understand Win 8.1.1 is due out shortly which addresses some of the issues that people who use a mouse and keyboard are having.

I also understand that Win 8 machines have the highest return rate of any computers so it's not just me.

My personal view is Win 8 is a disaster which is a pity because it has some technical bits I like under the bonnet.

I have the Win 8 machine configured and backed up. I also have my old XP laptop running once more after upgrading to Win 7 and replacing the screen. I haven't touched the Win 8 machine since I brought the old laptop back up with win 7.

Cheerio John
Click to expand...
I will consider myself duly flamed. Sorry.:(
 
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