Windows 8.1 and Trainz

[JCitron]

Hi guys,

I installed Windows 8.1 Professional today. Everything is quite a bit improved including a start menu in desktop mode, however, the start menu goes back to the stupid big button interface. The good news here is you can actually resize things on the main part of the start menu so the buttons aren't as horsy.

Trainz TS12 SP1 HF3 runs fine, actually quite smoothly, using the "standard" modern OS running procedures. No, in case you're wondering, I did not do a fresh install of Trainz. Instead I did the usual reconnect a short-cut to my longtime installation. The only application that got snotty is AssetX. I had to use Compatibility mode to run as Administrator and as Windows 8 for proper operation otherwise there are issues and the app does not save settings and forgets stuff. Once I got that figured out, it seems to be okay.

I'll keep testing the apps and Win 8.1 and I'll let you know how things go. So far so good.

John

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

Thanks for performing and reporting these tests John.

Is Windows 8.1 an automatic update for those that already have Windows 8.0 or do we need to seek it out and download it?

 

[JCitron]

Hi Dean,

I don't think it is an automatic update. For me it was a free download due to my now expiring TechNet subscription. I got it while it's still available and wanted to try it. It's essentially Windows 8 with the things added it should have had in the first place.

Performance-wise things seem to run better. Trainz performance wasn't half bad even with its large amount of disk access. The operating system caches stuff better which helps. I watched the processes with Process Explorer to see what was going on and the graphs dropped off to nothing for Trainz once things settled down.

Now to solve the dumb AI issues with signals and junctions... That's another issue I have to work out on my own, hopefully.

John

 

[ianwoodmore]

This was an OEM and Technet sub release.
Tweaking still occurring before General release on Oct 18.

 

[Paulsw2]

Will the General Release on 18 Oct be an auto update? As I have Win 8 on my new laptop and I'm very anxious to upgrade!

Paul

 

[JCitron]

Hi Paul,

I am not sure. It maybe for you if you just purchased your laptop. Microsoft has done this before with vouchers for new versions when hardware is purchased just prior to a new release.

I can say that the security is stricter for add-ons and what not with IE 11. This is okay with me as it prevents incompatible add-ons from loading such as older Java which I need to manage my old 3Com 3300 network switch. I ended up loading that into Chrome instead and only use Chrome when needed.

Everything else I've used in the recent past, has loaded just like it did in Vista and Windows 7 and earlier Windows 8.

John