Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Wayne · 2012-03-11, 09:08 PM

Has anyone figured out how to add any search providers other than Bing? When I click on the arrow beside the Magnifying glass in the URL/search bar in IE 10 at the bottom it shows that Bing is installed and there is a button for Add. When I click add it takes you to the online IE gallery. When I click Google from here nothing happens.

IMHO the Metro UI is a disaster on desktop PCs although it may work well on tablets and phones.

mellaby · 2012-03-12, 12:52 AM

Search for google on bing then install google. I had no problems getting google on Win 8. It even adds a icon on the new metro to launch. Give Win 8 a little time it's not that bad.

audacity · 2012-03-12, 11:02 AM

I think that the problem with Metro is that its so new that people aren't always sure what to do in a given situation (myself included).

There are a number of sites that have enumerated the keyboard shortcuts which I find helpful.

Wayne · 2012-03-12, 12:48 PM

That is part of the problem, but having one app take up all of my 23" screen is, IMHO, just plain dumb. It makes sense for tablets but at work I have dual 22" screens and in my office at home I have dual 23" screens. I carefully arrange the windows so that I can effectively use several apps at once. You simply cannot do this with the Metro UI until you get to the "desktop".

There also appears to be no way, at least not yet, to have Win Media Center come up in the foreground upon a reboot. MC will start but it will remain hidden behind the Metro UI - that is a problem for the way that HTPCs work.

ScaryBob · 2012-03-12, 01:19 PM

It is possible to make the desktop the default UI or disable Metro entirely. It involves a registry hack but is well documented on the internet. It's also possible to restore the functionality of the Start button, though not exactly.

Metro would be better if it could be linked to a touch pad for input. My prediction is that it will flop for traditional Windows only users but will be popular with people who primarily use a touch pad interface.

j0dest3r · 2012-03-12, 05:15 PM

I found this that should help.

Navigate over to your Windows directory. Do a search for "shows desktop," and copy the shortcut that you find into the following location: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. By doing so, you'll ensure that Windows 8 always boots to the "Classic Desktop" instead of its Metro UI.

MarcP · 2012-03-13, 01:03 PM

scrooloose · 2012-03-13, 01:16 PM

LOL, I felt the same way, frankly. What is Microsoft thinking?

-Mike

mellaby · 2012-03-13, 01:32 PM

I think Microsoft should have had a demo at first start up to show how windows 8 works.

j0dest3r · 2012-03-13, 03:03 PM

That sounds like an awesome idea!!

TorontoColin · 2012-03-13, 03:41 PM

They usually have those with the final launch version. I'm sure they'll have one then.

MarcP · 2012-03-13, 04:33 PM

Problem is, not everyone will have their very first Win8 experience on a brand new install where the canned demo is shown only on very first boot.

yohee · 2012-03-13, 06:04 PM

twice i may be crazy but i gave up

mellaby · 2012-03-13, 06:57 PM

Yohee, that's too bad about your install. Is your PC old (+ 5 years)? My laptop is 2 years old. It ran win 7. My Beta install was the easiest I've done so far. Only the audio driver from Toshiba was needed.

yohee · 2012-03-13, 11:00 PM

then i upgraded to windows 7

2012-03-12, 01:19 PM	#35
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	It is possible to make the desktop the default UI or disable Metro entirely. It involves a registry hack but is well documented on the internet. It's also possible to restore the functionality of the Start button, though not exactly. Metro would be better if it could be linked to a touch pad for input. My prediction is that it will flop for traditional Windows only users but will be popular with people who primarily use a touch pad interface. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2012-03-13, 01:16 PM	#38
scrooloose Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grimsby, Ont. Posts: 3,117	LOL, I felt the same way, frankly. What is Microsoft thinking? -Mike __________________ Pioneer PRO-110FD \| Pioneer VSX-92TXH \| BELL 9242 \| Panasonic DMP-BD35 \| XBOX 360 \|WD TV Live Hub

2012-03-13, 03:41 PM	#41
TorontoColin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Wind Mobile, Rogers Cable, Teksavvy Extreme Cable Posts: 3,229	They usually have those with the final launch version. I'm sure they'll have one then. __________________ Rules of the Forum \| DHC Help Desk DHC now supports Tapatalk for mobile devices!

2012-03-13, 06:04 PM	#43
yohee Join Date: May 2011 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 52	tried installing win 8 preview no go twice i may be crazy but i gave up

2012-03-13, 11:00 PM	#45
yohee Join Date: May 2011 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 52	i have an compaq presairo pc which had windows vista then i upgraded to windows 7

2012-03-11, 09:08 PM	#31
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	Has anyone figured out how to add any search providers other than Bing? When I click on the arrow beside the Magnifying glass in the URL/search bar in IE 10 at the bottom it shows that Bing is installed and there is a button for Add. When I click add it takes you to the online IE gallery. When I click Google from here nothing happens. IMHO the Metro UI is a disaster on desktop PCs although it may work well on tablets and phones.

2012-03-12, 12:52 AM	#32
mellaby Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary/Mesa Posts: 279	Search for google on bing then install google. I had no problems getting google on Win 8. It even adds a icon on the new metro to launch. Give Win 8 a little time it's not that bad.

2012-03-12, 11:02 AM	#33
audacity Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,802	I think that the problem with Metro is that its so new that people aren't always sure what to do in a given situation (myself included). There are a number of sites that have enumerated the keyboard shortcuts which I find helpful.

2012-03-12, 12:48 PM	#34
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	That is part of the problem, but having one app take up all of my 23" screen is, IMHO, just plain dumb. It makes sense for tablets but at work I have dual 22" screens and in my office at home I have dual 23" screens. I carefully arrange the windows so that I can effectively use several apps at once. You simply cannot do this with the Metro UI until you get to the "desktop". There also appears to be no way, at least not yet, to have Win Media Center come up in the foreground upon a reboot. MC will start but it will remain hidden behind the Metro UI - that is a problem for the way that HTPCs work.

2012-03-12, 05:15 PM	#36
j0dest3r Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,617	I found this that should help. Navigate over to your Windows directory. Do a search for "shows desktop," and copy the shortcut that you find into the following location: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. By doing so, you'll ensure that Windows 8 always boots to the "Classic Desktop" instead of its Metro UI.

2012-03-13, 01:03 PM	#37
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,812

2012-03-13, 01:32 PM	#39
mellaby Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary/Mesa Posts: 279	I think Microsoft should have had a demo at first start up to show how windows 8 works.

2012-03-13, 03:03 PM	#40
j0dest3r Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,617	That sounds like an awesome idea!!

2012-03-13, 04:33 PM	#42
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,812	Problem is, not everyone will have their very first Win8 experience on a brand new install where the canned demo is shown only on very first boot.

2012-03-13, 06:57 PM	#44
mellaby Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Calgary/Mesa Posts: 279	Yohee, that's too bad about your install. Is your PC old (+ 5 years)? My laptop is 2 years old. It ran win 7. My Beta install was the easiest I've done so far. Only the audio driver from Toshiba was needed.

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