Windows 8 refresh - lesson learned the hard way

[Petr Schreiber]

This morning my PC welcomed me with message there is BCD error and I can choose from Refresh (described as "maintains data") and Reset (described as "formating drive").

I picked the first option without further checking - and what a surprise: it maintained data, but it uninstalled ALL my desktop programs :D
Did I say all? Well, ThinBASIC somehow survived, believe me or not, but the rest was gone. To be fair, it at least placed list of uninstalled programs on my desktop, but it was a bit of shock anyway...

So, if you are user of Windows 8, consider doing bitcopy of the system, because Refresh will even erase your system restore points...


Petr

[ReneMiner]

I already had that too - when Avira became incompatible and crushed my Win8 I had to reset the system... - the programs & my scripts were saved but the built-in on reset reactivated a-few-days-trial-version of norton antivir instantly erased my thinBasic.exe :D

[kryton9]

My Sister bought a Windows 8 machine. Hated it so much, she took it back to the store and got so sick of Microsoft changing things that she can't keep up she switched to Apple and is so happy.

One of her best friends with her Windows 8 notebook could not connect to my Sister's Guest Network, her cell phone and all the other devices in the house can easily connect except for her Windows 8 notebook. Needless to say, she uttered every swear word the whole time I was trying to help her over the phone and we couldn't get it to see the network.

I don't have windows 8, the little I played at the store-- I hated it.

Just when they saved themselves from the Vista with Windows 7 they pull off even a bigger blunder with Windows 8. And from all the reviews of the new Windows 8 due out in October, I have read nothing positive so far.

Not to end with all negative stuff, for you gamers out there, I am sure you have read all of Valve's announcements for steam this week, but for those who didn't, this might be the near future of computing for home use.

1. http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamOS/
2. http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/
3. http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/

[Petr Schreiber]

@Kent
:) I must say my first minutes on Windows 8 PC were like "what... the... hell... I am too old for this ****".

But besides the unpleasant problem with damaged BCD and the recovery, I love the system - fast default boot (on classic HDD the system boots up before my monitor switches on), very low memory usage even comparing to Windows 7, great Task Manager - the desktop part is perfect.

The Metro layer - even after 6 months of usage I just read news from Reuters and BBC apps. I could live without that, but it does not bother me.

Regarding Steam OS - I don't want another OS, I want Half Life 3 and Left 4 Dead 3 :D

@Rene
Hehe, yes, they recovered Norton for me too - first app which got uninstalled by me then :D But thinBasic.exe survived, I don't know how, but it did.


Petr

[ErosOlmi]

To me Windows 8 is great on the right hardware.
Some of its problems are related to the fact hardware on which it runs (or some pretend it to run) is sometimes not adequate.

What I like more is people saying "I cannot spend 900/1000 euro for a PC", they spend 400/500 euro for a non touch PC, hate that PC than they buy a 1400 euro Mac.
At work most of our Sales Agents think like that. It would be more honest to say: I want a Mac :)

If you buy the right hardware, you will have a great experience.
I have Windows 8 everywhere in my IT department and it works great.
I have Windows 8 at home and it connects to whatever from phones to TVs to xBox. Printers are a little problematic due to drivers but recent printers are fine.


What I like in this image
http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/ (http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/)
is the "Store" button in great evidence. And this tells all about what that OS was developed for.

[Petr Schreiber]

Tip on how to make bit copy of the system, on Windows 8:


create directory for backup - I recommend to do it on HDD, because you never know how big it will end
launch cmd as admin
type in:

recimg -createimage <directory full path>


wait for the process to complete
back it up somewhere else too :D
for my PC, the backup file is about 18,5GB big



Petr

[ReneMiner]

I tried... but after waiting 20 minutes it's still at 1% and in my folder there was just 1kB file CustomRefresh.wim... i cancelled this process now - seems not to do anything here.

You have a hint how to recover the system from the written image if it would write one? Hit F8 or F5 on boot?

[Petr Schreiber]

Hi Rene,

that is normal behavior - it showed me 1% for hour or so, then it jumped to 20% and then it took some more time. You must be patient

When you want to Refresh voluntarily, you just move cursor to top right corner till side bar appears on desktop of Windows 8. Then you enter "Refresh" into search box, and change filter from Applications to Settings.
In the left part, where search results are, you will have something like "Partially recover computer". When you click it, it should allow you to choose how to recover. I did not get that far, I am happy I managed to install everything now :D

There is some more info for example here:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/open-advanced-startup-options-windows-8.htm


Petr

[matthew]

Regarding Windows 8 running on the correct hardware, my laptop currently has just 2GB which is pathetically small but I've just discovered that it can be upgraded to 8GB which I hope will be much better. Another thing which surprised me was when I connected my Lexmark printer from 2006 to my computer and Windows 8 located the correct driver that I needed.

[kryton9]

I am glad to read Windows 8 works posts and by guys I trust. I will keep a more open mind, but still remain windows 8 less.