Who is swapping Start-8 FOR Windows 8.1 Desktop?

[Triple_Se7en]

Yesterday my three month-old Windows 8 Dell started getting occasional webpage redirects promoting the download of new Windows 8.1

Can I still keep my Start-8 Download, plus the new Windows 8.1? Or will the new Windows 8.1 Start button override my Start-8 button?

Anyone here tried both... together? Please keep in mind I am a retiree that does not use all these modern apps hardly ever on my computer. I am 99% of the time just surfing the net.

I am so old-fashioned, I have never texted on my cellphone.

 

[rfeir]

If Start-8 does not work in 8.1 I an optimistic that they will issue a version that does.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I'll give this thread a day or two. But sending a shout-out to the Start-8 (Stardock) website via an email, may be the best medicine. They may have a solution already where both can be integrated.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

Should be able to buy the new program for your new computer for 5 bucks from StarDock?

 

[65convertible]

I downloaded 8.1 into my Dell and all is fine. I have Classic Shell and still have their start button. Nothing in that arena has changed.

 

[Ken42]

Seems a bit faster if anything. Not much changed. Do back up. I lost all my e-books.

Unless I am doing it wrong the Start button on the shell just takes you to the new windows interface?

All in all nothing went wrong and no complaints. Expect it to take a couple hours.

Ken

 

[Nick R]

Nope. I'm going to keep Windows 7 as long as I can- or until they fix the problems I have with 8

1. Start menu
2. Put stuff back the way it was, finding shutdown and control panel shouldn't be difficult.
3. add transparency back into aero.

 

[Mystic]

I have Start 8 on my Windows computer running Windows 8. I will download the Windows 8.1 update but I will wait a little while to see if Stardocks updates Start 8.

Just a heads up-if Stardocks does not come out with a Start 8 for Windows 8.1 if you go to the Windows Supersite the guy there quite a while back had an article on how to setup with Windows 8.1 so that you pretty much can go directly to the Windows desktop and run completely from there.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Thanks for the replies. I will stay-put with Windows 8 and Start-8 for the time being. I suspect the free download for Windows 8.1 upgrade will be around a while. In the meantime, Stardock may come up with an alternative or work-around.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Classic Shell works fine in 8.1. A simple click restores functionality.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I just bought a Windows 8 computer this weekend to replace our iMac with what I think may be a failing hard drive. I can confirm that Start8 and ModernMix both work perfectly with 8.1. I upgraded to 8.1 before downloading either of the Stardock products, but they installed just fine. They essentially turn it into a very high performing Windows 7, with real start menu, boot to desktop, etc. In fact, I never use the Start screen (the Metro screen); I do everything from the desktop screen and Start8's real start menu.

I will post a separate thread, but so far, this Windows 8 critic is really enjoying 8.1.

 

[Mystic]

Start8 works okay with Windows 8.1? If so I will download the 8.1 update to Windows 8. The only problem with Windows 8 in my opinion is the goofy user interface Microsoft forced on everybody, even people who prefer the desktop operating system.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Mystic
Start8 works okay with Windows 8.1? If so I will download the 8.1 update to Windows 8. The only problem with Windows 8 in my opinion is the goofy user interface Microsoft forced on everybody, even people who prefer the desktop operating system.


Works GREAT with 8.1. I think Microsoft's introduction of a "start button" with 8.1, one that simply moves the user to the tiled Start screen, was laughable.

ModernMix is also important to me. You can click on and run a full screen "Modern" app from the desktop mode. But then you lose your close button and ability to have more than one application on the screen at one time. Which is ironic when you think about it, because the very POINT of Windows is windows. Anyway, ModernMix forces full screen apps (such as Netflix for example) to run in a window, so that you still have access to the Start button and rest of the task bar (including clock and system tray on the right side). ModernMix is fully configurable, too, so that you can force some apps into windows, but allow others to go full screen if you like.

Start8 and ModernMix are two very nice additions to Windows 8.x. Both work very well on 8.1.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Do you need to customize ModernMix?

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Do you need to customize ModernMix?


I only did to allow Netflix to open full screen and force the other Windows 8 full screen apps to load in a window. I do like the full screen look for some things (like Netflix movie/TV watching), but I don't need the photo viewer or PDF preview opening full screen.

 

[apwillard1986]

As I have yet to have any errors using Windows 8 I will be slow to upgrade to 8.1. I have to say that my initial trepidation using Windows 8 has faded as there are several excellent programs out there that restore functionality for those of us who still lack touch interfaces on our PCs. After testing the top rated options I settled on startisback but had no major issues with any of the offerings. After two months I have yet to break it or notice it. I was in fact ready to purchase Windows 7 when I initially bought the new laptop but now I am glad I didn’t. I think under the hood it is a stout OS and once the horrific UI is reined in it is one of the better Windows experiences I have had. I especially like the streamlined “explorer” experience. Gone are the bubble buttons, transparent windows, and shadows that serve little purpose except to use up clock cycles.

 

[Mystic]

I have updated to Windows 8.1. It is a free update. I also updated (for free) a lot of applications. Start8 seems to work fine on Windows 8.1 as far as I can tell right now. I have not noticed any problems.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Mystic
I have updated to Windows 8.1. It is a free update. I also updated (for free) a lot of applications. Start8 seems to work fine on Windows 8.1 as far as I can tell right now. I have not noticed any problems.


I finally had the guts to do it. You're right, everything seems fine and moving around the internet seems a bit faster.

I customized some of the options, instead of using their recommendations. For instance: I prefer Google Search over Bing.