Windows 7 - any thoughts about windows 8 for 2012

I keep hearing about windows 8 being developed for next year.Anybody have any thoughts about it. I am happy with windows 7, and would really be nervious about going to windows 8 as i just got a new computer 1 year ago.

Welcome
Its really too early to discuss the merits of Windows 8. It would be my suggestion that if you like Seven, just contiue to use and enjoy it. When 8 is finally released, its best to wait a while until the kinks are worked out and they issue an SP1. While you are waiting for the SP, read about the features in 8. If there is nothing that you really want stay with 7. If there are features that you want, you can intstall 8. Seven will continue to be supported by MS for many more years.

I wonder if MS will put the StartUp sound back in the Sound Panel? Trivial, but I miss it. It's part of making a Personal Computer personal. I miss the "Start Me Up" clip I had on XP.

If you want to follow along on what's being uncovered in Eight, click on the link at the top of the page.

@carwiz:


There actually IS a start up theme(s) in Win 7, just like Win Vista and XP had....

However I just realized that lately it has NOT been active as I boot up my PC...I know it worked a while back...but now it is gone..the .wav file IS there and works (you can sample test it).

I know I read elsewhere that it is possible that the loading order in Windows 7 processes (sound drivers, or related) may be too late and the start up sound comes in too early ....anyone else?

Regarding Win 8....

Just to let people know YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE TABLET GUI if you don't want it.
You will be able to set the GUI to a desktop default that probably appears much like Win 7 if you want, which most PC users certainly will. Another words you will have two choices of UI available .

I know the startup sound is there but you can't change it to a custom sound. (Easily) It's compiled into the Imageres.dll. It takes 3rd party software and there's a risk if not done correctly. The option to change it was removed from the system sound panel is what I mean. You can still change the shutdown sound. I was hurt when MS took the ability to customize the startup sound away.

@carwiz:


Any thoughts on WHY they chose to make that change, it is odd that they continue to allow the user to modify the shut down through. Hmmm...almost seems to me like they might have been concerned about system integrity upon boot? A concern about malware entering in that way?

Also don't want to stray OT but do you have any idea why my win default start up theme isn't playing? All other sounds are working properly it seems.

I think the primary reason might be the time it might take to play a custom wav at startup. The stock wav is short. It could get out of hand in a hurry but I still think is should be left to the user. That's all I could think of.

As far as your startup not playing, it may be a corrupt file. This will check and repair Windows system files.
SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot

My thoughts are that since the world will end in 2012, we'll never see Windows 8.

OR...

Maybe the world will end because of Windows 8!

Windows 8 development release - Windows 8 Developer Preview release