"Well below expectations" Windows 8 sales

mjf · 23 Nov 2012

gregrocker said:

I need it installed to see how it functions at boot and in a multi-boot.

I'm looking for a Win8 PC that needs upgrade to 7 right now to try to sort out the Secure Boot BIOS lock and whether key-less reinstall works without Secure Boot or even EFI BIOS.

Any volunteers?

I thought you volunteered

The bottom line is many punters who buy store PCs will end up with Windows 8 when they probably want a more functional desktop OS. I thought you had gone through the retro fitting exercise Greg?

gregrocker · 23 Nov 2012

Well we had a thread where a Win8 laptop buyer wanted Win7 on it so I gave him the steps to bypass UEFI and threw in to disable Secure Boot. cant install windows 7 in the preinstalled windows 8 laptop - Windows 7 Forums.

This worked, but then Ray came out with a tutorial to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7 which says we don't have to bypass UEFI, only disable Secure Boot.

What I'm looking for now is how the BIOS-embedded Product Key works or doesn't work for reinstalling Eight. Can you Dual Boot with Win7 which likely requires turning off Secure Boot? Will Win8 hold activation or activate if not in Secure Boot or disabling EFI?

mjf · 23 Nov 2012

gregrocker said:

Well we had a thread where a Win8 laptop buyer wanted Win7 on it so I gave him the steps to bypass UEFI and threw in to disable Secure Boot. cant install windows 7 in the preinstalled windows 8 laptop - Windows 7 Forums.

This worked, but then Ray came out with a tutorial to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7 which says we don't have to bypass UEFI, only disable Secure Boot.

What I'm looking for now is how the BIOS-embedded Product Key works or doesn't work for reinstalling Eight. Can you Dual Boot with Win7 which likely requires turning off Secure Boot? Will Win8 hold activation or activate if not in Secure Boot or disabling EFI?

OK Greg I get it.
Michael

DavidE · 23 Nov 2012

jimbo45 said:

Incidentally of course people like AVAST will try and rubbish W8 (we should now all call it WALLS rel 1.0) becuase with the enhanced security built into the kernel itself products like AVAST are totally redundant.

Are there any articles/links with tests to verify this?

If products like Avast are redundant to the "security built into the kernel" then why does MS include Windows Defender in Win 8?

Can Windows Defender be removed or disabled in Win 8 allowing 3rd party security apps to be used, or is it built into the kernel?

Is Win 8 Windows Defender different (and better) than Win 7 MS Security Essentials?

I thought MS Security Essentials was "renamed" as Windows Defender in Windows 8...

whs · 23 Nov 2012

I thought MS Security Essentials was "renamed" as Windows Defender in Windows 8...

That is correct.

bigmck · 23 Nov 2012

whs said:

I thought MS Security Essentials was "renamed" as Windows Defender in Windows 8...

That is correct.

What is the Windows Defender in Win 7?

DavidE · 23 Nov 2012

It's the built in Anti Malware product.
When MSE is installed, Windows Defender gets disabled.
So, I think the Anti Malware component of MSE is Windows Defender...

I never use Windows Defender in Win 7 or Win XP for Anti Malware.
I use MBAM Pro for that.

whs · 23 Nov 2012

Defender and MSE both use the MsMpEng process. That's why defender is mute when MSE is installed. But in Win8, they call it Defender - just to confuse us.

gregrocker · 23 Nov 2012

MSE replaced Defender in all but name in Win8. Since Defender was already a legacy component on the last two Windows OS's it isn't as subject to new anti-trust action from A/V competitors.

whs · 23 Nov 2012

Since Defender was already a legacy component on the last two Windows OS's it isn't as subject to new anti-trust action from A/V competitors.

That's a good point. I was wondering anyhow how they can get away with making MSE the default. I am sure someone will sue them in the EU which seems to be more restrictive towards those bundeling actions.