Windows 8 is a one way street for consumer PC users

[Brink]

If you buy a Windows 8-powered HP consumer PC, or from any other PC vendor, you'll get no help from them if you decide you'd rather have Windows 7. And Linux? Forget about it!

PC companies call it downgrading, but many users just call it being sensible. You buy a new computer, and instead of using the bleeding edge operating system it came with, you move to an operating system you trust. With ordinary Windows 8 on Hewlett-Packard (HP) consumer PC, or any other vendor's retail PC, though, you're stuck with Windows 8.

Read more at source:
Windows 8 is a one way street for consumer PC users | ZDNet


See also:
HP clarifies Windows 8 consumer PC downgrade and warranties

 

[LittleJay]

Thank you for the news Brink! I will keep it in mind, if someone I know wants to purchase a new computer.

 

[Solarstarshines]

If you buy a Windows 8-powered HP consumer PC, or from any other PC vendor, you'll get no help from them if you decide you'd rather have Windows 7. And Linux? Forget about it!

PC companies call it downgrading, but many users just call it being sensible. You buy a new computer, and instead of using the bleeding edge operating system it came with, you move to an operating system you trust. With ordinary Windows 8 on Hewlett-Packard (HP) consumer PC, or any other vendor's retail PC, though, you're stuck with Windows 8.

Read more at source:
Windows 8 is a one way street for consumer PC users | ZDNet

Main Reason why it's a Failure no-one wants it

To be forced into using a interface that looks more like a phone app will confuse the Holly Hell out of people who are used to a adaptable interface that we been using since win 95

Honestly some people don't like change even if it is with the times

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you Brink for keeping us up to date. The story keeps thickening.

 

[x BlueRobot]

My friend really needs a new laptop by Christmas, maybe he'll be stuck with Windows 8 then, although he said he didn't mind if it comes with Windows 7 or Windows 8.

I think he might be better off saying with his Windows Vista machine which overheats after opening a few tabs on Chrome, and battery which doesn't work either I guess adding a fresh SSD/HDD and then clean installing Windows 7 will work

 

[mlevy]

This is making me very glad I moved from PC to Mac for my laptop and home-build my desktops (now used for an HTPC and will run 7 for the foreseeable future). I might even have to convince my dad to move to an iMac or Mac Mini for his next desktop (I self-build for him as well).

 

[Indianatone]

It is really quite simple, if a client buys a laptop or desktop from Best Buy, Wal Mart, Target etc. and "cannot get on with it" for what ever reason the retailer will take it back under their 30 day no quibble satisfaction warranty. The retailer wants your money but they want you to be happy with the purchase and come back and spend some more money. Those units show up as refurbs or managers specials. At the time of return if Windows 8 is the problem the client will demand either Windows 7 or a total refund. Any salesman worth his salt is going to find a product with what the client wants on it Windows 7 rather than lose the sale completely. We have been here before with Vista, they can blow hot and cold all they like but if the public don't buy it other arrangements will be in place....AKA Plan B.

 

[whs]

I think the manufacturers who offer Windows 7 as an option will be the winners. Some will have to learn that the hard way.

 

[gregrocker]

This is no different that they way OEM's have always enforced their factory preinstalled sponsor bloatware, so the solution remains the same: If you need tech support get it here where it is vastly better, or if you must talk with them do not reveal you have clean reinstalled or "upgraded" 8 to 7. If you need to ship it back under hardware warranty have the Recovery disks on hand to run Recovery first from its partition or disks. Save a backup image so you have another way to recover.

This will either force consumers en masse to touchscreens or force MS and OEM's to offer "downgrade" rights to 7 as they did during XP>Vista debacle. Consumers are not going to put up with having a productive desktop experience ruined by a gimmicky Wall of Buttons slamming down on their work, or go through the trouble of modifying WIn8 to include Win7's explorer with Start menu using best solution Windows 7 explorer for Windows 8.

 

[mlevy]

This is no different that they way OEM's have always enforced their factory preinstalled sponsor bloatware, so the solution remains the same: If you need tech support get it here where it is vastly better, or if you must talk with them do not reveal you have clean reinstalled or "upgraded" 8 to 7. If you need to ship it back under hardware warranty have the Recovery disks on hand to run Recovery first from its partition or disks. Save a backup image so you have another way to recover.

At least the bloatware could be removed. With the UEFI locking that Microsoft is requiring the OEMs to do you CAN'T get rid of Win 8 (you say this is no different but it IS different). Microsoft is forcing enthusiasts to build their own (many do anyway) and possibly NOT buy a Windows license if they can get away without Windows.

 

[gregrocker]

I just re-read the story and see nothing about "UEFI locking." Nor have I heard about it until now. What have I missed?

Can you please provide a source for this or explain it further as you understand it?

I do remember that BIOS locks were attempted for awhile by OEM's until judges smacked them down hard for trying to tell owners how they could use their own property. Haven't heard of a locked BIOS in several years now.

 

[Dave76]

Simple, if customers want W7 OEMs will sell it to them. The OEM may make statements about not changing the OS but when it comes to sales they will deliver what the customer wants.
UEFI doesn't lock out changing an OS. If the OEMs put something in there that does, there will be modded UEFIs.

 

[mlevy]

From the article linked at the beginning:

That could be a bigger problem that it used to be. All vendors Windows 8 PC now come with Microsoft's UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) Secure Boot. This "security" system makes it much harder to boot Linux, or any other operating system for that matter, on a Windows 8 PC.

 

[UnknownReverent]

It basically sounds like Microsoft is trying to enforce users to use Windows 8 because they know they messed up.

 

[x BlueRobot]

We shouldn't hate Microsoft too much, every company makes mistakes, and they have produced great operating systems and products in the past: Windows 7 and Windows XP for example.

 

[gregrocker]

I don't read any hatred toward MS in the WIn8 comments, more a genuine concern that they're abandoning too fast a wildly popular 3 year old OS.

Beside we do as much here for MS as their own forums do, if not more.

From the article linked at the beginning:

That could be a bigger problem that it used to be. All vendors Windows 8 PC now come with Microsoft's UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) Secure Boot. This "security" system makes it much harder to boot Linux, or any other operating system for that matter, on a Windows 8 PC.

I haven't heard yet that UEFI can lock out anything. Here's how it works with 7:
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

UEFI is routinely turned off if undesired by enabling Legacy BIOS, removing EFI boot disk from BIOS Boot order, then wiping the HD with Diskpart Clean Command or Convert GPT Disk to MBR Disk - Windows 7 Forums

 

[HammerHead]

Messy

What a friggin' mess. This should play out in 2013. Sales figures will be the determing factor.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Beside we do as much here for MS as their own forums do, if not more.

I agree, there is much greater support on this forum, also the forum doesn't aim to sell any products or promote a particular product; Microsoft forums may be clouded by the aim to make a profit.

 

[Bertison]

Thanks Brink, I have a friend asking if she should buy a lappy with 8 or 7. This will convince her to stay with 7 (although I will have to ask for her - she is so timid with sales people.)

 

[gregrocker]

Beside we do as much here for MS as their own forums do, if not more.

I agree, there is much greater support on this forum, also the forum doesn't aim to sell any products or promote a particular product; Microsoft forums may be clouded by the aim to make a profit.

MS Answers (if that's still its name) is getting better after struggling to adjust to more user interactivity and a realistic reputation system which they recognize was built-in better here. At 2012 MVP Summit I met their new VP who was head of Oprah's web empire and has brought them much spirit and progress.

However they don't have our tutorial database (just KB's) and haven't developed nearly as many of the workarounds and fixes that have come out of 7F even though they have MS engineers to call upon.