AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

No, and barely know Windows 8, though if you go to 14, it would be only two short of the number of windows in my house. I use my iPad more then my laptop.

rhomin57 Loc: Far Northern CA.

I have Windows 8 in my laptop. Have had it for a year now. For several months I wrestled with Windows 8, even crashed my new laptop. I had to send off for the Windows 8 recovery disk set.

I took computer class back before Windows made it's first appearance. Then I worked with Windows 3.5, 5.0, 6.0, onto Windows 7. I thought I knew it all, until I purchased this laptop with Windows 8. I was completely lost, frustrated, and angry everytime I tried to use it. However, I'm extremely stubborn and vowed to learn it. I crashed my laptop a second time, and just used the Restore disks again. It's been a year now, and I completely Love Windows 8 and use it with ease! Ta-Da!

Hang in there maelstrom. Resort to the Help Topic Issues, and eventually it will make sense and you will enjoy it.

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

XP (not OEM) was the best of M$'s sorry lineup, but fatally crashed on April 17th, one day before "support" ended. That was on a new desktop build with a very good ECS MB.

My HP laptop was built for Vista (OEM) and Vista also fatally crashed and burned. HP wouldn't support and of course M$ doesn't support OEM. So neither OS got recovered, not even after going thru hell to buy and install SpotMau.

But by then I was running Linux Mint anyway, so I was able to keep right on truckin' but So it has come to buying 2 twin Dell laptops with Win8.1 for Tasine and myself, and 8.1 is driving both of us totally up the wall! Among many headaches, both of us have had to reinstall the OS, which don't restore any of the apps we've added since.

Two Windoze apps I still need but Win8.1 won't install one of those -- my older QuickCAD app, so I'm screwed! Also, the Dell BIOS is weird and won't boot to my Linux DVD. Dell support thus far has not helped, so we are a pair of P.O.ed puter-folk! Maybe I'll try to get NewEgg to accept return.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

Your mistake was buying Dell. I know of no one who has not had issues with them. GEEZ, ask Loki. His Dell has driven him crazier (then he already is :-) :-) :-))for a year. ProgenyE has a three year old Acer, which has only had one problem. UncleE has an HP., which has had zero problems. I have a Toshiba, which I use little. My iPad is my preferred technology.

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

Well, Newegg didn't disclose that our Dell Laptops were a discontinued model -- this is my first Dell, bought only because except for laptops, I build my own puters and always get them working well. But then, I build with Linux -- I swore off M$ years ago. Mate Tasine likes her Acer desktop but not the Win7 it came with.

HP seems to be on the brink of takeover or extinction, and as said, my HP laptop crashed and burned while I got ZERO support, so I'm done with HP.

I'm too old and having vision difficulties, so tiny ipod stuff is of no interest. I rarely leave the house, so why squint?

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

No...no...not an iPod. An iPad. I have poor vision, as well. You can adjust print size and brightness, etc. I have zero technology sk**ls; however, the iPad is very user friendly. I purchased mine refurbished and saved quite a bit. We have a friend who writes algorithms and programs and will use nothing but Apple. Expensive, yes, but outstanding product and support.

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

I've been using PC's since virtually their beginning. They worked well before M$ opted to corrupt DPS with Windoze.

About Apple, iPad or iPod, I know virtually nothing. Tasine & I talked at breakfast about trying to get NewEgg to refund on these 2 laptops. Maybe the hardware is okay, but definitely NOT Lose8.1

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I know little about PCs. Could they change your software if you think the hardware is fine?

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

Maybe, but the way Dell gives us a totally "greek" new BIOS, it's a problem. I have been most frustrated by the inability (or refusal) of this new BIOS to access my Linux installation disc, and wandering around Dell's website to find answers and/or support is truly a maze.

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

I have an easy way to fix my computer, I call my buddy

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

As I'm the only guru I know, it's up to me to figure it out. Since I was last here, I managed to get Linux Mint installed and working, so I'm not dead yet!

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Congratulations.

I tried to install Linux Mint on one of my Windows XP Pro computers last year with no luck whatsoever, after I had a new machine with Windows 8 up and running for internet use.

I was later told I could get a CD with an erasing software program to completely remove the old operating system, in order to install the Linux Mint on a clean drive, but have never pursued it.

Striker Loc: Arizona Rockies

I've been rehabbing computers all with Linux beginning back with Win98. That was after some years of struggling with numerous Linux and finally settling on Ubuntu, now graduated to Mint, which runs better than Windoze! OSdisc.com is the place to get good apps on CD/DVD. I swore off M$ after buying XP, because Windoze wasted half my LIFE ever since they switched from DOS.

I usually used dual boot using Grub, which works okay now but isn't pretty LOL. A couple of essentials are GParted for partitioning and formatting about any way one wishes, and if something goes sour Boot Repair Disk works very well.

Now M$ and Intel have gotten in cahoots in a way which seems to be their plan for preventing competition, hence the issue with 8.1 and its weird dual bios making things real difficult as it wouldn't boot to Linux CD -- won't even SHOW it!

My first "success" with installing Mint on the Dell Laptop totally wiped out W8.1, egad! Before I try that again (soon) I'll try to get Dell to assist, but so far they're not acting as if they can or will. Funny thing in a way, as 2-3 years back Dell was selling Linux boxes, but now they "recommend Windows". So now a PC is being turned into an only-Windoze machine.