Windows 8 After two weeks with Windows 8, I find it the least stable OS

Z

zmechys

New Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
55
My two weeks with two Windows 8 computers - one computer and one laptop.

It's my very short story about Windows 8.

Three months ago, I purchased a new computer with Windows 7 for my work . It has Intel Core i7-3770 and 8.0 GB RAM. During those months, I had ZERO issues with my computer. After receiving numerous e-mails from Microsoft "Update to Windows 8. What are you waiting for?", I decided to go for Windows 8. First upgrade failed, but on the second attempt, I successfully joined the "Windows 8 users" club.

In short, within two weeks, I've refreshed my computer twice. The very next morning after my second refresh, the computer informed me that Outlook had some kind of error and asked me to restart and repair it. That was my last time I saw my Desktop window. Nothing helped. Could not refresh, repair, boot into safe mode, run MS DOS. Nothing was working. Could not even reset. My CD-drive was locked and not visible on BIOS. After contacting Microsoft, I downloaded Win 8 and, only using my USB Flash Drive, I was able to do a clean install of Windows 8. I'm not going to complain about the HOURS WASTED to reinstall, update, recover, etc., after two refresh and one clean install of Windows 8. By the way, two days after the clean install, I needed to manually shut down my computer 4 times because of frozen screen. I could use Windows Key & X but could not get Task Manager. I could get Charm bars, but could not turn off the computer. No way to turn my computer off. I don't know what to expect in the very near future from my computer.



Two weeks ago, I purchased a new Windows 8 laptop. Twice I needed to refresh my brand new Toshiba laptop. After the second refresh, my laptop started having difficult times to start. It used to take about 5 minutes to boot. All my issues were sent to Microsoft. I decided to revert my laptop to a previous "Clean State with All Microsoft Updates" restore point. After that restore, only after numerous login attempts, I used to be able to get to my Desktop windows. My laptop was very sluggish. After contacting Toshiba customer service, I decided to return my laptop, and replace it with a Sony laptop.

I have worked with Win98, Windows 2000, ME, XP, Vista, and Windows 7. In my personal opinion, Windows 8 OS is the least stable operating system from Microsoft.

WINDOWS 8 IS NOT WINDOWS 7 JUST BETTER.

I will not recommend my boss to upgrade our work computers to Windows 8. NO, NO, NO.

I think, Microsoft's obsession with Metro Interface for tablets and mobile phones, is the biggest culprit.
 
Solution
Z

The best answer on my fatal Windows 8 computer crash I received from Microsoft.com
trying to refresh in widows 8...
Sort by date Sort by votes
First I would be taking the new PC back to the reseller for warranty work. That is definitely not normal.

Second, the First PC, I would suspect the Upgrade Install is the problem. Most of the horror stories I have read about were caused by the Ugrade Install rather than the Custom (Clean) install. This method is too dependent on the underlying original OS.

I have 3 PCs, 2 laptops and a desktop, all with Win 8 Custom Installed, and all with ZERO problems. If you look at the millions of installations, probably the vast majority of Upgrades work fine, but when it does not, it creates very strange problems.

I have not had to refresh any of them even a single time. 2 of the 3 had Win 8 Pro withing one day of it's release. To be honest, I have used my Images on my laptop a few times, but that's only because my "play" with my laptop screws things up.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have been running Windows 8 for about a year. Has installed anything I've asked, has never needed a Refresh or things of that sort, never really given me any kind of a problem, @ all. And it is definitely a better performer than any previous Windows OS. Generally, I find myself very impressed w/ Windows 8 (technically) & it is certainly the easiest Windows OS to use & navigate of any I have ever worked on, from Win98 through Windows 7. It is, also, fast, smooth & very stable.

Cheers,
Drew
Link Removed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

I only wish you had found us earlier. I wouldn't be so crass as to say we could have sorted your issues for sure but at least you'd have had some support as we have many well respected individuals who would gladly help.

One thing that has become apparent with users posts is that recent updates and bios versions are key. May I ask was your first machine carrying the latest bios? I know it's a bit late now but I guess I'm just trying to point out that there may have been a solution to your ills.

It is true however that not everyone is going to like Windows 8 regardless of whether it runs on there machine or not.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
zmechys,

Not surprising, as Windows 8 attempts to be all things to everyone, including touch screen users and regular desktop users.(The prior video made as with a 103F fever and pneumonia... looks like I'll be gone for a few days and need to re-evaluate my findings in an organized way). Nonetheless, I see you solved the issue below, although it was a trying time. Congrats and thanks for letting us know the resolution.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote

The best answer on my fatal Windows 8 computer crash I received from Microsoft.com
trying to refresh in widows 8 message tha my hard drive is locked how - Microsoft Community
=========================================================================
DJLAD replied on
January 14, 2013

Ok, I fought with for two days with everyone under the sun trying to figure it out. Here is what I know.

1. All the data is there - nothing is missing.

2. this has nothing to do with bit-locker or encryption.

3. DISKPART cannot see the file allocation table.

4. the HARD DISK DRIVER IS MISSING OR CORRUPTED - CAUSED BY WINDOWS UPDATE SOMEHOW - I DON'T KNOW?

If you take the drive out an put it in another computer it will work fine.

you need to be able to load the HP or other computer Manufacturer Disk Driver for windows-8 to the machine through selected boot up sequence.

some STARTup windows-8 systems will NOT ALLOW you to load a driver under repair circumstances. If you can load the driver you can recover your windows-8 without a refresh. If you cannot load the driver, you can save your data by putting the drive into another machine and copying it out. Then do a fresh install. You can also try a WINDOWS 8 INSTALL DISK AND LOAD THE DRIVER and see if you can do an upgrade. I didn't have that luck, as I learned the hard way.
My situation was an HP ENVY 4 with windows 8

1. windows-update sequence
2. NO BOOT
3. no REPAIR or RECOVER, or REFRESH (NO HARD DISK DRIVER TO DO THAT WITH)
4. took drive out and saved and fresh install (IF I KNEW ABOUT THE DISK DRIVER - I COULD HAVE SAVED THE DAY)

Found out later --- driver was missing.

==============================================================
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
kemical said:
It is true however that not everyone is going to like Windows 8 regardless of whether it runs on there machine or not.
Click to expand...

Could you WORK WITH MS SQL database, MS ACCESS, EXCEL , WORD files, etc. in METRO Interface?
How much control you have if you use IE in METRO Interface?
How flexible are you to do anything in METRO IE?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

"If all else fails, Windows Key+ X!".
When two days after a fresh install of Windows 8 - wiping out EVERYTHING - my computer started freezing while running CCleaner,
Windows Key +X allowed me to get those options, but did not allow me to get to Task Manager.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi,

Task manager is easily accessed by right clicking the task bar and choosing it from the resulting menu.

So do you have any issues currently and if so what are they? I see from above you were missing a storage driver but is everything running ok now?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

When Microsoft sent me e-mails "What are you waiting for", it clearly stated that Upgrade Assistant WILL HELP ME TO UPGRADE without a lot of problems. Just in case, I was able to install Windows 8 on the second attempt after manually removing Zone Alarm Firewall. Upgrade Assistant did not inform me about that issue. When my first installation failed, I decided to remove ZA firewall on my own.
For three months, I had used that Windows 7 computer for my work - MS Access databases, MSSQL databases, Excel Templates (Weeks, Months of work), Word Documents , Outlook e-mails, etc...
I had all those files saved on a Flash Drive and also sent to my e-mail.
About using yahoo or at&t mail with Outlook.
As soon as you open your e-mail with Outlook, it is impossible to get it anymore with IE or any other browser; therefore, all my important documents sent to my e-mail, but opened with Outlook, became invisible to IE or any other browser after a "clean install" of OS. Now, I know it; therefore, I created several different e-mail accounts.

When I tried to get my computer functional again - WORK CANNOT WAIT - I grabbed my 16 GB USB Flash Drive (the same Flash drive I saved all my data) with 11 GB of free space and USED IT FOR THE DOWNLOADED WINDOWS 8 OS. Right now I know how stupid I was, because ALL MY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS were erased.

Some facts.
After first time refresh, my MS Office 2010 was left intact. The second refresh of OS uninstalled my MS Office 2010.

I’m not an MCP, or an MCITP, or even an MOS. I’m not a geek, and I’m rarely using “regedit.exe”.
I’ve used a lot of Microsoft’s operating systems –
Win98, Win 2000, Windows ME, XP, Vista, Windows 7.
I have had some hardware failures and dealt with a lot of malware infections. I’ve learned about the “beauty” of safe mode ( try to boot your Win8 computer by clicking on F8) and the necessity of Restore points. From time to time, I used to get mad at Microsoft for some OS issues, but until I switched to Windows 8, I did not know how BLESSED I was with all those Windows operating systems.
My opinion about Windows 8 is not for IT specialists or Microsoft Certified Professionals, not for “geeks” or administrators. My comments about Win8 are for “advanced” end users.
Why?
There is only one reason for that - the HOURS spent on refreshing, resetting, updating, reinstalling Windows 8 and other software, contacting Microsoft and other developers.
For me, those NUMEROUS hours are WASTED AND LOST FOREVER.
For IT specialists, Microsoft Professionals, “geeks”, etc., those hours troubleshooting Windows 8 are called, “JOB SECURITY”, “overtime pay”, “indispensable knowledge”, etc…

I agree that if someone only uses programs that came with Microsoft Windows 8, especially using "technologically advanced METRO Interface, you'll be able to live almost "problem-free" for a long time.
I need to have a VERY STABLE Desktop computer to be used for work.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

I used XYplorer to get to that dll file and delete it. As soon as I deleted it, all my problems were gone.
My question is, "What to do if nothing works?".
I click Windows Key + X and see my options but cannot open anything.
I use Alt + F4 and see the popup window but cannot shut down my computer.
I get Charms - Settings and click on Power, but nothing happen.
With a regular computer I can simply turn off the power switch but what to do if you have a laptop?
After I returned Toshiba Satellite S875 and replaced it with Sony SVE17125CXB, within one week, twice I need to turn off my frozen laptop.
To my regret, it is impossible to disconnect the laptop from the power source because of the battery. Also, by default, the power button on the laptop is on "Sleep" mode. It's a new "technological" invention from Microsoft.
I removed my battery from the laptop and held the power button for a few seconds. Only then, I was able to get rid of that "frozen" state.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

Another BIG PROBLEM with my work Windows 8 computer. I've received an e-mail from my customer with one-page PDF file.
I've tried to open it and my Outlook froze.
AGAIN, NOTHING WORKED. I could not shut down my computer.
I manually disconnected the computer from power and tried to restart.
First time, I got Windows 8 logo and the turning lights froze. After a few minutes, I turned the power off with the switch.
Restarted second time and successfully got to the Lock Screen. After I entered my password, my computer had entered the "blue background color and nothing else" mode and been in that mode since then.

What ... was I thinking when I decided to upgrade my computer with ZERO problems and very stable Windows 7 to Windows 8.
I WILL NEVER EVER RECOMMEND WINDOWS 8 TO ANYBODY.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The story repeats itself.
I've tried to "automatically repair" my Windows 8 using a USB Flash drive. No, it could not repair.
I've tried to "refresh" ( How much I hate that refresh) my Windows 8, but the answer was, "The drive where Windows is installed is locked. Unlock the drive and try again."
What to do if I don't want to do another "clean install" of Windows 8?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

I don't know why you are having all this trouble but can say that I have Windows 8 on my Toshiba Satellite and on my desktop and have had no troubles to speak off. A friend of mine ask me what I thought of windows 8 and I told him what my experience was. He went out and bought a new desktop with windows 8 and loves it. He claims he has had less trouble from the start than he did with windows 7.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ash0103 said:
been using Windows 8 for three months now.. Still stable... I guess the problems depends on the user and not on the OS.
Click to expand...

Same here Ash, I run it through the testing phase and in October went out and bought it the first day it was put on the market. I am building or trying to build a new computer and will install the retail full version (System Builders) in it. I do have a good friend who owns his own computer store and he said that if I needed any help he would be glad to help.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have to admit that I agree with you. If my machine was operating in such a manner then I too would go back to the previous os. Especially as you say nothing you've tried works.
My own experience with Windows 8 (and this is using it from the get go, betas and all) is very different to yours and I wonder why your having so many issues.

So to clarify, are we talking about a machine with just Windows 8 installed (fully updated and with latest drivers plus Bios) or are we talking about an os install with third party apps ect that you would have normally used under win 7?
If the latter is the case then it could be that something is incompatible. You could try trouble shooting but this is can be a long drawn out affair unless your lucky.
I'd start with a completely fresh custom install of Windows 8, update it and then add drivers (assuming bios is already updated). Create a system restore point.
If the machine runs as it should then try adding third party apps, you like to use, one at a time. See how the machine works after each install. It's a pain I know but this is the only way other than trawling through your event viewer to find out whats really happening here.

Edit:
I forgot to mention, please remove external hardware attached too. Do the same with this, add one at a time and test for errors.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
  • Solved
Windows 8 My revised and updated thoughts about Windows 8.
Replies
7
Views
2K
Medico
G
  • Solved
Windows 7 Troubleshooting Windows 7 Freezing Issues After Two Weeks of Use
Replies
1
Views
4K
ChatGPT