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(on Wikipedia)
Released 2013-10-17
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- 2015-08-01 - I switched to Windows 10.
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While using this, I also dual-booted into Linux.
- At this point, it was Lubuntu (version not recorded)
- 2013-12 got Windows 8.1
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Before Windows 8.1, I used Windows Legacy.
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2013-12 ∞
I decided to break down and purchase Microsoft Windows 8.1.
There's a lot of fuss over 7 vs 8 vs 8.1, and Microsoft is obviously screwing over Windows 7 and 8.1 by refusing to backport fundamental graphics subsystem upgrades now found only 8.1.
I tried and tried, and Microsoft website(s) refuse to sell Windows. You either have to purchase a new computer which includes Windows or upgrade an existing installation. Having built mine, I can do neither.
The Windows 8.1 they sell on their website is only an upgrade. I had to actually use their search feature to find a way to purchase Windows 7 from which I could theoretically upgrade.
What's the total cost to get Windows from Microsoft? $344. No joke.
So I ordered an OEM DVD from one of my favourite websites. Yes, I'm a system builder, so I do qualify to purchase an OEM copy.
How I'll get it on a USB stick is currently beyond me, but I suspect I'll just install off of the DVD and then shelf it.
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I was forced to make a Microsoft account, because I had my internet cable plugged in during part of the initial bootup / installation sequence.
- Making sure that I was disconnected on a future reinstall eliminated this nuisance.
- Slow bootup and slow install using that CD.
- Not choosing a custom install for a fresh install will force the user back to the "install" screen and its slow startup.
- Making a partition is fucking slow!
- I had to nuke my drive, it complained about Lubuntu's mangled partitioning.
- It made it's own system partition.
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It can't make logical partitions?! Holy fuck!
- I was forced to make a very basic setup, and then repartition some of my disk using Linux. I reinstalled Linux to correct the boot loader. I then booted into windows 8.1 which did an auto-repair and things worked just fine. It didn't, surprisingly, mangle my boot loader. In later reinstalls, this auto-repair process was not needed.
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Using DVI, there were black borders around the screen. This was fixed with video drivers.
- Or just use HDMI.
Tips ∞
- Press
escapeor theWindowskey to get out of the "apps" or whatever it is icon menu mess. -
Get to the earlier "proper" Windows menu.
Win-xright-clickthe bottom-left Windows icon.
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Get to your startup applications:
Win-r>shell:startupC:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
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Or,
shift-rightclickon a taskbar item to get the traditional list.
Disable/Enable the Windows logo key hotkeys ∞
This is to stop Win+1 etc from quick-launching an application pinned to the taskbar.
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/embedded/aa460734(v=winembedded.5) [ 1 ]
- Tested 2015-07-30 on Windows 8.1, updated recently.
- Requires logging out.
- This does not disable tapping WIN to bring up that dumbass 'apps' list.
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This also disables WIN+d to show the desktop.
Set PAE memory (32-bit Windows) ∞
Set PAE to use all available memory.
Note that the pae parameter is valid only on boot entries for 32-bit versions of Windows that run on computers with x86-based and x64-based processors.
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcdedit--set [ 2 ]
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/boot-parameters-to-configure-dep-and-pae [ 3 ]
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Run
cmdas admin -
Tested 2014-10-13 on Windows 8.1, updated recently.
bcdedit.exe /set pae forceenable
Last updated 2024-06-29 at 16:02:29
Footnotes
- was https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/embedded/aa460734(v=winembedded.5) [ ↩ ]
- was https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/bcdedit--set [ ↩ ]
- was https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/devtest/boot-parameters-to-configure-dep-and-pae [ ↩ ]
