Any reason I will regret not upgrading to Windows 8?

Today's the last day for the $40 W8 upgrade, and I've about talked myself out of doing it. My T500 is working fine, though I wouldn't mind a bit better performance and start up times, two things which I've read W8 is supposed to do. Plus, I'm not thinking about replacing the ThinkPad anytime soon.

Still, the hassle of upgrading and the possibility that some things may not really work as well have given me pause.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

I'd do the upgrade.

My two main caveats with Windows 8 were:
1. Power Manager incompatibility. The most important feature for me was setting charge thresholds, but you can work around this by following these instructions:
Changing Charge Threshold on ThinkPads under Windo... - Lenovo Community
The Windows power settings are still decent.
2. Metro and lack of start button. I didn't like jumping back and forth between the desktop UI and metro UI for a simple search. Also, I found the Windows 7 search more efficient.
You can also work around this by using Stardock's Start8 program.

Aside from that, Windows 8 is nice and fast. Might as well keep up with the times before the upgrade becomes more expensive.

 

Thanks. I take it that you upgraded your T400. That would be similar to what I would face with my T500.

 

I'd upgrade simply because of Windows codename Blue which will be released sometime this year. Those who have already upgraded to Windows 8 will get the next upgrade dirt cheap or perhaps even for free, so considering the already low price for a copy of Windows 8 it's definitely worth it.

 

Actually, I upgraded my X200 since it's a better complement to the W530. Right now the T400 has the release preview which has expired...I might put Linux on there just for kicks.

As for the T400, or in general, using metro with a touchpad is actually a decent experience. Even better would be purchasing the Logitech T650, a nice glass touchpad for W8.

But yeah, W8 will definitely breathe some new life into your T500.

 

Buy the upgrade, even if it's just to buy it at the cheap price. That is what I did, even though I have zero intention of installing it on my W530 with W7 Pro.

I think the upgrade cost me $20, so it was dirt cheap and worth having just in case I want to install it in future.

I am sure once more applications and drivers mature, I will eventually make the jump but for now I will hold off on installing it. Lenovo's Power Manager is very important to me, though I am told there is a way to get this working on Windows 8 by using compatibility mode?

Windows 7 is still a great OS, even though Windows 8 is meant to be slightly faster.

 

+1. Buy the upgrade ($15 if you bought a recent W7 machine), download and burn the install file to a DVD. Gives you W8 option if you want it down the road.

 

Yep, this is what I did. I bought and returned an Asus Primebook a few months back, and had registered for the $14.99 link. I decided to cash it in tonight. Downloaded the .iso, burned it to a disk and wrote the serial on it.

I may install it in the future, but not today. Cheap insurance I say. Going from $14.99 to $199 is a shock to the system that I don't want to do in the future.

Get your cheap upgrade TODAY. Trust me on this.

 

>>Buy the upgrade ($15 if you bought a recent W7 machine), download and burn the install file to a DVD. Gives you W8 option if you want it down the road.

Where to buy it? step by step how-to? I just got my refurbished T530 3 days ago. I just want to buy the upgrade now and upgrade later.

Thanks!

 

There you go if you want the 15$ upgrade: Windows Upgrade Offer - Landing Page.

 

My T530 is a refurbished one. I bought it at Lenovo's outlet. I entered the product key and was told not eligible.

Is it possible that this is because it is a refurbished one and might have been purchased by the previous person a very long time ago?

Thanks.

 

Yes. You have to enter the Windows 7 key. If it's already been used, I doubt it is going to pass validation again.

 

Just a quick question.

I bought this refurbished T530 on 1/22/13. It came with no documentation. I am unable to find any product key anywhere on the computer. So I ran a program called ABR (I learned of it from this forum) and got a product key.

Is this the right product key?

Another question: how long does the $39.99 upgrade offer last?

Thanks for any input!

 

I bought it and installed it. So far, I like it, though there are a couple of things (such as ThinkVantage) that don't work. Overall, though, I'm fairly pleased. I've spent $40 before for a lot less.

Thanks much for all the input. I really appreciate it.

 

I think you have till midnight tonight to buy it and get the product key. You can install it later whenever you like. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

The sticker with the key should be under the battery, you could try that too. The 39.99 upgrade offer us valid until the end of today, I'm guessing PST?

 

You are perfectly RIGHT. I removed the battery and found the key. I just bought the upgrade for $14.99.

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!

Best.

P.S. I am now wondering what the product key generated by ABR is.......

 

The key generated by ABR is the key used by the OEM, think of it as a mass license or something, the key on your laptop is kind of an extension of that should you need to reinstall and it is tied to that OEM key, but particular to your laptop. That's the way I understood it, but I'm not familiar with the intricacies of volume licensing to laptop OEMs so take my guess for what it is, a guess. Glad you got the upgrade.

As for the COA sticker under the battery, I like it there, prevents it from degrading over time. It can sometimes be found on the power brick too, but for Thinkpads, it's under the battery.

P.S. You're welcome and happy to help!

 

I just downloaded Win 8 Pro, but I am not going to install it now. I have three options:

1. Install now
2. Install by creating media
3. Install later from your desktop.

I am going to choose 3. However, where can I find the downloaded file or files. Can I make copies of these files now for later use?

Thanks!

 

I would choose install by creating media. Just pop a 4GB or more flash drive in there and you're good to go.

The upgrade assistant downloads the file somewhere, I don't remember where, but it will be on your HDD and you could always launch the assistant again I think.

 

I cannot help but laugh. You are right regarding degraded sticker thing. In the past, I put some plastic (such as food wrap) over it, and then put a tape on top it ))) I recall that another person on this forum said he was going to do the same thing a few years ago.

 

Option 2, I believe, allows you to download the official .ISO file and burn it to DVD or a USB stick. Probably too late now. I don't think you can go back and do it later.

 

Interesting, but in doing some searches I came across Lenovo's Windows Upgrade Capable Systems and discovered the T500 is not on there. I do not know why it isn't, but W8 seems to be running fine on mine. However, had I seen that page earlier today, I doubt I would have upgraded.

The earliest T5xx listed is the T510, the next iteration beyond mine.

 

I already chose 3. Based on what you said, I am wondering how I can get the Win 8 Pro install software later...

I went to Recycle Bin but am unable to find any deleted files that is very large or unknown to me....

Thanks.

 

Do you see a shortcut on your desktop for the upgrade/install? It likely points to the location of the bits. Don't feel bad, most people are probably going to make the wrong choice. I would call Microsoft and request the .ISO. Should be fun.

 

There is a shortcut on the desktop. It is called Install Windows. I looked at its property and it points to

C:\Users\David\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup\Sources\WebSetup.exe (about 1.8MB in size). There are many small files in this folder. When I click the link, there is a popup window. Its heading is Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant and this popup window offer 3 options:

1. Install now
2. Install by creating media
3. Install later from your desktop.

What does this mean to me? I would like to create DVD for backup and use it for install later ONLY when needed.

Cheers.

 

Choose Install by creating media and follow the process, you'll end up creating said bootable DVD or USB drive. I highly recommend using a USB drive, it installs way faster than from disc. For Windows 7, it took me less than 15 mins to install from USB to SSD and that was on USB2.0, I could then move on to updates and installing my programs.

 

I want to keep the install files on USB or DVD, but I dont want to do any install now. If I choose "Install by creating media", can I create the install media and end it without installing win 8 pro?

 

The assistant downloads the full ISO to your computer, so even if you missed the opportunity to burn it, you can manually grab it yourself > make a copy > delete it from your PC if you have no further need for it and get back the used space.

In Windows 7 it is located in the following directory: C:\users\YOUR USERNAME\appdata\local\microsoft\websetup

Hope that helps.

 

Not at all

 

Yes, you can, that's the whole point of creating media. I created my USB the way I described and only installed a few days later.

 

I did as you said. Choose option 2, and I got the ISO file.

Now I want to turn the ISO into an install DVD. I recall that a few years ago someone posted a message about free software for doing so, but I am unable to find it any more. Any thought?

 

I use ImgBurn. See The Official ImgBurn Website

 

Thanks soooooooooo much for the info. I believe that is what I heard of many years ago.

Just installed it and it is burning a DVD now.

All the best.

 

You could also use the Windows USB DVD download tool, it should work for the Windows 8 iso too. Using the upgrade assistant and choosing create media would have resulted in you ending up with a DVD too.

 

I use ISO Recorder found here: ISO Recorder v3

It's very lightweight and intergrades well into the Windows Shell. Lets you create an ISO out of any folder and also burns ISO's.

 

Just an update on my venture into Windows 8: I received the free Windows Media Center pack product code this morning and entered it. I had wondered if it would be accepted because I requested the code when I installed W8 on Thursday evening, January 31, and had read that the MWC code had to be used by February 1 to be accepted. Nevertheless, MWC installed without a hitch (February 2).

I frankly fail to see what all the negativity is about W8. It seems like a decent upgrade. It takes a bit to get acclimated to it, but I operate with it pretty much as I did W7.

Perhaps I'm just getting too old to notice what I should be annoyed with, but I'm pleased with W8 thus far. Then again, I primarily use my computer for research and writing, so perhaps gaming and intensive video work is another story.

 

The above is a rather nice followup.

So I'll add my 2 cents. >smiling but not grinning/laughing<

In a nutshell, moving to a new O/S, like Win8, has too much risk of being a beta tester for M$.

Meaning you really don't want to be spending time/effort with O/S issues.

OTOH if I had a touchscreen I'd likely move to Win8 in a heartbeat.

What I've seen so far on Win8 is that it is playing out like Win Vista did.

Since you're an old guy, you do remember Win Vista? Win7 is what finally sold big time.

Or how about Win98? Win98SE is what finally sold big time.

Or how about Win Millenium? That one was a pure failure.

Good luck with Win8, and I sincerely mean that.

 

Thanks for the well wishes.

I remember MS DOS, Windows 3.1, 95, 98SE, XP, Vista, W7, and W8. W8 is the only OS I've ever upgraded to, and that was only because it was priced attractively for me to give it a shot. So if I skipped one, and I skipped some really poor ones, it seems, it was because I didn't need a new computer.

My first computer was a Leading Edge Model D, something like 1985 or '86--I don't remember exactly, and I had passed 30 then. I had taught basic computing program on an Apple IIe and decided to get a PC for myself.

I feel like the 3 mos. W8 has been out has taken care of a little of the beta testing, but I understand what you're saying. I waited till almost the last minute (January 31, because the regular price went into effect on Feb. 1) to pull the trigger. I figured it was worth a $40 test. So far, so good. But, obviously, I would have been fine to have stayed with W7.

 

I have to agree with broadus overall. windows 8 is a radical departure in some regards and it does have it's own set of quirks. However, it is not the piece of crap that some make it to be. It does require some adjustment on someone's part and with a regular mouse the new UI feels meh. Try the mouse gestures with a touchpad though and they work pretty well. Not everyone is going to like it, that's for sure, so give it a try and make your own opinion, I was expecting not to like it and I do like it. I see no reason to get over 7 at full price, but I see no reason to avoid it either.