General Chat

I recently bought a new laptop which has windows 8.

Apart from the fact I'm really not that keen on windows eight, I've always had an issue where the majority of times my page does not display correctly straightaway, I have to refresh it to view it properly.

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why this is happening.

Chris

Which page do you mean?

Could you give a bit more info please?

Sorry most pages.

For example, when I log into GR, the words Home Family Tree Relatives etc towards the top of the page are more towards the left than they should be so that when I put my cursor on Community for example, the drop down list will not show. I then have to refresh the page which moves the writing towards the right, when I then click on the word community, the drop down list is displayed.

If I look at some of the selling pages on facebook, I can see what has been written but any photos of the items for sale are not displayed, just a very tiny coloured square, when I refresh the page the photo is then displayed.

This happens on the majority of occasions on all sites I visit.

Chris

Did this happen before you had the new computer and if so, what system were you running then?

Which browser are you using?

It's only happened since I've had the new laptop. My previous laptop was Windows XP.

Chris

ok
Which browser are you using?

one solution:

Install Firefox.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-install-windows-8-metro-style-firefox

another solution:

wait for 8.1 ( free upgrade, real soon now )

my solution:

installed Windows 7

take your pick

Rollo with respect would it not be better to find out what the actual problem is first before suggesting a (possible) different browser or something as drastic as using a different operating system?

I have been using Win8 since it was beta (Metro) and currently have IE10 on IE8.1 beta in a VM. Same problem and I was not interested in fixing it. If you have a solution I'd be all ears.

If there are two things I have come to hate in the world it is IE10 and Visual Studio 2012.

No wonder Steve Bullmer has gone leaving a legacy of a very good reason to go to the Apple Store. They say if it ain't broke don't fix it. What about when it is all broke at the get go ?

Thanks for your replies.

I have Firefox and also Chrome and the problem occurs with both. I did consider installing windows 7 but cannot justify spending the £98 I was quoted.

Chris

I'll let Rollo talk you through that one then - if you get confused at all just shout.

Just reading it made me confused, I'm not computer savvy at all.

Chris

I have been able to get GRu running properly OK under IE10 / Windows 8.1 beta using compatability mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/features/compatibility-view

Windows 8.1 ships on 18 October and all users of Win8 will be eligible for a free upgrade - make sure you get yours. Microsoft are also close to releasing Internet Explorer 11 which will run on Windows 7 and Windows 8 platforms.

Rollo I thought you were not interested in fixing the problem. lol

It's ok though, I have already given that solution via PM yesterday.

Thanks anyway

I'm not interested in any particular screw up from Microsoft 'cos most of our work is done in Linux / Android.

Tragically for contractual reasons we are being coerced into doing development work for Win8 "Apps" which sometimes makes running IE10 unavoidable. The dev work on WinApps is done on virtual machines which only have the latest version of Visual Studio and all the other betas that Microsoft recommend for developing stable apps. Sorry I'll say that again ....

As a result I needed to get IE10 to work at least sometimes. I remain disinterested in why it cracks up and any real fix, only a work around.

Given the major changes in the way of working needed and the weirdness of Win8 I am astonished that anybody buys into it by choice.

The touch/tile metro interface is an utter mess on any desktop or laptop. It is OK on tablets and Windows SmartPhones but nobody is buying them. Capacitive touch screens are expensive. Oh forgot there is no DVD movie player in WIn8. What fun. It does provide a possible Dragons Den opportunity though in removing jam, lipstick, grease and so on from monitors.

The vast warehouse of unsold Surface tablets was a big part of Bullmer's sudden departure.

That leaves what amounts to a hacked version of Windows 7 and a massive problem with device drivers. Ever heard of the VISTA saga ?

If people want a good budget laptop then a Chromebook ( under £ 200 ) is a great buy and if they can spring for more then Apple is easily the best bet.

Hugh Lofting best described Windows8.

"The Pushmi-pullyu

The pushmi-pullyu has two heads (one of each) at opposite ends of its body. When it tries to move, both heads try to go in opposite directions. Dr. Dolittle met it on his voyage to Africa to save monkeys The pushmi-pullyu usually only uses one of its heads to talk, reserving the other for eating (thus allowing the pushmi-pullyu to eat while speaking without being rude) and claims to be related to almost all kinds of deer - its great-grandfather was supposedly the last unicorn. The Eddie Murphy film has a brief scene where it is walking in the background while Dr. Dolittle talks to the tiger in the cage. "

It is said that the system designer of Windows 8 was Zaphod Beeblebrox and the system testing carried out by Mervyn the Computer.

I just wish whoever designed Windows 8 hadn't bothered. I find it a total nightmare to use. It's far too sensitive. When buying new computers/laptops we should have the choice as to which operating system we want.

Chris

unfortunately Chrissie, although it is a nightmare, it is the latest version of just one operating system ie Windows. It's like buying a Ford Focus and saying why can't we have an Escort? The Focus is an Escort but brought up to date.
In other words you don't have a choice between a Focus and Escort - you have to buy the Focus.
Windows 8 is not great and the only real alternative is to use Linux which means learning a totally new system.

I've just sent you a message Errol.

Chris

got it taa

Glad it is seemingly moving in the right direction

So what can be done ?

Here is a piece by CNET which gets things something like the late and lamented Windows 7:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/software-and-web-apps/how-to-make-windows-8-look-like-windows-7-50009546/

It is very difficult for a non-techie person to get Windows 8 to dual boot, especially on a laptop.

Where has like it or lump it got Ford ? Plumbing the sales charts and losing money in Europe. I must be one of the few souls never to have been in or driven a Focus or its predecessor the Escort. I did have a couple of beefy Mondeo V6 tho', MK2 and then mk 3. Comfy n quik. And then ! The new improved version (not)... it didn't sell. So now I drive something else.

I posted a few months back that people who were planning a new laptop / desktop to get Win7 while they had the chance. Now they know why.

Apart from the oft quoted rule that every other Microsoft OS is a disaster this time Microsoft no longer have the same sort of captive market as before and just telling people they will have to like it or lump it is not going to fly.

Hits: DOS 3 DOS 6 Win 3.1 Win95 Win98 Win2000 XP (after a near death start) Win7
Miss: DOS 1 DOS 2 DOS 5 NT4 Win 2.3 WinME XP/2003 (almost) Win8 Win 8.1 WinCE Windows Mobile

My guess is that the incoming CE ( Gates ? ) will recognise that running the same OS on all devices is not the master stroke that Bullmer thought it was.
Meanwhile they will struggle. Trying to move the whole business to the "Cloud & Office365" is a bit previous too, the more so in light of PRISM. They are planning to sell apps by subs rather than outright.

Hint for Errol: It is possible to get both Android and Linux and EVEN Mac OS to run on the SurfacePro. So if they have a fire sale grab one.