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First,
I feel compelled to write Steve Ballmer:
Dear Mr. Ballmer,
I have NEVER owned an iPod, iPhone or other Apple Device in my life. I have been Happy in DOS, Windows, and Unix my whole life.
And I feel pretty smart. I finally gave up Windows XP Pro for Windows 7 Pro, and I LOVE IT. Start->Search is my favorite feature.
Then, you came out with windows 8. I am a touch typist. I prefer the DOS shell to the windows shell, and I already hate "Run as administrator" but I got over it.
Then, you came out with windows 8. For which the only word is HATE! I lose my start menu. I lose my quick and easy search.
But today, an old client called. They wanted to backup a CONFIGURATION FILE from software I wrote 13yrs ago for them. But we just installed it on Windows 8 (a nightmare of UAC settings and rebooting, I might add)... So this, was a great idea.
So I launch the explorer, and I CANNOT FIND the directory. (It is under C:\Program Files(x86)\xxx\RIGHT_FRIGGING_HERE
Strange. I launch the OTHER SOFTWARE which uses the DATA in that directory (and the configuration information). It finds it, in its own UI. It is there.
Oh, okay, I will right click (from inside that programs OPEN window) and Copy...
Go to the USB Drive, Click PASTE (and get an error message that the file is no longer there. Which is a LIE. The File cannot be seen because of some FRIGGING Security concept that Windows thinks makes sense).
Usually, I would go to a DOS prompt in administrator mode. BUT I CANNOT FIND IT in windows 8 in a way that I can click and tell it to run in administrator made.
***
I am sorry. I should NOT have to take a CLASS on how to use a computer.
To make a long story short... I bought my First Mac... Thanks to you Mr. Ballmer. And you know what. It has security features too. But it lets me get passed them. It lets me get to a shell (cmd prompt), and I can work from there.
So, Mr. Ballmer. I am GLAD YOU ARE LEAVING. You took a computer, and made it LOOK NICE while making it about as USEFUL to someone as a BRICK. We don't have touch screens.
Until I found and installed Classic Shell for my wife, she was ready to throw her new laptop through some window(s)... Pun Intended.
You should have included a message on the home page:
"Welcome to Windows 8:
You are effectively restricted from accessing anything useful, so go find a tablet to surf the web from. We think the iPad is particularly useful in these matters. Meanwhile, what the screen while your "panels" flip and buzz and change, in order to mess with the ADD kids or the ones taking drugs... They will be drawn to click on something because it sparkles!
If you want to actually USE your new computer, may we recommend downgrading to Windows 7..."
Ughhh... Rant Over, but my frustration is not!
And on this other computer, I cannot just install Classic Shell... And I am not the administrator. Joy.
I am hoping others throw some complaints I may have missed. And if someone at MSFT knows of an easy way to run "Explorer as an Administrator" I would be all for it (I found a supposed Registry hack to do it, but I lacked sufficient access, and I could not give myself permission to do it, so I wrote this instead)...
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Windows Key, start typing. How hard is that?
Your other gripe is due to the directory in question being redirected. Windows 7 also does this (ran into this very issue at home last Friday. Was irked and then remembered what was going on.) In reality, configuration files shouldn't be stored in Program Files, so the real problem lies with the software, not Windows. (Moroever, Mac also has restrictions on where you put configuration files.)
I have an iMac sitting next to me for porting reasons; I find it far more clunky and unusable that any version of Windows. (It also nags me far more for passwords than Windows ever has, including Windows 8.)
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Joe Woodbury wrote: I have an iMac sitting next to me for porting reasons; I find it far more clunky and unusable that any version of Windows.
Maybe you should start using it for more than just porting... It comes down to familiarity. I've had a Mac at home for over 4 years. I use Windows 7 at work. Both OSes are ROCK SOLID and both are very easy to use.
Joe Woodbury wrote: It also nags me far more for passwords than Windows ever has
Out of curiosity, do you log in to Windows with an admin account? I've found that when using a "normal" Windows user account it asks for a password at least as often as OS X.
Joe Woodbury wrote: including Windows 8
I can't comment about Win 8. Other than a few minutes with the preview version a year or so ago - I've never touched it.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington
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Mike Mullikin wrote: Maybe you should start using it for more than just porting...
I put that there to indicate why I have and use one despite disliking it. I've used Macs on and off since they first came out and I still don't like them.
Mike Mullikin wrote: Out of curiosity, do you log in to Windows with an admin account
I log into both with an admin account. (While writing this, I realized that I've been entering my password less often with OSX 10.9, so there's that.)
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Joe Woodbury wrote: I log into both with an admin account.
OS X is a lot like Ubuntu Linux in that regard... even if you're logged in with admin rights (SUDO) it wants you to prove it every once in a while to make sure its really you. It happens so infrequently for me, its a non-issue.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. ~ George Washington
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Okay, while I love to mock and pillory Steve Ballmer, I must point out that, in all fairness, he didn't actually write ANY of Windows 8. Now, if you were to turn your attention to Steve Sinofsky that's a whole different radish.
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Take a deep breath. I don't like Windows 8 either. There are many features I don't care about. However, my employer assigned me a Windows 8 laptop. After about 2 weeks of daily use, I gave up fighting it and I don't even notice the OS anymore, except when the Elephanting charms menu randomly shows up...
With some patience, you can be just as productive if you want to be. I would prefer to have the start button back, but I am dealing just fine. Embrace change, you're in IT!
Hogan
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Yes,
The problem is that MY Desktop is Windows 7.
But I am having to support people with Windows 8, Remotely, usually using GoToMeeting,
which Windows 8 HIDES many prompts, and my users are ... Well "Users"...
So, I don't get used to it. I am usually dialing in to do something, that in the past took 2
minutes, and I was good to go.
I have NO experience with it, and the tool I use does not send the WINDOWS key, so I have to
ask the user to type that for me... And I don't always see the results because windows 8 security
hides some things, or prompts them to continue... Ughhh...
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Have you considered using a different tool? GoToMeeting is for business people to conduct meetings with screen sharing. They have a different service called Go To Assist[^] that is for technical people. I migrated tech support from GoToMeeting to GoToAssist at a previous position and it enabled them to be in more control of the user's machine. Our customers and support people were both happier! It installs a service that allows it to press all hidden UAC buttons, running as an administrator, and many other awesome features.
While it does cost more money, it also helps with Windows 7/Vista support as well.
Good luck!
Hogan
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That is helpful.
I use it 99% of the time for meetings, but good to know...
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I like Windows 8 a lot more with this little registry tweak to disable the charms bar automatically popping up. It will still come up with "Win+C", which makes it much more useful and only when I want it to be. 
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-disable-charms-bar-hint-in-windows-8/[^]
You can also disable the edge swiping thing on laptops by going to the Mouse Properties (Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Mouse), then select the Device Settings tab and then Settings. Uncheck the "Enable Edge Swipes" checkbox.
-NP
Never underestimate the creativity of the end-user.
modified 27-Jan-14 15:10pm.
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Thanks a ton for that tip! Can't count just how often I cursed that stupid pop up and then trying to get it to go away again on the small 13" screen of my (non-touch) ultrabook! You are the saviour of my sanity! 
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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So sorry to hear of your angst. I've been using Windows 8 and 8.1 for nearly 2 years now and I see no problem. In fact after realizing that there is a whole start screen instead of a start menu, I find it easier to locate stuff on my Win8 machines than on the other ones.
Perhaps you just don't like change?
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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I don't mind change.
I mind change that makes my life hard.
Also, I NEVER use windows 8 unless a client who has it calls.
So, it is just not in my wheelhouse.
But NO OTHER version of windows is so FRUSTRATING of an upgrade. I
could use all of the versions in between. And I admit when I moved to Win7,
it took about 3 days for me to like it better than XP. It takes me roughly 5-8 days
to install and build a new machine for me to use, and that usually gets me up to speed.
But I dont have a windows 8 desktop.
So, since you have no problems. PLEASE how do I tell my NOVICE user via email to access
a file that is located in:
C:\Program Files(x86)\FPS\QB_Import\_SOMEFILE_.DAT
Please?
QB_IMPORT is not visible...
Kirk Out!
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Go to the Desktop, bring up Explorer and do it the same way you would do it in previous versions of Windows.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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No. This is my point.
The folder is not visible.
I even tried opening the program that lets me select the file in the folder.
And I tried Right Click COPY... Go to another folder. Paste.
It will NOT let me. It says the file is no longer there (it means the Explorer window does not have access to this). And Right Click, send to DOCUMENTS FAILS as well.
and trying to tell the user to do this has been impossible, so I dialed in to discover they were not insane.
But I am still listening. (I am going to fall back to trying to find CMD and running it as Administrator, and doing it from DOS, but I have to wait for the user to call me back). It just isn't fun or NEARLY as easy as it should be.
And if I write good software 13 years ago. The user getting a new machine should not break the software. They certainly do not want to pay me to redesign the system to save files in other places, and recompile and test in Windows 8...
But I cannot get the user to get to the file. It is driving me crazy.
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Member 10389821 wrote: The folder is not visible.
Options-->Show system and hidden files?
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I'm not sure this is the problem he's referring to: setting Explorer to show all hidden files is among the first things I do on every new PC/OS, but in W7 and W8 I've found there are tons of links and "folders" that are not only hidden, but also can't be accessed (Explorer will issue an error message, and CMD.EXE will tell you the item isn't there. In some cases I even managed to "cd" to such denied folders in CMD.EXE, even though it told me it doesn't exist.
Ok, I do understand that I shouldn't meddle with "C:\Recovery". But If I have the suspicion there is a virus around, hiding in the file system, shouldn't I - as an administrator, no less - be allowed to at least view the contents of each folder? 
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
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In Explorer, check Hidden Items on the View ribbon. Works for my hidden folders and files, just like in previous versions of Windows.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Member 10389821 wrote: Ughhh... Rant Over, but my frustration is not!
So, Balmer wrote a memo saying that your application should be hidden, or what?
Member 10389821 wrote: If you want to actually USE your new computer, may we recommend downgrading to Windows 7..."
If you do not like the expensive tools, we have some free ones right here
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Member 10389821 wrote: I lose my quick and easy search.
It's at the opposite corner, namely the top right corner.The first item inside the "fly out" menu is the search button.
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Shuqian Ying wrote: It's at the opposite corner
Not that is intuitive. Thankfully I don't have to deal with the abomination yet, maybe 9 will have a more sensible interface.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Urine id10t.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein
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While most of this is inaccurate, I understand that people have to let out steam sometimes. 
I hope we could help. Now relax, and have another look at that search function.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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I don't think it's possible to do this manoeuvre[^] in North America due to change fees (and I expect that airline will be applying one soon), but it's always nice to see someone clever in action.
--------------
TTFN - Kent
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