Windows 8 Help Sites?

[DonH50]

I had to buy a new laptop. I am about done loading SW so hopefully this weekend can transfer some files over and try out the processing and graphics power. In the meantime, it came with Window 8 and I hate the interface. Partly because I am so used to XP (and somewhat with Win7), but mostly because I don't like 50 bazillion little icons all over the page and don't know how to organize them into some semblance of understandable order. Also, half my programs laoded shirtcuts in the desktop, half on the new Win8 start page, and I don't know how to transfer/copy them so I have shortcuts in both places. I did upgrade to 8.1 as soon as I unpacked it since everyone said to (it would be easier to learn, upgrade would be a breeze, etc. -- it was a major PITA and how I managed to blow many hours and a week-plus elapsed time!) I know this is supposed to make life easier, but having to learn a completely new interface is just a royal pain IMO.

Enough whining, where can I go to get help? What are some good sites with guidance on configuring Win8, preferably (the horror!) to something closer to the XP interface I know? I poked around the MS site a bit but got lost... Embarrassing I can design GHz circuits and set up and test SAS-3 RAID systems but making my own computer useful, bah!

 

[rockitman]

Go to the MS store on the start screen and download windows 8.1. (Free) It is a lot better than 8.0 and includes a start button on the desktop screen, which brings you to the start screen again rather than swiping the right hand screen to get the start button. I am 4 days in on win 8. It certainly takes getting use to.

http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/pc-mac/software/operating-systems/windows-8-1-1161745/review

 

[WLVCA]

Download and install Classic Shell. Its free or you can make a donation. You can then boot directly to the desktop just like XP or Windows 7. I've used it on four Windows 8 computers

http://www.classicshell.net/

Also agree that you should do the free upgrade to windows 8.1 first and then install Classic Shell, too.

 

[DonH50]

@rockitman: As my post said I installed 8.1 first thing. It is still a huge step from XP, and the install did not go smoothly for me. As a matter of fact I spent a couple of hours last night debugging and fixing a Win8.1 bug, only to find that the latest update included a fix (duh!)

@WLVCA: That looks promising, thanks!

From my first post: "I did upgrade to 8.1 as soon as I unpacked it since everyone said to (it would be easier to learn, upgrade would be a breeze, etc. -- it was a major PITA and how I managed to blow many hours and a week-plus elapsed time!)"

 

[rockitman]

@rockitman: As my post said I installed 8.1 first thing. It is still a huge step from XP, and the install did not go smoothly for me. As a matter of fact I spent a couple of hours last night debugging and fixing a Win8.1 bug, only to find that the latest update included a fix (duh!)

@WLVCA: That looks promising, thanks!

From my first post: "I did upgrade to 8.1 as soon as I unpacked it since everyone said to (it would be easier to learn, upgrade would be a breeze, etc. -- it was a major PITA and how I managed to blow many hours and a week-plus elapsed time!)"

I missed that. I'm getting use to it and at this point, I think I will prefer it to Win 7.