Yes and I only have the antivirus that comes with Windows 8.
Incidentally, when you say update, part of the problem is that there are a great many updates and Windows 8 does seem to be very flaky in the way that its update processes function. For instance, at various times it has reported that I have never updated Windows and have no history, that I have 5 important updates downloaded and waiting to install, that I have 13 important updates waiting, that 5 and sometimes 8 are installed successfully. I have disabled all updates in order to try installing a few key ones manually (or what the internet tells me are key ones) only to find that on restart Windows has taken the decision to queue a mass of other updates I never selected - which then fail to configure and prompt the same depressing unstoppable 35 minute roll back.
It's annoyingly familiar that the only proactive support is coming from the user community - as far as I know there's not even a web-page from MS.
I've also discovered some things I like less about 8 during the attempted troubleshooting. For instance, while I was trying to uninstall the Realtek drivers, the uninstall hung (of course). So I fired up task manager to see if I could kill it, only to discover that task manager no longer lists tasks. The most basic view is processes - which is fine if you know what processes are being used. Oddly perverse decision. I really can't see anybody with limited PC knowledge standing a chance.
Is this in the usual (Windows 7-esq) Windows Update in Control Panel? No issues there for me. I have lots of updates installed, 1 pending which is Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 and 1 optional which is the stupid Bing Desktop Search.
As for the new Task manager, I prefer it. The "Fewer Details" view is light on information, but it's now completely trivial to use compared to the old Task Manager. But, you're obviously above the pay grade of needing basic functionality, so should you need it, the "More Details" section still gives you CPU, Memory, Disk and Network usage, Tasks and Services just like the old Task Manager did. That really hasn't changed since Windows NT 4.0.
Now that you mention it I'm not sure on this.
I thought that 'Fewer Details' basically listed what was 'Tasks' back in the older version and 'More details' lists Apps (Tasks) with the resource usage and Background processes (Processes) with the resource usage like some kind of amalgamated version.
In truth I've not had to use it in anger as yet so i'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it
This is the link to the reasons and thinking to the redesign if you can be arsed to read it and it's always been one of the more widely lauded changes in Windows 8.
Yes - usual update.
The update history shows 12 installed updates and 13 failed. I'm in two minds whether to leave things as they are and forget about updates - or do a backup, wipe the drive and do a fresh install.
As for task manager, I had another look and I've realised that I didn't see either the apps or background processes headers before. Whether that was just me being dumb or task manager itself was playing up along with the hung uninstall I don't know - probably me. I'll give it a bit longer, but to my eyes it just looks a bit prettier. On the rare occasions I'm actually allowed to do real work at work it isn't often in Windows, and when it is, it's usually well after the disaster has happened when I'm more interested in whatever logs are available than task manager.
I think you're more or less right - as in what I said to Matt.
I haven't really given it much of a chance and I can see there are some improvements. It's fairly reassuring that they haven't gone totally overboard with bells and whistles. Not convinced by the move of the start-up tab from MSConfig to Task Manager though. I expect there's a very clever reason.
So after using 8 for a couple of days on my new touch screen thingy I still say it's not ready. They should have released two versions, one for touch devices and one for desktops/laptops without touch. As it is right now they have a fucked up mess. You still have to go to the control panel for things like configuring printers, when you try it using the devices menu you end up dead ended.
I've been confused a couple of times as to what "mode" to do things in, often just reverting back to the desktop because it's easier. I think with a big service pack it could be fixed, but I'm not sure they are going to do it.
As time consuming as it is, I would personally do the later as the idea of not having any updates strikes me as a stupid one to make. I see Windows updates as important as anti-virus updates and I wouldn't switch those off either.
If you want to speed up the reinstall of Windows 8, assuming you have a physical copy on DVD, follow this guide and copy the contents of it to a USB thumbstick:
http://hexus.net/tech/tech-explained/software/31765-how-install-windows-8-usb-drive/
The installation will absolutely fly compared to copying from DVD. It's very likely you'll have the Windows install done in 10~15 minutes.
I completely agree that keeping up to date is far preferable to not keeping up to date. My choice, however, was not simply between those two, it was between attempting to keep up to date and having a functional laptop, bearing in mind that windows update at present repeatedly disables the laptop for up to 40 minutes, which will increase as failed installs pile up.
After the written assurances from Microsoft (well, in a press release and on a website) that this time an upgrade install would be a safe option, I am irritated to find myself here - having followed all the advice in the upgrade advisor and having a reasonably new and adequately specified laptop.
It now strikes me that my plan to do a clean install may have been hit by another gotcha from MS. During the upgrade advisor/purchase/download process, the would-be upgrader is asked whether they intend to keep settings, apps and settings, or nothing. This happens before the download is available and presumably influences the composition of the files delivered. I've just downloaded an iso from the link I was given and I'll give it a whirl to see if it gives me the option to wipe the drive.
...which it does. I wonder whether the new install will suffer from the windows-update-disables-laptop-keyboard bug, which I have also discovered, along with several others.
Does anyone know how to take a screenshot using the onscreen keyboard? It doesn't have a Windows key or a print screen key.
I did learn if you press the Windows key and print screen it saves them. You don't need to use paint anymore, so that's nice. But I don't see a way to do any print screens without using the real keyboard.