Windows 8 Notebook Without Dvd-R/w Danger

[Richard-BKK]

According to reports on techno websites, a good amount of notebooks which are MS Windows 8 ready are a nightmare for the average computer user.

The problem is that the notebooks are being sold without internal DVD-R/W, and while most of you will say you can connect an external USB DVD-R/W the USB is often initialized after the operating system has started. Which excludes starting from external DVD-R/W, most people see this problem as a handicap for using other operating systems on this notebooks, but I have a notebook with has MS Windows 8 preloaded (and luckily has an internal DVD-R/W) as I had to boot several time from DVD to fix a virus infection on the hard drive... something what will be impossible if your notebook hangs just after starting up.

Using MS Windows 8 with the best anti-virus software doesn't make you immune for the dangerous of viruses, it only lowers the risk. But still every virus newly develop will go first wild before anti-virus software companies can prevent infection....

Of course not all notebooks without internal DVD have this problem, so it's something you should check out before you buy one...

One source of the information http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM4MDY

[commande]

Uh, ever heard of changing the BIOS settings to support LEGACY USB support and boot from External Drive.... Every BIOS I know supports that option. Sorry but if your getting viruses all the time than check your computer user habits, it's 9 times out of 10 a user issue whereas surfing porn sites, email, external USB drives....

I never have any issues at all and I have a Sony Tablet with Win8 Pro - no external drive oh and it will even boot from my external USB Drive if I want it to.

9 out of 10 issues with a computer are user issues, some people are just not bright when it comes to repairing computers or how they work beyond surfing the internet or checking email.

Edited May 31, 2013 by commande

[Richard-BKK]

I'm happy that your notebook with the latest UEFA bios has USB legacy support. But some of the more modern notebooks seem to come without this support.

And I not get viruses all the time, most of the time I not use MS Windows. But we always have a notebook which runs MS Windows for if we get documents that are in a MS Windows specific format, and inserting a USB memory stick in a computer is even worse than looking porn websites. We also use MS Windows notebooks to connect to motorcycles as not much motorcycle manufacturers have other driver software available...

For my post, I only want to warn people to make sure that the notebook they buy can boot from an external USB device...

[Chicog]

I'm happy that your notebook with the latest UEFA bios has USB legacy support. But some of the more modern notebooks seem to come without this support.

And I not get viruses all the time, most of the time I not use MS Windows. But we always have a notebook which runs MS Windows for if we get documents that are in a MS Windows specific format, and inserting a USB memory stick in a computer is even worse than looking porn websites. We also use MS Windows notebooks to connect to motorcycles as not much motorcycle manufacturers have other driver software available...

For my post, I only want to warn people to make sure that the notebook they buy can boot from an external USB device...

Can you name a modern notebook that can't boot from either a bootable USB or a USB-attached DVD drive?

I doubt it. It's a BIOS feature and therefore it's called before the OS bootloader.

As for protecting yourself against USB's, Windows behaviour is no longer to autorun, and if you are paranoid install Panda USB vaccine.

The only downside of most Windows 8 Notebooks is that Windows 8 is a touchscreen OS and is crap without one. This is easily fixed with the installation of Classic Shell.

[guzzi850m2]

I just bought a ultra Book pc without dvd drive and touch screen and win8 pre installed.

When was the last time I used my dvd drive on my desk top pc, hmm over a year ago I think, so not really an issue for me.

Yes win8 is not the best seen from MS, I also installed classic shell which help somewhat and I read that they will launch win8-blue later this year (free upgrade for current win8 users)

and it will be more non touch screen friendly.

[Crossy]

Not used a DVD to install Windows since, well I can't remember.

Microsoft have a DVD/ISO to USB tool, makes a bootable USB to install from http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msus/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool/ it's free.

Installing from a USB is faster too

Not come across a modern PC that can't boot from USB.

[sustento]

That website looks like a bit more scaremongering from a Linux fanboy.

[commande]

That website looks like a bit more scaremongering from a Linux fanboy.

That's all it is from someone that doesn't like Windows 8 trying to sway opinion of the herd of computer users versus technically astute individuals.... Unfortunately this is the majority...

Edited May 31, 2013 by commande

[Chicog]

They're complaining because novices wouldn't understand the workaround.

But what novice is going to be trying to dual boot Win 8 and Linux anyway?

[WhizBang]

Rubbish. To the computer illiterate, yes it is probably a problem, but to anyone who is computer litterate, it is a non issue.

[harrry]

Probably does not know he can get an excellent anti virus protection free if he has Genuine Windows.....

But then if it is a hacked copy it should still do everything.MS isz cheating people by not supplying their extras aren't they.

[OldChinaHam]

I'm happy that your notebook with the latest UEFA bios has USB legacy support. But some of the more modern notebooks seem to come without this support.

And I not get viruses all the time, most of the time I not use MS Windows. But we always have a notebook which runs MS Windows for if we get documents that are in a MS Windows specific format, and inserting a USB memory stick in a computer is even worse than looking porn websites. We also use MS Windows notebooks to connect to motorcycles as not much motorcycle manufacturers have other driver software available...

For my post, I only want to warn people to make sure that the notebook they buy can boot from an external USB device...

Can you name a modern notebook that can't boot from either a bootable USB or a USB-attached DVD drive?

I doubt it. It's a BIOS feature and therefore it's called before the OS bootloader.

As for protecting yourself against USB's, Windows behaviour is no longer to autorun, and if you are paranoid install Panda USB vaccine.

The only downside of most Windows 8 Notebooks is that Windows 8 is a touchscreen OS and is crap without one. This is easily fixed with the installation of Classic Shell.

Would you please expand on that? I have an ASUS laptop I purchased in Feb this year. It came loaded with Windows 8. I just do not like it because it is not easy to use, as you say, with a mouse, or rather there seems to be more steps and clicks involved than seems logical, unless you are using a touchscreen.

Therefore, as you suggest, what are the advantages to using a different shell, and then what might the downside to this be, if some functionality is lost. Or maybe no functionality will be lost?

Thanks.

If with Linux, for example, we can shift back and forth at will from GNOME to KDE, but with Windows do you mean it is possible to shift from the "classic shell" back and forth to "modern" Windows 8?

(Sorry, I do not know too much about using Windows. Before this year and using this laptop, I just used a desktop PC, and Opensuse. That was good enough for my purposes. But now I need to use this laptop which is Windows 8) Tks.

Edited June 1, 2013 by OldChinaHam

[harrry]

Just press the windows key.

[commande]

I don't even try to help people use Windows or Apple computers anymore much less any other OS... It's hopeless, if they really wanted to learn they would learn themselves without standing on others shoulders but without any real need and want forget about it .... Microsoft has free video training classes on the internet for ALL of their software, you could be an absolute idiot and learn how to use the software for free if the desire existed...

I love those Linux and Unix guys, they would actually rather spend all their time recompiling the kernel and trying to find the next freeware that open Microsoft Word Documents in an attempt to show they are a Power USER, ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Not impressed... Show me one large company that doesn't use Windows to do their job with a blend of other platforms used for a Specialty purpose or only to check mail such as those executives in companies carrying an Apple around because they think there better than everyone LOL but can't open a Visio and Project document unless using some third party software or plugin that in most cases just screws everything up. MS Office for Mac/Apple.... Yea the latest release isn't bad but it's not even close to 100% as capable as the Windows version. Windows 8, it's not that hard to use, you just have to want to learn how to use it, once you do guarantee you will like it especially if you get yourself a touchscreen tablet but it's not required.

Working on cars and trucks, sure you need a flavor of Windows that is compatible with the software to interface the OBD2 port, most popular Windows XP.... This is not a Microsoft problem, it is the vendors problem for not updating their software to support USB to OBD2 Serial ports instead of using Serial Ports both ways for everything. Oh wait, I am sure a Linux guy will try and say something stupid any minute now LOL....

Edited June 2, 2013 by commande

[Richard-BKK]

I don't even try to help people use Windows or Apple computers anymore much less any other OS... It's hopeless, if they really wanted to learn they would learn themselves without standing on others shoulders but without any real need and want forget about it .... Microsoft has free video training classes on the internet for ALL of their software, you could be an absolute idiot and learn how to use the software for free if the desire existed...

I love those Linux and Unix guys, they would actually rather spend all their time recompiling the kernel and trying to find the next freeware that open Microsoft Word Documents in an attempt to show they are a Power USER, ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Not impressed... Show me one large company that doesn't use Windows to do their job with a blend of other platforms used for a Specialty purpose or only to check mail such as those executives in companies carrying an Apple around because they think there better than everyone LOL but can't open a Visio and Project document unless using some third party software or plugin that in most cases just screws everything up. MS Office for Mac/Apple.... Yea the latest release isn't bad but it's not even close to 100% as capable as the Windows version. Windows 8, it's not that hard to use, you just have to want to learn how to use it, once you do guarantee you will like it especially if you get yourself a touchscreen tablet but it's not required.

Working on cars and trucks, sure you need a flavor of Windows that is compatible with the software to interface the OBD2 port, most popular Windows XP.... This is not a Microsoft problem, it is the vendors problem for not updating their software to support USB to OBD2 Serial ports instead of using Serial Ports both ways for everything. Oh wait, I am sure a Linux guy will try and say something stupid any minute now LOL....

Please not turn this treat into a Linux vs MS Windows, it's absolutely not about the one operating system

being better than the other. We use as I specified before both

operating systems and have no problems with that.

For us as a production company using Linux has its advantage that our CNC and other machines 'talk' the same language and use the same operating system as our desktop computers. That makes it easier for us to connect and do our work. Actually, a lot of modern 'intelligent' manufacturing machines you find in factories are use some sort of Linux.

For showing you companies and government agencies that use Linux you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_adopters

By the way this companies will probably also still be using MS Windows, we also do and we see nothing wrong with that... because somebody likes Linux he's not automatic a Microsoft hater...

[sustento]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

[Richard-BKK]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

You will be shocked if you knew which MS Windows version is powering some of the ATM machines in Thailand...

[joeaverage]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

You will be shocked if you knew which MS Windows version is powering some of the ATM machines in Thailand...

what a nonsense remark, either share the info or keep it to yourself

[Richard-BKK]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

You will be shocked if you knew which MS Windows version is powering some of the ATM machines in Thailand...

what a nonsense remark, either share the info or keep it to yourself

Now to be honest I do not know, if I see the primitive error pop-up window I would say MS Windows 3.11 or Windows NT as they have similar pop-up windows...But I cannot tell which version it's as I obviously no admin access to the ATM...

[sustento]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

You will be shocked if you knew which MS Windows version is powering some of the ATM machines in Thailand...

Wouldn't be shocked at all. The UK Post Office runs all its counter positions on NT4.

[Dork]

UK lottery machines run on Linux. Starbucks till run on Windows NT.

You will be shocked if you knew which MS Windows version is powering some of the ATM machines in Thailand...

what a nonsense remark, either share the info or keep it to yourself

Now to be honest I do not know, if I see the primitive error pop-up window I would say MS Windows 3.11 or Windows NT as they have similar pop-up windows... But I cannot tell which version it's as I obviously no admin access to the ATM...

Windows CE, I'm pretty sure. Same as often used to be on hand held devices like GPS Navigators.

[commande]

I don't even try to help people use Windows or Apple computers anymore much less any other OS... It's hopeless, if they really wanted to learn they would learn themselves without standing on others shoulders but without any real need and want forget about it .... Microsoft has free video training classes on the internet for ALL of their software, you could be an absolute idiot and learn how to use the software for free if the desire existed...

I love those Linux and Unix guys, they would actually rather spend all their time recompiling the kernel and trying to find the next freeware that open Microsoft Word Documents in an attempt to show they are a Power USER, ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Not impressed... Show me one large company that doesn't use Windows to do their job with a blend of other platforms used for a Specialty purpose or only to check mail such as those executives in companies carrying an Apple around because they think there better than everyone LOL but can't open a Visio and Project document unless using some third party software or plugin that in most cases just screws everything up. MS Office for Mac/Apple.... Yea the latest release isn't bad but it's not even close to 100% as capable as the Windows version. Windows 8, it's not that hard to use, you just have to want to learn how to use it, once you do guarantee you will like it especially if you get yourself a touchscreen tablet but it's not required.

Working on cars and trucks, sure you need a flavor of Windows that is compatible with the software to interface the OBD2 port, most popular Windows XP.... This is not a Microsoft problem, it is the vendors problem for not updating their software to support USB to OBD2 Serial ports instead of using Serial Ports both ways for everything. Oh wait, I am sure a Linux guy will try and say something stupid any minute now LOL....

Please not turn this treat into a Linux vs MS Windows, it's absolutely not about the one operating system

being better than the other. We use as I specified before both

operating systems and have no problems with that.

For us as a production company using Linux has its advantage that our CNC and other machines 'talk' the same language and use the same operating system as our desktop computers. That makes it easier for us to connect and do our work. Actually, a lot of modern 'intelligent' manufacturing machines you find in factories are use some sort of Linux.

For showing you companies and government agencies that use Linux you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_adopters

By the way this companies will probably also still be using MS Windows, we also do and we see nothing wrong with that... because somebody likes Linux he's not automatic a Microsoft hater...

Not turning this into anything of the sort. Bottom line everyone complains about Windows 8 and the laptops/tablets not having DVD/DVR drives so they can't load software (Windows 8 Recovery Image is stored on a separate partition on the hard drive, pretty standard in todays world). It's BS because ALL modern computers will boot from a removable media and you can install from that removable media, it's a BIOS setting in all modern computers desktop and laptop - pick your media type. In the end it USER's that don't want to learn something new because they are happy with what they have and will immediately complain about something they don't understand claiming it's bad or hard to use. Humans are naturally lazy when it comes to learning new things, especially computers (not everyone), they see it as an inconvenience and think new tech should just read your mind and do what you want with little to no learning curve.

There are uses for all kinds of different operating systems, even Linux, I know, I have used them, deployed them and will continue to to do so based on the operational environment and requirements of said business but to post some spam here linked to some moron that can't use Windows 8 and or warning people computers don't have DVD/DVR drives so "Danger" is a waste of time because people like me that have a clue won't pity that person or any of it's followers... This last statement is not directed to you or anyone in particular, those people who it's directed to will know after reading this, they will relate to the statement...

Edited June 3, 2013 by commande

[Richard-BKK]

I don't even try to help people use Windows or Apple computers anymore much less any other OS... It's hopeless, if they really wanted to learn they would learn themselves without standing on others shoulders but without any real need and want forget about it .... Microsoft has free video training classes on the internet for ALL of their software, you could be an absolute idiot and learn how to use the software for free if the desire existed...

I love those Linux and Unix guys, they would actually rather spend all their time recompiling the kernel and trying to find the next freeware that open Microsoft Word Documents in an attempt to show they are a Power USER, ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... Not impressed... Show me one large company that doesn't use Windows to do their job with a blend of other platforms used for a Specialty purpose or only to check mail such as those executives in companies carrying an Apple around because they think there better than everyone LOL but can't open a Visio and Project document unless using some third party software or plugin that in most cases just screws everything up. MS Office for Mac/Apple.... Yea the latest release isn't bad but it's not even close to 100% as capable as the Windows version. Windows 8, it's not that hard to use, you just have to want to learn how to use it, once you do guarantee you will like it especially if you get yourself a touchscreen tablet but it's not required.

Working on cars and trucks, sure you need a flavor of Windows that is compatible with the software to interface the OBD2 port, most popular Windows XP.... This is not a Microsoft problem, it is the vendors problem for not updating their software to support USB to OBD2 Serial ports instead of using Serial Ports both ways for everything. Oh wait, I am sure a Linux guy will try and say something stupid any minute now LOL....

Please not turn this treat into a Linux vs MS Windows, it's absolutely not about the one operating system

being better than the other. We use as I specified before both

operating systems and have no problems with that.

For us as a production company using Linux has its advantage that our CNC and other machines 'talk' the same language and use the same operating system as our desktop computers. That makes it easier for us to connect and do our work. Actually, a lot of modern 'intelligent' manufacturing machines you find in factories are use some sort of Linux.

For showing you companies and government agencies that use Linux you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_adopters

By the way this companies will probably also still be using MS Windows, we also do and we see nothing wrong with that... because somebody likes Linux he's not automatic a Microsoft hater...

Not turning this into anything of the sort. Bottom line everyone complains about Windows 8 and the laptops/tablets not having DVD/DVR drives so they can't load software (Windows 8 Recovery Image is stored on a separate partition on the hard drive, pretty standard in todays world). It's BS because ALL modern computers will boot from a removable media and you can install from that removable media, it's a BIOS setting in all modern computers desktop and laptop - pick your media type. In the end it USER's that don't want to learn something new because they are happy with what they have and will immediately complain about something they don't understand claiming it's bad or hard to use. Humans are naturally lazy when it comes to learning new things, especially computers (not everyone), they see it as an inconvenience and think new tech should just read your mind and do what you want with little to no learning curve.

There are uses for all kinds of different operating systems, even Linux, I know, I have used them, deployed them and will continue to to do so based on the operational environment and requirements of said business but to post some spam here linked to some moron that can't use Windows 8 and or warning people computers don't have DVD/DVR drives so "Danger" is a waste of time because people like me that have a clue won't pity that person or any of it's followers... This last statement is not directed to you or anyone in particular, those people who it's directed to will know after reading this, they will relate to the statement...

Maybe you did not read my original post that well, or maybe my post was not that clear... it happens sometimes.

But what I try to tell people is to CHECK if the notebook they're going to buy can start from an external USB device (External USB DVD or USB memstick).

[Sandman77]

Use umbutu Linux iso on a USB stick

No problems with virus anymore while surfing

[yoslim]

Linux is good if you like to waste time on trying to get things to work

Windows is good if you actually want to get work done

I used to like linux in the 90's when windows was real garbage (win95) but now with win7/win8 I don't see the point of wasting time with Linux except if you want to run a server

[Dork]

I think it would be safe to say that there is not a single notebook on sale today that can't boot from an external device.

[Sayonarax]

Stick to motorcycles, computers are obviously not your strong suit.

They call them USB sticks.