Thread: Win 8 and me

Originally Posted by DrWho

Mike,
Right now, I'm testing the 32 bit version of Win-8/PP (public preview).
I have the 64 bit ver. on another HD, just for comparison purposes.

I don't know if you're old enough to remember, but years ago there were only two types of
printer drivers, for compatibility. Epson and IBM.
It would seem like MS remembers that when they put printer drivers into their OS's.
When I first started testing Win-8/DP, I had three different Epson printers sitting here with
the oldest one being about six years old. Win-8 loaded acceptable drivers for all three.

I do remember this, and that is interesting. I wonder if this diminishes the WHQL certification process by any measure, or if they are simply listed as Microsoft Compatibility Drivers?

MS did leave out a lot of things from their /PP version, maybe to make downloads easier.
Themes, sounds, wallpaper are all at a bare minimum, possibly to make room for more
drivers. Works for me! I'm anxious, to see just how big the final release is.

They will not show off the branding until the very end. For example, I sincerely doubt that the Metro UI backgrounds will simply encompass a color wheel. We will see the full extent of the product branding on the final release version, for certain, but unlikely before, unless a release candidate slips.

I even went into the registry, to do some tweaking and I found many registry keys missing.
I assume that if I added them back in, that they would still work, but there's no guarantee
of that.

Uncertain. Especially if the structure of the registry is intentionally changing. It is possible that the CP was just a fork from a nightly build that seemed stable enough to show off. I doubt much preparation went into it outside of branching it off for public use and determining that it was reasonably stable. I am curious as to whether or not anyone has determined if the build was compiled with debug/checked code or is actually fully optimized. If it is a checked build many compiler optimizations will be disabled in favor of debugging support. Once Windows OEM's and retails, checked builds are usually still provided on MSDN and TechNet for testing purposes, but a final and full optimization is performed on the free build before it goes out the door. This is something I am still very curious about.

As a MS Beta-tester, my W8 ISO came from Connect not, the public site. From Connect both versions are available... Checked Build & 'regular'. Would, I believe, be the same via MSDN or TechNet subscriptions.

Cheers,
Drew

Originally Posted by Drew

As a MS Beta-tester, my W8 ISO came from Connect not, the public site. From Connect both versions are available... Checked Build & 'regular'. Would, I believe, be the same via MSDN or TechNet subscriptions.

Cheers,
Drew

TechNet does offer a few "checked" builds, but not a lot. Most of the OS's & Office Suites available from TechNet, are the same ones that are full versions. When I was a member a little over a year ago, there were only about 3 checked builds. I have 1 of them, a Vista one, I may as well garbage it, because that's what it amounts to.

I'm going to get another subscription later in the year, late in the fall, but will go with a Desktop subscription, rather than the Pro Plus. I only need the recent OS's & Office Suites, already have a ton of XP, Office 2007 & early stuff. MSDN is too costly for me. The main difference in the Pro & Desktop subscriptions are the number of keys issued. Pro gets 5 of each, Desktop gets 2.

That's why I have 15 or 16 OS's installed all over the place. Windows 8 & a modern Office will be my next projects.

Cat

For Windows 8 consumer, there are no checked builds on Technet. But they are available on msdn. You can see there is a small difference in size This is what MS have to say on the subject.

"The checked build of Microsoft Windows makes identifying and diagnosing operating-system-level problems easier.

The checked build differs from the free build in the following ways:

Many compiler optimizations (such as stack frame elimination) are disabled in the checked build. This makes it easier to understand disassembled machine instructions, and therefore it is easier to trace the cause of problems in system software.

The checked build enables a large number of debugging checks in the operating system code and system-provided drivers. This helps the checked build to identify internal inconsistencies and problems as soon as they occur.

Distribution media that contain the checked build are clearly labeled as "Debug/Checked Build." The checked build distribution medium contains the checked version of the operating system, plus the checked versions of HALs, drivers, file systems, and even many user-mode components. For information about obtaining this build.

The checked build is only available on CD by subscribing to the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), or to MSDN subscribers through the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website."

And to accepted/invited Beta Testers via Microsoft Connect.

Correct. My post was only for Cattiley's information. A very quick glance through the downloads, (TechNet plus) did not show any "Checked" versions. in the OS section or in the Office suites. Not very important to Catt, I would imagine. I guess, with a public release, everybody is, of sorts, a Beta tester but, fwiw, an MSDN sub does give an automatic outlet to connect, with full access to the Beta feedback tool and information.

Yep, MSDN or TechNet subscriptions are great!!... wish I could afford one

They're not that high. The Desktop subscription is $199, $149 renewals. Pro is $349, I can't remember the renewal price. But I got it with a 25% discount code at the time.

They email me discount codes to come back from time to time, but I don't think that the promo pricing applies to the Desktop subscription. I'll rejoin in the fall, or before Windows 8 CP's support ends.

Cat

Hi

That's weird I just realized we have a Cat named Tilley!
And your aka is Catilley.

I'm drifting it's getting late.
Time for bed.

Mike

Originally Posted by MikeHawthorne

Hi

That's weird I just realized we have a Cat named Tilley!
And your aka is Catilley.

I'm drifting it's getting late.
Time for bed.

Mike

That's a cool cat, then!