How do I tell Microsoft that I hate Windows 8?

If it came preinstalled with Windows 8 Pro, you should have downgrade rights to Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business.

Contact the manufacturer or retailer of the computer for instructions.

It has Windows 8, not Windows 8 Pro

Wonder how long it will be possible for joe public to find Windows 7 pcs in retailers?

It has Windows 8, not Windows 8 Pro

Wonder how long it will be possible for joe public to find Windows 7 pcs in retailers?

Up to the retailers - individually - for the most part (at least for now.)

If you (or anyone else) wants to make sure they can continue using Windows 7 for some time (likely even after Microsoft pulls it from the shelves) - you should purchase RETAIL FULL Licensed copies now - so you can install it on a computer and move it to the next computer and so on.

 

Doing it now... because it is still for sale via retail channels and is unlikely to lower in price.

Well I am getting closer to being able to live with Windows 8.  But that doesn't mean I like it.  I don't see ANY improvement in the user interface for the way I want to work.  Going back to an older version of windows is attractive, but will Microsoft really continue to improve it and give it wholehearted support in future?

I have disabled the edge action - I completely fail to see the charm of the 'charms' popping up every time my finger went anywhere near the right edge of the touchpad.

I have disabled tapping.  Likewise I fail to see the attraction of a touch screen based feature on a touchpad based laptop.  All it achieved was to inadvertently do things I didn't want done.

The Metro interface is a much less convenient way of doing things FOR ME.

I guess that from Microsoft's perspective this makes me a defective user.  So be it.

To offer an analogy.  If I buy a car I want a user interface designed for a car.  If I buy a motorcycle I want a user interface designed for a motorcycle.  I don't want either with a user interface that is an attempt to kludge them together.

Nick, I feel your pain and I've been patiently waiting for me to eventually fall in love with Windows 8 or for Microsoft to fix it....but days have turned to months...and I'm no happier with it than I was week1...in fact I am less happy.   

 

First let me say I'm a big fan of most things Microsoft....XP and 7 both included....I'm not posting this to bash Microsoft...but truly in hopes of helping them to recognize how bad we are all hurting because of Windows 8.... Lets face it...Windows 8 is terrible...it has a few glimmers of brilliance but is drowning in just bad decisions.... I develop .net software for a living and I am amazed at how unrefined the look and feel is....I have level 1 developers who build cleaner feeling apps....  

 

If I recall correctly, I think I read that the head of the windows 8 project quit about the day it was released? could be wrong on that but I recall someone high on the windows 8 team bailed out day1...this was the first sign of the coming doom

 

So come on Microsoft....get ahead of this ticking time bomb and admit to your still loyal following  that you at least recognize that you missed the mark on this...and tell us that your going to put a rapid plan together to make your fan base happy....otherwise I may just do the unthinkable...and start reconsidering my lifelong dedication to your OS....  Sincerely.... Scott 

Nick, I feel your pain and I've been patiently waiting for me to eventually fall in love with Windows 8 or for Microsoft to fix it....but days have turned to months...and I'm no happier with it than I was week1...in fact I am less happy.   

 

First let me say I'm a big fan of most things Microsoft....XP and 7 both included....I'm not posting this to bash Microsoft...but truly in hopes of helping them to recognize how bad we are all hurting because of Windows 8.... Lets face it...Windows 8 is terrible...it has a few glimmers of brilliance but is drowning in just bad decisions.... I develop .net software for a living and I am amazed at how unrefined the look and feel is....I have level 1 developers who build cleaner feeling apps....  

 

If I recall correctly, I think I read that the head of the windows 8 project quit about the day it was released? could be wrong on that but I recall someone high on the windows 8 team bailed out day1...this was the first sign of the coming doom

 

So come on Microsoft....get ahead of this ticking time bomb and admit to your still loyal following  that you at least recognize that you missed the mark on this...and tell us that your going to put a rapid plan together to make your fan base happy....otherwise I may just do the unthinkable...and start reconsidering my lifelong dedication to your OS....  Sincerely.... Scott 

Reality: you are already reconsidering or you wouldn't have posted the rant.  Move on - stop lying to yourself.

If you don't like the default Start Menu or the apps, try one of these..

 

Use an alternative start menu..

Free..

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

https://www.pokki.com/  

Costs $5 but is just like Windows 7..

http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

 

They make a huge difference to usability, trust me. I use one myself and would be back with Windows 7 were it not for Start8. Now, I have the best of both worlds. I can still get stuff done, and can have a play with the 'other' side now and again..

 

 

 

Yes but charms continues to pop up in other applications.

Just bought a new laptop to replace my old one that has XP installed. I feel like I have made a BIG, no HUGE, mistake in buying Windows 8. I have spent a bit of time slowly learning what 'features' I am having to disable to make it BEARABLE for me to use an operating system designed for small touch screens on a non-touch screen laptop. I am nowhere near happy yet and I think it will take months to get used to the new operating system - that is assuming I ever do. Yes, I know what the 'answer' will be. Suck it up, waste my time learning to live with it etc. etc. I am seriously considering going back to the retailer and asking if I can return the laptop and exchange it for one with Windows 7 on it. I have been using Windows 8 for months now, there is no "getting use to it" - it still sucks! I have learned to navigate this crappy system, and it is still a very time consuming crappy OS. I hate Windows 8 - they won't let me downgrade to Windows 7 due to MS licensing agreements - which is **** too.

Just bought a new laptop to replace my old one that has XP installed. I feel like I have made a BIG, no HUGE, mistake in buying Windows 8. I have spent a bit of time slowly learning what 'features' I am having to disable to make it BEARABLE for me to use an operating system designed for small touch screens on a non-touch screen laptop. I am nowhere near happy yet and I think it will take months to get used to the new operating system - that is assuming I ever do. Yes, I know what the 'answer' will be. Suck it up, waste my time learning to live with it etc. etc. I am seriously considering going back to the retailer and asking if I can return the laptop and exchange it for one with Windows 7 on it. I have been using Windows 8 for months now, there is no "getting use to it" - it still sucks! I have learned to navigate this crappy system, and it is still a very time consuming crappy OS. I hate Windows 8 - they won't let me downgrade to Windows 7 due to MS licensing agreements - which is **** too.

Just like your assumption of what you were getting and what you had to do to make things bearable - your assumption of the "answer" is also incorrect:

 

Take it back - return it.  Be smart and get what you want from the beginning.  Don't make things work.  Buy what you need instead of having to waste your time and others bandwidth complaining about it.