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Thread ID: 136587	2014-03-19 10:35:00	Win8.1 in a primary school?	johnnymax (17033)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1370669	2014-03-19 10:35:00	Got asked to help my local primary update from XP to Win7. They have about 15 desktops, 15 laptops and 20 odd tablets. No local AD etc - hosted through SmartLogin in Chch. Got started then received a disc from the Min Ed with an upgrade pack to Win 8.1. Been reading up on it and installed on one laptop. What a serious pain - obviously designed by someone trying to out-gimmick Apple. Has anyone tried/had success at installing Win8.1 on a primary schools set of computers. Nothing fancy - just able to run 'Reader Rabbit' and other educational programs not the 'world embracing networking' that is educationally rubbish at this level. Please don't recommend Ubuntu - I already like its simplicity and will be trying a laptop with 12.4 on the school network shortly.	johnnymax (17033)
1370670	2014-03-19 17:49:00	First thing is to find out if the comps you have can run Windows 8/8.1? , think that something running XP will have trouble with Windows 8 Need to run Microsoft Upgrade Assistant windows.microsoft.com Also if they sent you Windows 8 upgrade disks think you will need full install of windows 8.1 would also wait for update 1 which is out next month	Lawrence (2987)
1370671	2014-03-19 18:18:00	First thing is to find out if the comps you have can run Windows 8/8.1? , think that something running XP will have trouble with Windows 8 Need to run Microsoft Upgrade Assistant windows.microsoft.com Also if they sent you Windows 8 upgrade disks think you will need full install of windows 8.1 would also wait for update 1 which is out next month Hardware wise - no problems. Only one won't go to Win7 but I'm putting Ubuntu on that to give to a needy student. The disc has Win8.1 and Office 2013 plus some utilities, setup with a Microsoft Deployment Toolkit so works better with a full network of AD. DNS etc. Instructions include a way to create an iso disc, but seems messy. My initial evaluation says hold back and just go with Win7, let others sort out the hassles. But I've got one installed with Win8.1 and I don't think it has been designed with very young users in mind, it is tooooo gimmicky. I would really like to know if anyone has managed to get 8.1 running in a primary school - successfully.	johnnymax (17033)
1370672	2014-03-19 19:20:00	I think you have it backwards, the kids will earn windows 8 much quicker than the teachers will :P and big colourful tiles are right up their alley. Anyway if you are stuck with windows 8 and can't handle the new interface try classic shell. It's free, is a tiny download, installs and uninstalls quickly, and gives you back the windows 7 look if you really think that's any easier for kids. start8 is great too but it's not free. But really consider this - you install all the educational software, group the tiles together and name the group, delete all the tiles you don't want the kids to have access too - and you have a big colourful menu with only the software they are supposed to use on it. Terribly hard for them to use I'm sure.	dugimodo (138)
1370673	2014-03-19 19:27:00	I think you have it backwards, the kids will earn windows 8 much quicker than the teachers will :P and big colourful tiles are right up their alley. Anyway if you are stuck with windows 8 and can't handle the new interface try classic shell. It's free, is a tiny download, installs and uninstalls quickly, and gives you back the windows 7 look if you really think that's any easier for kids. start8 is great too but it's not free. But really consider this - you install all the educational software, group the tiles together and name the group, delete all the tiles you don't want the kids to have access too - and you have a big colourful menu with only the software they are supposed to use on it. Terribly hard for them to use I'm sure. Good suggestion about the tiles BUT my main point is - who's set this up on a network and what are the issues. I've come across references to wifi being a stuff-up, what other issues are there. Anyone agree that we would be better to wait, at least until year end, and see what other issues turn up?	johnnymax (17033)
1370674	2014-03-19 19:42:00	Not in a school but I have 5 PC's running windows 8 at home all networked without issue. (yes it's a lot, surprised myself counting them). It still has the classic windows networking available as well as the newer homegroup style, the same networking capabilities as windows 7. It's possible you may encounter networking issues but it's almost certainly fixable if you do. Initially I had a couple running windows 7 and I have had an XP machine on the network. I encountered no major issues myself. Windows 8 is mainly windows 7 with a few tweaks and a new GUI, the differences aren't huge other than the start screen and "metro" apps. Wow, 5 PC's - no wonder I'm broke.	dugimodo (138)
1370675	2014-03-19 19:57:00	While I've never setup in a primary school, You'll find it WONT be the kids that have the problems, the problem will be with the adults, either the teachers or Parents with closed minds and not willing to accept change (not being rude but you could be one of them) What a serious pain - obviously designed by someone trying to out-gimmick Apple. Already got negative thoughts and more than likely never used W8.1 for a while. The kids will take to it like a duck to water. What some will be used to is touch screen devices, either apple or Android, so having a desktop will just be an extra. The whole working or failing will lay entirely on whose setting it up and maintain them. Using some of your own examples: Nothing fancy - just able to run 'Reader Rabbit' and other educational programs SIMPLE, you have two choices, or you can use both, on the tiled start screen remove everything thats not required, then have only the buttons to run what ever program you want the kids to run, (and the desktop Tile) at the same time put the same shortcuts on the desktop as you normally would. They then have two choices, press the Windows Key on the keyboard click on the Reader Rabbit - it opens - do what they do. Exactly the same for the Desktop. The fact that the kids are not meant to be going into the depths of the OS, Eg: (Control panel as a basic option), its actually good that the location is not so obvious, BUT One thing is certain, little minds will soon find where the controls are, some will find them by mistake others will be smart blighters. Look at W8 as windows 7 but with a new start screen and settings are located in a not so obvious place as previously and you wont have any troubles ( that comes back to KNOWING what you are doing with the OS.( Thats what it is basically) If its setup correctly in the first place there wont be a problem, thats how I setup the majority of windows 8 PC for customers, put the Icons for programs they want to use all the time on the desktop and start screen and remove everything else, show them how to get to the others if they want and how to put them in either location. (these are adults) Had one just last week, while the person was taking care of the invoice, her young kid installed and sorted out how to get her game icons ( SIMS I think )on the desktop and start screen in a matter of seconds. The new update thats coming out in April (but was leaked a couple of weeks ago before MS closed the doors on it) adds a few more functions to the tiled windows, and makes things a lot more easy for those who cant get their head around it. So the question is, whose having the problems - the kids or the person(s) who does the setup or the teachers ? Give ya a hint, its not the kids ;)	wainuitech (129)
1370676	2014-03-19 20:18:00	One thing I forgot to ask/suggest -- Do you have to set the computers up with log ins & Passwords for students, or teachers or simply start up, straight to desktop or start screen ? MANY people dont know how to bypass the option when installing to create an account and need to type in passwords each time.	wainuitech (129)
1370677	2014-03-19 20:19:00	Thanks Wainuitech, what I wanted to hear. I've only just started to trial 8.1 and first impressions were WTF. On reflection I guess it's the reverse of previous editions. Usually the desktop is empty and you populate it with what you need, now its "here's everything, get rid of what you don't want". However it doesn't alter my comment about gimmicky, Tiles, different sizes, almost random layout, not a tidy presentation. Any experience with Virtual CDs on 8.1? that's how I intend to setup Reader Rabbit etc. I managed to load the iso for Office (sweet as)to install that but I can't find info on how many drives I can have, can isos run from a network share. Setup one and image/ghost it? After many years as a user and a decade teaching CompSci I am cynical about M/S hype about how great their latest offering is, remember Win 8 was the best thing since sliced bread - whoops ain't too hot on Desktops and laptops better bring out 8.1.	johnnymax (17033)
1370678	2014-03-19 20:52:00	One thing I forgot to ask/suggest -- Do you have to set the computers up with log ins & Passwords for students, or teachers or simply start up, straight to desktop or start screen ? MANY people dont know how to bypass the option when installing to create an account and need to type in passwords each time. Found that - no real problems there that I can see although the option of picture passwords, esp on a NON-TOUCH screen laptop, is ridiculous.	johnnymax (17033)
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