I downloaded Windows 8 onto a stand-a-lone PC and intended to use a Roland A-800 Pro controller with it for using vArranger. Two lessons learned:
1. First of all - there is no downgrade from Windows 8 so if you want to give it a try make sure you install it on a separate partition.

2. There are no midi drivers available yet for most of the midi equipment you might want to use with it. So, make sure you check your vendor first about Windows 8 support.

Deane

Thanks for the warning, Deane:

Windows 8 already. The parade of flawed operating systems continues. Microsoft deserves to be broken into small pieces but no, our government let these charlatans off the hook. No wonder Apple is soaring while Microsoft continues to blunder along, correcting mistakes (at our expense) along the way.

I remember the first version of Windows. True, it has come a long way... but it's a disgrace how they have been allowed to rip off the public and small competitors. I'm still using XP and thankfully, for most music oriented requirements, it's more than satisfactory.

I appreciate the "heads up."

Dave Rice

Although I still use Win XP pro......what are the advantages offered with installing WIN 8?

Dave,
I am not a windows fan but am interested in what the upcoming Windows 8 tablets might have to offer. The version of Windows 8 I downloaded is a preview version and is not the final version. I did not expect to run into midi driver issues for my controller. I'am not sure if that is the fault of microsoft or Roland. I don't know why the midi system could not have remained the same. Perhaps others here who are OS gurus can explain it.

If anyone here wants to download the trial version it takes about an hour even with very fast fios internet speeds and the install will take at least 30 minutes. From what I can tell when run on a touch screen system it will be fun to use. Right now I can only use a mouse with it and that works ok too. I don't see much different in the overall concepts of the Windows OS though - just a different user interface approach trying to look and feel like the Ipad or Android systems.

Deane

Deanne...I never used a Mac......but friends swear by them vs PC....would a Mac be a better alternative to use with vArranger and alike programs, etc etc /..

Windows 8 is primarily for touch screen tablets or computers; it’s a bit of a pig with a keyboard & mouse.

Overall I find it to be OK, but it doesn’t give me the satisfaction that the Beta of Win 7 did.

I am surprised your components aren’t recognised by Win 8 as it has pretty much the same driver database as Win 7. (Although the setup of the sound system is rather convoluted, if you make sure everything is connected when you install Win 8, it normally finds suitable drivers)

XP was a brilliant OS from Microsoft, and quite frankly left the follow on Vista for dead, however Windows 7 puts it in the shade, so my personal view is if your running XP upgrade to Win7 (Use dual boot if you’re not sure) as once you get past the initial differences you will never go back to XP.

Programs are written for particular OSs and you can’t load them on another (If the program is written for Windows it will not run on a Mac or Linux) unless you use an emulator or VMware and load the original, however in most cases there is no point.

Hope this helps

Bill

BTW, Win 8 can be uninstalled, but is not for the faint hearted (Assuming you haven’t deleted the Windows Old folder) so if you really want to go back (Without a re-install) have a word with your local Computer Tech.

Donny,
vArranger runs only on Windows. I run Windows 7 on my MacBook Pro and it works just great with no problems at all.

Abacus,
According to Microsoft, if you install as a full upgrade from Windows 7 there is no going back without doing a complete reformat and reinstall. Darn - wish I had known that ahead of time. There are two other install options - 1. Install on a 2nd partition 2. Install from a DVD which can be created when downloading the trial version of Windows 8.

I don't use my PC for much of anything so I'll probably just leave it as is for now. I run vArranger for gigs on my MacBook Pro so I have not lost anything.

Deane

Hi Deane

Uninstalling Windows 8 involves using repair discs and CMD line mode, however if you get it wrong, than your system will become inoperative and unrecoverable, hence I say it’s not for the faint hearted and needs a computer tech to be on the safe side.

Microsoft will only support their own un-install features (Even though their developers know how to un-install it) as otherwise they would open themselves up to dealing with every Tom, Dick and Harry that think they know about computers, but in actual fact don’t.

Hope this clears up the confusion

Bill