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Add/Remove Programs is under Start Menu->Control Panel->Programs and Features
Change the time zone by clicking on the time on the right end of the task bar and clicking "Change Date and Time Settings" and then "Change Time Zone".
I have Classic Shell 4.1.0 installed, and the button stays on the Taskbar where one would expect it to be.
Did you choose the following settings for Classic Shell's settings?:
On the "Start Button" tab: Replace Start Button, Show on all Task bars
On the "Windows 8.1 Settings" tab: Skip Metro Screen. Disable Active Corners for Start Screen.
Also bring up the Charms Bar, open "Settings" then "Taskbar and Navigation properties". Click on the Navigation tab. Make sure :Select When I sign in or close all apps on a screen and goto the desktop instead of Start" is checked.
Windows 8.1 has been around long enough that the answers to most of most of your questions should be easy to find. Type "boot into windows 8.1 without password" into your favorite search engine and see what it finds.
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What's the best program to backup Win8.1Pro? I used Seagate Discwizard for many yours to backup WinXP and and earlier Windows, but latest Discwizard 13 says "Discwizard found no hard drives" when SATA mode is set to IDE in BIOS which is required for WinXP to boot. Discwizard 13 works fine if SATA mode is set to AHCI, but WinXP won't boot with that setting. Do any available backup programs work with SATA mode set to IDE?
Apparently I made a mistake booting to Win8.1Pro with SATA mode set to AHCI because Win8.1Pro would not boot when SATA mode was changed back to IDE setting. I tried a number of trouble shooting steps suggested by Win8.1Pro until I got to what seemed the least destructive of remaining steps which was to "Refresh the PC" which got Win8.1Pro to boot. However, this resulted in no boot menu to select which OS to boot, and no way to boot WinXP. Luckily I have a backup image of my pre Win8.1Pro C drive which I restored and was able to boot WinXP again. Now does Win8.1Pro have repair install or some way to restore dual boot without reactivating? I suspect the Win8.1Pro boot loader was damaged which caused the problems. Is there a way to recreate that boot loader that doesn't require reactivation? -
Macrium Reflect, Acronis True Image, and Clonezilla were all recommended by users of this forum in various threads asking about backup software for Windows 8.1.Originally Posted by bevills1
I don't know about the rest of the things you are asking about from personal experience. I'd have to use a search engine to find the answers. There is no reason why you couldn't do that yourself. -
According to http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/software/3263573/13-best-backup-software-2015-uk/ Easus is the best free backup software second only to a software that costs $20. Does Easus or any of the post #33 listed software work with SATA mode set to IDE?
Edit: My Google searches find nothing about recreating boot menu or reinstall without activating. Looks like I'm stuck with that choice and just hope more problems don't arise causing too many activations. Never did like the activation crap which is why I stuck with Win2k and WinXP as long as possible.
I sent inquiry to Seagate support asking whether Discwizard 11 works to backup and restore Win8.1Pro partitions/drives since it works with SATA mode set to IDE, and I asked if latest Discwizard 13 can be modified to work with SATA mode set to IDE. I have liked and successfully used Discwizard 11 for backups up through WinXP for quite a few years and hope I get a solution from Seagate to resolve Discwizard issues.Last edited by bevills1; 13th Jan 2015 at 11:33.
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Assuming that you don't have some unusual legacy hardware situation that requires IDE mode for SATA, did you ever try installing AHCI drivers for XP? Your motherboard's manufacturer should have them.
I never had to worry about this because the motherboard in my old XP computer only accepted IDE/PATA drives, however there seem to be a number of guides for getting AHCI working with an XP installation that was performed in IDE mode. This is one: http://www.prime-expert.com/articles/a11/change-from-ide-to-ahci-without-reinstalling-windows-xp.phpLast edited by usually_quiet; 14th Jan 2015 at 13:51.
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I had problems getting WinXP to boot when I first got the motherboard, and the manufacturer told me I'd have to set BIOS to IDE mode to boot WinXP. Why didn't they tell me about installing AHCI drivers for WinXP? One other consideration is a PCI IDE adapter I installed to use IDE DVD burner in WinXP because the motherboard came with only SATA controllers. I'm guessing the PCI IDE adapter will only work with BIOS set to IDE. Is this correct?
BTW I contacted Seagate support asking whether Discwizard 11 works for Win8.1Pro and explaining I was dual booting WinXP/Win8.1Pro, and they replied Discwizard won't work with dual boot and that the only way I could boot WinXP is to toggle between IDE and AHCI in the BIOS. Well I've only been using Discwizard 11 to backup and restore multi-boot systems in excess of 10 years with nary a glitch. Also current system boots Discwizard 11, WinXP and Win8.1Pro with BIOS set to IDE with no need to toggle BIOS settings. It doesn't bode well for their support when the user knows more about the product than support knows. Does anybody here know if Discwizard 11 works to backup and restore Win8.1Pro? -
If someone isn't using an SSD and doesn't have a multi boot configuration, then no AHCI isn't much of an issue. ...and you would have to set the BIOS to use IDE mode initially because Microsoft doesn't include any AHCI drivers on the install disc for any version of XP. My guess is that nobody mentioned the possibility of getting XP working with AHCI because it was easier for them to say it won't work than to tell you how to make it work. If the PCI IDE adapter works with Windows 8.1 in AHCI mode, then I would expect it to work with XP in AHCI mode.Originally Posted by bevills1
Last edited by usually_quiet; 14th Jan 2015 at 17:02.
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Just thought of another issue if AHCI drivers would solve the boot problem which is a PCI IDE adapter in the system that I got to enable use of IDE burner in WinXP since the motherboard came with only SATA controllers. This adapter requires IDE mode to work if memory serves and probably won't work for AHCI BIOS setting.
Another reply from Seagate support failed to answer question about whether Discwizard 11 will work to backup and restore Windows 8.1Pro and simply replied Discwizard 11 is discontinued and not supported. Perhaps it's time for me to try an experiment to see if it works. -
You have the motherboard's BIOS set up to use AHCI for Windows 8.1, correct? So does this mean the IDE adapter and IDE burner are non-functional when you are using Windows 8.1? I would have expected the IDE controller in the PCI adapter to function independently.Originally Posted by bevills1
It might make your life simpler if you don't have remember to switch the motherboard's SATA controller to IDE mode every time you want to use Windows XP and back to AHCI mode when you want to use Windows 8.1. If the IDE adapter and IDE burner are indeed preventing you from using AHCI for both XP and Windows 8.1 is there a reason why you need to keep the IDE burner? A new SATA burner is $20 or less.Last edited by usually_quiet; 16th Jan 2015 at 11:50. Reason: correct typing error
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BIOS is set to IDE mode, and Seagate Discwizard 11, WinXP and Win8.1Pro all boot fine with no BIOS changes required, and the DVD burner works when Booted ti WinXP but doesn't work when booted to Win8.1Pro. I'm sure it doesn't work in 8.1Pro because its driver support stops with Vista. I like this particular burner and don't think the newer burners are made as well as they used to be made.
Another problem arose when I tried to copy a backup image file to an external drive which is that it said the file is too large for destination file system. The file is 7GB, and external drive file system is FAT32. Can the external drive be converted to NTFS without losing any files stored on it? -
Convert your beloved burner into an external burner. There are plenty of IDE to USB adapters. I've used them before and it works fine, though you'll probably burn @ 4x.Originally Posted by bevills1
It is possible to convert from FAT32 to NTFS without damage to files, I've done this many years ago using Disk Management. Most Backup tools will also allow you to span your image at a given size. Example SnapShot and Ghost can easily do that.Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
Yes. I would either connect the IDE burner using something other than the existing PCI IDE controller or get a SATA burner. Having to switch to XP just to use your burner sound like an annoyance to me.Originally Posted by racer-x
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Do you know if the IDE to USB adapters work to boot to Windows install disk? The PCI adapter I've been using works when booted to Windows and will boot to other bootable CDs but will not boot to Windows install CD. If the IDE to USB adapter will boot to Windws install CD, that will solve another problem I've had. The IDE USB adapters also cost less than the PCI adapter I bought. I guess I first need to see if I can get the appropriate AHCI drivers for WinXP. BTW I read a customer review of a IDE to USB adapter at Amazon who used the adapter to connect internally to a USB port which is what I'll want to do.Originally Posted by racer-x
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A IDE to USB adapter might work if your motherboard's BIOS allows booting from a USB device.Originally Posted by bevills1
Do you know if the IDE to USB adapters work to boot to Windows install disk? The PCI adapter I've been using works when booted to Windows and will boot to other bootable CDs but will not boot to Windows install CD. If the IDE to USB adapter will boot to Windws install CD, that will solve another problem I've had. The IDE USB adapters also cost less than the PCI adapter I bought. I guess I first need to see if I can get the appropriate AHCI drivers for WinXP. BTW I read a customer review of a IDE to USB adapter at Amazon who used the adapter to connect internally to a USB port which is what I'll want to do.Originally Posted by racer-x
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Stop booting fron CDs and start booting from USB thumbdrives. It's been years since I've even burned a CD, DVD or BDR. I still have stacks of that shit I will probably never burn. Wish I knew then what I know now...........
Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
I've had some issues with thumb drives as well as SD cards and don't trust them. A few years ago I had about 200 vacation photos on SD card that simply disappeared, i.e. it showed blank media. I had to use a data recovery program, and even that only recovered approximately 90% of the photos. Just last week I created a Seagate Discwizard backup on a thumb drive and the image failed to verify. I may switch to thumb drive boot media when or if they become more reliable.
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Above quote is from my reply #38 above. Got nothing useful from Seagate support and tried Discwizard 11 to backup and restore Win8.1Pro which creates backup, but restored image doesn't boot. On boot attempt error is given that the computer needs to be repaired, and using Win8.1Pro install disk, and its trouble shooting tools indicate a partition is missing.Originally Posted by bevills1
I also tried Discwizard 13 that's supposed to work for latest Windows versions, but it failed to verify 2 or 3 times in just the hand full of restore attempts with it. IMO Discwizard has become completely useless to backup latest Windows. I tried Easeus Todo Backup Free which I thought had ability to create boot CD/DVD, but I don't find it in the program. Does anybody know if Easeus has that ability and where to find it? If not, what other backup software has that ability as well as ability to backup both FAT32 and NTFS drives?Last edited by bevills1; 19th Jan 2015 at 09:11.
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I run a lite version of Win7 live on a bootable thumbdrive. On that I have an old (2006) version of SnapShot. It works perfectly with any version of windows including Win8.1. Countless images created and restored, never had an issue. I don't even bother to verify anymore...
A good free solution that can back-up anything is CloneZilla. Make sure you pay attention to the options!Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
Last year around November 2013 ... I had on my laptop ... WIN XP ... VISTA ... and WIN 7 ... at this moment ... I have removed all of that and now have ... WIN 7 and WIN 8.1 ... oh yes ... it can be done ... very easy to do.Originally Posted by racer-x
Instead of saying how I do it ... here is some help ...
http://www.pagestart.com/win8dbwin701181301.html -
Finally I found where to create boot CD for Easeus Todo Backup which was under the tools tab in the program. Making the boot CD does require download of WinPE from Microsoft, but Easeus does this for you and includes the Easeus Todo Backup program in the ISO to burn to CD. The program does backup and restore both FAT32 and NTFS partitions, but I dislike the way it automatically names backup files using the numbers for the year, month, day, hour and minute in that order when the backup was started. I like to choose the name of the backup file myself especially since I'm backing up 2 Windows partitions.Originally Posted by bevills1
After my Easeus restore had the same results as Discwizard 11, I realized both programs will backup and restore latest Windows versions, but the restored image will not boot if simply restored to a blank partition, i.e. Windows will need to be reinstalled and reactivated and then image restored in order to boot. Actually Windows will boot upon install obviously, but reactivation will be required to use Windows. This means backups may be easily used to fix Windows problems on an existing install, but reinstall and reactivation of Windows in the event of hard drive failure will be required unless there's something about these backups of which I'm unaware. Does anyone know if this is the case, or am I unaware of something?Last edited by bevills1; 23rd Jan 2015 at 08:52.
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Coincidentally I just recently restored an image on my son's laptop (Win 8.1), because he went where he shouldn't have and the system got hosed. In his case, it was harder because his laptop uses UEFI boot sys. I had to go into bios and change to "Legacy" boot, restore the image, then go into bios and switch back to UEFI.
It worked fine and it remained activated. Now if you are putting the image on a new HDD, then you probably will have to Activate since you are using new hardware.Last edited by racer-x; 23rd Jan 2015 at 10:11.
Got my retirement plans all set. Looks like I only have to work another 5 years after I die........ -
That's what I meant by "This means backups may be easily used to fix Windows problems on an existing install..." The test I did was done using 2 practically identical systems, i.e. same chipset, sound, video, ethernet, etc. drivers, and it should not require reactivation due to hardware differences in this circumstance. I believe the issue may have something to do with the hidden partition created by newer versions of Windows that I read abut somewhere.
Finally discovered that my PCI IDE adapter should be plug and play for Windows 7 and 8 according to http://www.rosewill.com/products/983/ProductDetail_Specifications.htm, but the drive connected to the adapter doesn't appear in Windows 8.1 Explorer or Device Manager. I've contacted the manufacturer and am awaiting their reply.Last edited by bevills1; 24th Jan 2015 at 16:25.
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