Internet Explorer in Windows 8 is infuriating

[JulesMaximus]

I have a laptop I installed a SSD in and needed to order an OS so I figured I'd try Windows 8. I've been playing around with it for a couple days now and I hate it. I was on a website today and got a popup but I couldn't, for the life of me, get back to the screen I was on prior to the popup. Is multiple tabs gone? Plus I can't figure out how to change settings, like how do I disable the annoying user interface? Or can I?

I've spent a few hours with it and just find it infuriating.

And please don't suggest I buy some third party software to make it useable. That is not a valid suggestion. I spent $100 on this piece of shit, recommending that I spend more money is going to make me hate you.

 

[bbhaag]

I use Chrome on my Win8 desktop. Adblock, Adblock plus, Ghostery, HTTPS Anywhere so many useful extensions....Why are you using IE? Is it required by your work?

BTW Chrome is free.

 

[saratoga172]

I use chrome and IE10 on windows 8. Don't have a problem with either really. I find chrome to be a little quicker and the tabbed browsing superb. Free as the poster before me mentioned.

I use IE at home primarily for logmein as it works much better than chrome. At least for smooth playback while logged in.

I use IE on a Windows 8 tablet for my work pc daily. The desktop version. Not the version in the metro interface (let's call it the tablet version), I can't get used to it. Menus are on the bottom. But the desktop version is basically a prettier version of 9 with better support in some places and worse in other.

 

[Mem]

I have a laptop I installed a SSD in and needed to order an OS so I figured I'd try Windows 8. I've been playing around with it for a couple days now and I hate it. I was on a website today and got a popup but I couldn't, for the life of me, get back to the screen I was on prior to the popup. Is multiple tabs gone? Plus I can't figure out how to change settings, like how do I disable the annoying user interface? Or can I?

I've spent a few hours with it and just find it infuriating.

And please don't suggest I buy some third party software to make it useable. That is not a valid suggestion. I spent $100 on this piece of shit, recommending that I spend more money is going to make me hate you.

Do what everybody does on all operating systems use Firefox,Chrome or Opera,so plenty of FREE choices out there,for the record I never use IE (not since Win95 days).

 

[cboath]

I have a laptop I installed a SSD in and needed to order an OS so I figured I'd try Windows 8. I've been playing around with it for a couple days now and I hate it. I was on a website today and got a popup but I couldn't, for the life of me, get back to the screen I was on prior to the popup. Is multiple tabs gone? Plus I can't figure out how to change settings, like how do I disable the annoying user interface? Or can I?

I've spent a few hours with it and just find it infuriating.

And please don't suggest I buy some third party software to make it useable. That is not a valid suggestion. I spent $100 on this piece of shit, recommending that I spend more money is going to make me hate you.

Were you using the metro version of the desktop version? I've seen stuff like that in the metro version. Desktop has been fine.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Were you using the metro version of the desktop version? I've seen stuff like that in the metro version. Desktop has been fine.

Yes, it is the metro version. I'll try some of these recommendations tonight.

Do what everybody does on all operating systems use Firefox,Chrome or Opera,so plenty of FREE choices out there,for the record I never use IE (not since Win95 days).

I use Firefox on my desktop PC.

 

[CA19100]

I know you don't want to hear it, but the $5 I spent on Start8 has been the best $5 I've spent in a long time. It lets me enjoy all the advantages Windows 8 offers, but keeps the Fisher Price tiles out of my way unless I want to see them. I gave it two months before deciding I just didn't like the start screen at all.

And yeah, definitely use the Desktop version of IE if you're not using a touchscreen. No reason to touch the Metro version if you're using a mouse.

 

[codyray10]

I know you don't want to hear it, but the $5 I spent on Start8 has been the best $5 I've spent in a long time. It lets me enjoy all the advantages Windows 8 offers, but keeps the Fisher Price tiles out of my way unless I want to see them. I gave it two months before deciding I just didn't like the start screen at all.

And yeah, definitely use the Desktop version of IE if you're not using a touchscreen. No reason to touch the Metro version if you're using a mouse.

This^ I use IE in desktop mode and have no issues with it. If you are not a fan of the metro interface, and are not using a touchscreen, check out some of the start menu replacements that allow you to bypass metro completely.

 

[Mem]

Yes, it is the metro version. I'll try some of these recommendations tonight.



I use Firefox on my desktop PC.

I've Firefox which I use a lot on my Win8 PC ,got a Firefox icon on the old desktop taskbar,even if I click on the Firefox tile in Metro it launches my old style desktop anyway so not hard to run it from the old desktop Ui..


Btw you can right click(and " pin to taskbar") on most Metro tiles for example if you installed Firefox ,you have a Firefox tile in Metro so can put a Firefox taskbar icon on the old desktop UI,Win8 is quite customizable if you got the patience etc..

This is mine,

My current desktop on Win8,I moved Recycle Bin to taskbar.

 

[Griffinhart]

Swiping down from the top, or right clicking anywhere will bring up the "tab bar" for the Metro IE interface. You can also run the traditional IE on the desktop.

You can also change from the Metro IE to the full IE for your current web page by swiping down or right clicking then clicking the wrench Icon.

That said, I don't recommend using the Metro browser for anything but surfing when using a touch device without a mouse or keyboard.

 

[darkewaffle]

Just use normal IE, problem solved.

 

[cboath]

Swiping down from the top, or right clicking anywhere will bring up the "tab bar" for the Metro IE interface. You can also run the traditional IE on the desktop.

You can also change from the Metro IE to the full IE for your current web page by swiping down or right clicking then clicking the wrench Icon.

That said, I don't recommend using the Metro browser for anything but surfing when using a touch device without a mouse or keyboard.

I was going to say, on the metro front, the tabs are still there, you just have to swipe down from the top. Also, i've found, if you swipe from the right side of the screen inward, it'll move to the next 'tab' that way as well.

Admittedly, that's great on my surface. On my desktop, not so much. On my desktop (24" screen) those thumbnails are giant. If they sized better, maybe it'd help i don't know. Still, i've had issues logging into message boards on the metro version. Fortunately i remembered a post from anand about the security issues with metro IE (that the sites have to register with MS) and then I tried desktop mode and everything was great.

I also have to say the fact that the recent lists and favorites sync between the tablet and desktop are simply awesome.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Okay, after pinning the desktop I'm much happier. Now I can see IE and I've downloaded Firefox. Was also messing around in control panel last night and it seems pretty intuitive and useful.

As far as installs go this was completely painless. I did a fresh install on my laptop on a SSD and Win8 configured my system perfectly with no hardware issues and loging in to my network wirelessly was as simple as inputting the network password.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

 

[Saffron]

I know you don't want to hear it, but the $5 I spent on Start8 has been the best $5 I've spent in a long time. It lets me enjoy all the advantages Windows 8 offers, but keeps the Fisher Price tiles out of my way unless I want to see them. I gave it two months before deciding I just didn't like the start screen at all.

And yeah, definitely use the Desktop version of IE if you're not using a touchscreen. No reason to touch the Metro version if you're using a mouse.

I've installed it for clients at work, but you don't need to spend $5 for Start8 as there is a free alternative that works just as good, that is if you don't mind the shape change on the start button. It's called Classic Shell and it's free to download and use. http://www.classicshell.net/

 

[Pr0d1gy]

I love the new IE on Win8. It is the only browser I use now. Just sayin....

 

[Imaginer]

I love the new IE on Win8. It is the only browser I use now. Just sayin....

Modern IE 10 is nicer than Desktop Opera because times I don't want to fiddle with a trackpad/pen/trackball/mouse. Navigates well and has private browsing. Still keep Desktop Opera for the Adblock and Ghostery options though. Speed Dial is also nice - but when you can type in anything and have it appear in Modern IE, Speed Dial just doesn't matter.

And for the record, I have Windows 8 on a traditional desktop, no start button addons, still use Desktop Opera. Never considered Modern IE 10 on those machines.

 

[MustISO]

I've been running Windows 8 in a VM for a while but never really used it much. Setup a new 27" touchscreen system today and while it does take a lot of getting used to, some features are cool from a user perspective. I find it hard to get around from a technician admin point of view just because I'm so used to working with Windows 7.

The IE charm is odd that it doesn't have many exposed settings but like others said, the desktop IE is the regular version we're used to.

 

[WelshBloke]

Install "Startisback", set it to boot to desktop, disable charms, set winkey to show start menu, install chrome.

Enjoy a proper desktop environment again.

 

[CSMR]

Destkop IE -> Internet Options -> Programs -> Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop