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Windows 8 UDATE: How to access from Desktop? PLEASE!

Matt_Stevens

Matt_Stevens

Senior member
One thing I have noticed about my dad's Win8 based PC, getting to Updates is a nightmare. Using it impossible.

Long story short, when I can see and use Updates on the Desktop (the old fashioned way) instead of the stupid tile top (as I call it) I can get sh*t done.

I am not looking for fights or why I should love Win8. I just want to know how I can access Windows Update and use it the old fashioned way. PLEASE someone help me with this!
 
If you're on the Start Screen (or if you are on the Desktop and then hit the Windows Key on your keyboard), you should be able to just start typing "Windows Update" and it should show up in the search results.
 
Right click in the lower left corner. A small tiled menu should appear. Click on Control Panel and once you have accessed the Control Panel there should be a Windows Update icon like in previous versions of Windows.
 
just use StartIsBack and feel the Windows 7 back on Windows 8

It's the best start menu alternative, has no limits on how many times u can activate it (on the same pc off course), and unlike other start menu replacements, it is bug free and doesn't even need a service to start, it gets integrated into the OS

the demo is fully functional for 30 days with no nag screens and the license is only $2 USD

PS: after u install StartIsBack, MAKE sure to reboot

also, go to control panel, right click on windows update, and select "Pin to start" otherwise it won't appear even on the win 7 start menu for that matter
 
Isn't learning how to navigate the OS better than installing a program to make it look like and act like something else? What happens if Microsoft decides to break the registry keys that make this program work?

Where does that leave the OPs dad? Maybe the OP isn't around that much and is just helping out. It might be more prudent for him to show his dad how it works without third party support just in case.
 
bbhaag said:
Isn't learning how to navigate the OS better than installing a program to make it look like and act like something else? What happens if Microsoft decides to break the registry keys that make this program work?

Where does that leave the OPs dad? Maybe the OP isn't around that much and is just helping out. It might be more prudent for him to show his dad how it works without third party support just in case.
Click to expand...

maybe OP is not sadist (unlike Windows 8 designers): why would he make his dad to click on borders so some invisible menu shows up? How is old person going to remember this nonsense?
 
postmortemIA said:
maybe OP is not sadist (unlike Windows 8 designers): why would he make his dad to click on borders so some invisible menu shows up? How is old person going to remember this nonsense?
Click to expand...

So what?

Windows Updates are automatic. Look, if you can't navigate your way around the OS, why are you tinkering around those areas of the system? My parents have no idea how to access Windows Update on the computer I set up for them (and they're using Windows 7). But it doesn't matter, because it's all automatic.

And there are two different Windows Updates in W8. There's the Metrified version that's pretty easy to find if you go into the (Metro) system settings--it's one of the main items. There's the traditional desktop one that is very easy to access from the Power Users menu (even easier than it was on W7). For people who know enough about their computer to have a need to change the update settings, neither would be difficult to access.
 
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escrow4 said:
Odd, no one knows the quickest route:

Win + S, update, click Windows Update.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that's basically exactly what I posted. If you're on the desktop, you just need to hit the Win Key and type. If you're on the Start Screen, you just need to type. No need to call up to Search Box first.
 
seepy83 said:
I'm pretty sure that's basically exactly what I posted. If you're on the desktop, you just need to hit the Win Key and type. If you're on the Start Screen, you just need to type. No need to call up to Search Box first.
Click to expand...

Hitting the win key brings up full page start, hitting Win+S pops out a pretty search box that doesn't take up the whole screen.
 
quikah said:
Open Control Panel. It is in there.
Click to expand...


Yep ie Control Panel (or straight to System via Win+X), then look at bottom left corner,remember Win+X menu is easy as right click in left bottom corner.

w1_zpsa7f166ef.png


Or you can mod Win+X menu(right click in left bottom corner) like I've done ,


812_zps39c3c87e.png


With Win+X Menu Editor ,http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.30 ,you can see I stuck Windows Update at the top.


Pretty easy to find even if you use search key even for old timer like me at almost 51 😉 .
 
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postmortemIA said:
maybe OP is not sadist (unlike Windows 8 designers): why would he make his dad to click on borders so some invisible menu shows up? How is old person going to remember this nonsense?
Click to expand...
I'm not at all a sadist. I hate Win8 with every fiber of my being and so do they. The last three days have been hell on earth incarnate, but I have gotten through it.

All I can say is.... Thank the Maker for Classic Shell. No apologies on this. I love it and it saved the day. None of us have time to sit around and try and learn a completely different functioning O.S. We just don't and at theend of the day, why should we when we very much liked and understood the ins and outs of the Windows 7? I cannot even remember life without the STAR Menu.

So at the end of the day... I'm OK.
 
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Pay attention to the directions. There is a damn good reason Microsoft tells the user to tap the corners while setting up the account. I followed those directions and of course, the Charms bar is a way to get to the Control Panel.

It didn't cost me much time. Now, as for the "power menu" in the Start area, I will say that they made a mistake by not giving any hint it is there; it took me a month to randomly discover that menu in 8.0; those who have 8.1 will have an easier time because people might randomly right-click on the start button.

Also, once something is learned, eventually, the person starts doing the task faster; that is what is called a learning curve. Of course, some folks are just too stubborn or physically unable to modify the neural pathways anymore.
 
Matt_Stevens said:
I'm not at all a sadist. I hate Win8 with every fiber of my being and so do they. The last three days have been hell on earth incarnate, but I have gotten through it.

All I can say is.... Thank the Maker for Classic Shell. No apologies on this. I love it and it saved the day. None of us have time to sit around and try and learn a completely different functioning O.S. We just don't and at theend of the day, why should we when we very much liked and understood the ins and outs of the Windows 7? I cannot even remember life without the STAR Menu.

So at the end of the day... I'm OK.
Click to expand...

I have tinkered around with a few settings on 8.1 and rarely use Metro. I use VLC as default for video files. Clementine for music. Microsoft picture manager for pics. Firefox and Chrome for browsers. Gmail/Outlook for email and yahoo. Pinned to taskbar these programs and Word,Excel,PowerPoint. Desktop version of Skype installed with desktop shortcut. When I do right click bottom left screen for additional apps I deleted apps I don't use and resized my go to apps right there so I see them all with one mouse click and nothing more. Don't get all the fuss. Its not that hard to set up this on 8.1.

That said if you hate 8.1 why did you buy a PC with it installed in the first place? Not hard to go online and buy one with Win 7.
 
Matt_Stevens said:
I'm not at all a sadist. I hate Win8 with every fiber of my being and so do they. The last three days have been hell on earth incarnate, but I have gotten through it.

All I can say is.... Thank the Maker for Classic Shell. No apologies on this. I love it and it saved the day. None of us have time to sit around and try and learn a completely different functioning O.S. We just don't and at theend of the day, why should we when we very much liked and understood the ins and outs of the Windows 7? I cannot even remember life without the STAR Menu.

So at the end of the day... I'm OK.
Click to expand...

This post makes me lawl. There are far worse things in the world deserving of such vehement hate.

Get over yourself. There's nothing wrong with Windows 8, and you'd have the same learning disabilities if you cold switched to Linux.
 
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