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General discussion

Return to Win 8.1 Pro 64-Bit

May 18, 2016 8:52PM PDT

I decided to give the free upgrade to Win 10 Pro 64-bit a try, and never realized the level of misery I would encounter: a) Search box doesn't work; b) Start menu is broken; c) Can't add user accounts; d) Edge browser is a cruel hoax. As a result, I'm done with Win 10 and plan to go back to Win 8.1 Pro 64-bit which has been a remarkable OS in many key ways. Please advise on the best way to accomplish this. Thanks, as always, for your support.

Discussion is locked

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If you been using Windows 10 less then
May 19, 2016 4:42AM PDT
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Return to Win 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
May 19, 2016 8:00PM PDT

Thanks. I shall perform this task over the coming weekend. At times, Microsoft is a huge black hole that sucks all of the time and energy available to do other things than fix Windows. Sad

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Here I'm having positive results from moving to W10.
May 20, 2016 8:05AM PDT

At the office we'll move to W10 everytime it comes up. All positive here. But the office is full of programmers and such so for us it's no big deal plus the few that don't care for the W10 start menu install Classic Shell and get what they want there.

Just yesterday I added accounts (local accounts) and yes it is not obvious how to do that. Make a post and ask how to add accounts. I'm sure folk will help on that.

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WIsh I could say the same..
May 21, 2016 4:15PM PDT

Bob,

You're batting 100% with getting me going at Windows roadblocks. However, I'm really surprised at the type of issues I've encountered with Windows 10, given the amount of good (promising?) press it received, after Windows 8. Breaking fundamental features like Start menu and making adding user accounts perplexing seems odd. I'm a computer architect - large scale systems that run various versions of UNIX and Linux - and don't recall ever having such fundamental features being broken. That said, I will post for assistance in creating additional users in Win 10 if I decide to stay with it. Thanks for all those years of excellent support.

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Sorry to read that.
May 21, 2016 4:29PM PDT

What is this breaking fundamental features? I can only make a guess you didn't try Classic Shell if you didn't care for Windows 10 start menu system. Did you try that?

Best to start a new discussion about this area.

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Re: Sorry to read that
May 21, 2016 5:06PM PDT

No, I haven't tried Classic Shell. I recall that being an option for both Win 8 and 8.1, but I found the Start menu in 8.1 to satisfy my needs. Until it broke, the Start menu in Win 10 also sufficed. Also, I acknowledge being successful in setting IE11 as the default browser, and it is working well. Since I respect your advice, I'm inclined to give Classic Shell a go, but I'm not happy with the amount of time invested in getting Win 10 go.

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Sharing a bit more.
May 21, 2016 6:11PM PDT
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Returned to Win 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
May 22, 2016 7:00AM PDT

After weighing levels of effort respectively for, a) attempting to resolve issues experienced in Windows 10 and, b) returning to Windows 8.1 Pro, I choose b). The process was almost seamless, and an option to provide feedback on why I chose to exit Windows 10 was given. To reprise Shakespeare, "all's well that end's well," and this is my status. I'm certain Windows 10 is in my future, at which time the issues I faced should have been resolved. Thanks to all for your support. CNET simply rocks!!. Happy

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Re: If you been using Windows 10 less then...
May 21, 2016 4:03PM PDT

I was never able to use the "return to Windows 8.1" procedures:

•Open up Settings via the Start menu or the taskbar icon.
•Click Update & Security and then move to the Recovery section.
•Under the Go back to Windows 7 or Go back to Windows 8.1 heading, click Get started and you'll be guided through the rest of the process.

since I never was able to fix the broken Start menu. Also, there was no Settings taskbar icon. Does this mean I have to revert back to Win 8.1 Pro by using my install media? Please say it isn't so. I'm already at maximum frustration with Windows 10. How can Microsoft get this so wrong!! Thanks for your support. Cry