HarryTri

I did a restore from my laptop's hidden partition and, after updating Windows 8 and cleaning Windows Update with the Disc Cleanup tool the result for the WinSxS folder is 11.6 GB actual size and 10.9 GB disk space, so it does become compressed after all.

Well, I had a look at the WinSxS folder and it seems that it isn't compressed at all. Strange... Once that I had a look at it in the past it was compressed - I think so at least, of course I have done a restore with Macrium Reflect Free afterwards after installing Windows 8.1 in order to revert to Windows 8, so I don't know.

There is a method for slipstreaming XP SP4 (which means making a Windows XP installation disc that contains SP4) in harkaz's first post.

Well, the difference in speed isn't sensible for an HDD, things may be different for an SSD. The Disc Cleanup tool compresses the WinSxS folder when it does the Windows Update cleanup anyway.

The screen grabs I showed above are from Windows 8.1. The option is there but it's anything but clear. -Noel Yes, that's what I say. Windows 8 that was preinstalled on my laptop gave me the option to create a local account clearly when I powered it for the first time whereas Windows 8.1 show these behavior. Of course I don't know if Windows 8 do the same when they are not preinstalled.

I did with the Disk Cleanup tool and it took some hours (on Windows 8) but it gave about 2GB of disk space. If you imply that it may cause any problems I don't have any until now.

That's really informative, thanks.

By the way, can someone explain briefly what this "secure boot" thing is?

Well, it didn't even gave me the option to choose what to install. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I installed it from a disc (after downloading the ISO from Microsoft website)?

I use the program and I noticed that it many times has difficulty in synchronizing with my Hotmail and sometimes with other email account. The best thing is to check in now and then and sync manually to check if you have new mail, if you have a message that the synchronization with an email account isn't possible just try again. You see the program tries to synchronize automatically when you check in and the emails you see may be being received at that time, or you see them before checking in (this can happen only if you have the "dynamic tile" option activated)?

I have bought Microsoft Office 2013 for students etc. (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote). I think the original thing is the best, of course it cost me 129 Euros. Office 365 must be much - much more expensive.

Guys, I suppose you are talking about Windows 8.1 (yes it is outrageous, I also agree), Windows 8 have the option to create a local account from the beginning clearly. Also on Windows 8.1 you can turn your Microsoft account into a local one, just click on "Disconnect" in the account options.

I also noticed that Windows 8.1 are slower than Windows 8 regarding disc operations, of course I don't know why. It would probably release much more space, partly because it compresses the WinSxS folder, but it will take some time the first time you run it (even hours). By the way does anybody else had the Disk Cleanup tool sticking to the "Temporary Files" for some time in Windows 8.1?

@Tripedacus I'm not sure what you mean exactly but Windows 8 have the "Restart" option among with all the others (Sleep, Hibernate, Fast Startup - you can add or remove them in the Energy Options) As for the choice between Windows 8 and 8.1 I want to say that Windows 8.1 are simpler and take less hard disk space but they rather lack features in comparison to Windows 8. I also find outrageous that Microsoft tries to force you logging in with a Microsoft account (even if I have one anyway) and stay connected to their cloud - which you can refuse and change your account to a local one afterwards but the whole thing is too "aggressive" for me. For the moment I stay with Windows 8 for some reasons, I have the Windows 8.1 on a DVD I made from the store download as I state in another topic but I don't like the "Download Windows 8.1 now" attitude at the Microsoft site. Yes, it is a free upgrade but it isn't obligatory, is it?

I also installed Windows 8.1 from Microsoft Store (I reverted to Windows 8 due to some minor problems due to the upgrade and a program that needs Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode - Windows 8.1 have only Windows Vista and newer as I noticed) and I noticed that when the download ends a Windows.~BT folder appears from nowhere that contains the Windows 8.1 setup files - it even contains an autorun.inf file. I burned its contents to a DVD before continuing the installation and I believe that I'll be able to install Windows 8.1 from it if I ever decide to do it again.

Yes it does, I just wondered if there is a way to avoid doing it.

Are you sure that it hasn't an internal (built-in) modem?

I noticed that on Windows 8 when you place the cursor on a folder the displayed size doesn't include the hidden files/folders. Does anyone know a way to change this?

These are the settings for the Security Center's notifications. 1 means that it will notify you if the corresponding item isn't enabled or present or - in the case of the Antivirus - not updated while 0 means that it won't. They are settings changed by the user, except for the security risk of disabling these elements there is nothing really malicious here.

AVG Free is good too and has automatic updates also.

Is it so difficult to reboot once in a while (recommended)? 67 days?

Thanks for the replies.

I did it! I bought a Lenovo G500 laptop with Windows 8 (I still have my old Pentium 3 desktop though). Well, the start screen isn't so horrible but I too prefer the desktop - with a bit of a start menu with access to the various programs. I retrieved the serial number with Read and Write Everything as it was proposed in one topic here. Yet I wonder if there is a way to see the normal BIOS messages when the computer starts instead of the Lenovo logo. I looked into the BIOS but didn't find anything relevant - or it has to do with the "secure boot"?

Don't hope for help from me, I don't even have Windows 7, but if you gave some more details about GFWL and this service (full name, what they are and what they do) maybe somebody could help.

If I was Microsoft I would release a paid Service Pack 4 for Windows XP with new features to make it comparable to the newer Windows OS's (I don't mean the user interface, hands down from it) and simply continue supporting Windows XP SP4.