Tag Archive: Windows 8



Sometimes a task is so easy you don’t need screenshots to describe it. This is one of those tasks! Unfortunately it is always one of those tasks I seem to forget how to do, so I put it on my site to help others and remind myself ;-)

Step 1 > Open Outlook

Step 2 > Click and hold down CTRL+SHIFT+b to open your address book

Step 3 > Click Tools > Options and choose either the Global Address List or your own contact list

That is it, simple but hard to remember.

I have been using Google Drive seriously for about a year. Making sure to work off the cloud as much as possible. Until now, I have not had any real issues, although, I’ve noticed that Google Drive is much slower than Drop Box, mainly do to the difference in how Google drive and drop box index your files. Regardless, the problem I am having now is probably a deal breaker. Google Drive is crashing my nice new Windows 8 install on my Dell Optiplex 960.

I installed the pre-release of Windows 8 a couple of months ago. Since I have been extremely satisfied with it, I decided to take advantage of Microsoft’s $39.99 deal and upgrade all my machines. The one program I didn’t really test was Google drive, since that runs on my little HP mini laptop that I strictly use for backups. Now that I have a shiny new 2 TB Seagate drive in my Optiplex, I want to use this machine for my backups. I installed drop box and Google drive. The computer restarted once and two other times it informed me that Google drive was having an issue.

Now I would look into this a little bit more, but apparently in December of 2012, Google made it very clear they were not planning on building any new apps for it. “We have no plans to build out Windows apps,” said Clay Bavor, product management director at Google Apps. Apparently, they are not planning on supporting it either.

FYI, I am running the 64 bit version of Google Drive and Windows 8.

Here is the error from my system log:

 

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 1/22/2013 12:56:33 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: garage
Description:
Faulting application name: googledrivesync.exe, version: 1.7.4018.3496, time stamp: 0x509418e4
Faulting module name: python26.dll, version: 2.6.4150.1013, time stamp: 0x4ae54ea8
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x00025e10
Faulting process id: 0xc94
Faulting application start time: 0x01cdf8c865f26729
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Users\Bill\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI31562\python26.dll
Report Id: 0e26374f-64bd-11e2-be6c-0024e837d4ac
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns=”http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event”>
<System>
<Provider Name=”Application Error” />
<EventID Qualifiers=”0″>1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime=”2013-01-22T17:56:33.000000000Z” />
<EventRecordID>457</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>garage</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>googledrivesync.exe</Data>
<Data>1.7.4018.3496</Data>
<Data>509418e4</Data>
<Data>python26.dll</Data>
<Data>2.6.4150.1013</Data>
<Data>4ae54ea8</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>00025e10</Data>
<Data>c94</Data>
<Data>01cdf8c865f26729</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Drive\googledrivesync.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Users\Bill\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI31562\python26.dll</Data>
<Data>0e26374f-64bd-11e2-be6c-0024e837d4ac</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
<Data>
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

There is a little known “gotcha” when upgrading to Windows 8 from Windows XP.

Microsoft doesn’t make it real well known, that if you upgrade from Windows XP 32 bit to Windows 8, you will end up with the 32 bit version of of Windows 8. You will not get the option to install the 64 bit version “even” if your system is 100% compatible. Really it isn’t the fact that its XP, it’s the fact that it is a 32bit version of the operating system, it can be Vista, Window 7, or any other 32 bit operating system.

This was verified on a Dell Optiplex 745 and a Dell Optiplex 960.

What I did, was actually call Microsoft, explain the situation and simply cancel my order. Then I installed the Trial/beta/pre-release edition of Windows 8 64 Bit which allowed me to upgrade to a legal licensed copy of Windows 8 64 Bit.

After much research, I was able to find this on Microsoft’s website. Which means until January 31st, 2013 instead of paying the special upgrade price of $39.99, Microsoft will get you for the DVD version at $69.99, which is still a fair price for an operating system. You could always do what I did and install a 64 bit version first though. Regarding the special upgrade price, see this article.

 

Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 8?
Yes, but you can’t do this using Upgrade Assistant. If your PC has a 64-bit capable processor (CPU) but is currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can install a 64-bit version of Windows 8 Pro, but you’ll need to buy it as a DVD and perform a custom installation. If available in your country or region, you can buy Windows 8 Pro from a participating retail store. You can also buy it online from the Microsoft Store in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
Please note that the Windows 8 Pro Pack is used to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro, and is not for cross-architecture installs and does not include any media. If you want to change architectures, purchase Windows 8 Pro.
You won’t be able to keep any files, settings, or apps when you upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version.”

If you are dying to get Windows 8 and don’t want to break the bank, you better hurry up. Microsoft has Windows 8 at a introductory offer of only $39.99! That price is for the download version of Windows 8. If you would rather have a retail disk, that will cost you $69.99 for a DVD (free standard shipping). Also, as a Bonus you receive the Pro version, Microsoft is really pushing their new operating system and I think this is a great way to convert a lot of the slower to adopt users.

Personally, I have 3 machines to upgrade before the final day, so I will report back how the process goes. According to Microsoft, it is a simple upgrade. Installing the beta release candidate could not have been easier, so I don’t imagine this will be a problem.

Downloading the upgrade is easy, simply go to http://windows.microsoft.com

  • Click Download Pro to install Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. Depending on your Internet connection, the installation might take several minutes.
  • When prompted by your browser, open, save, or run Upgrade Assistant. You must run Upgrade Assistant to purchase Windows 8 Pro, but you can also run it without purchasing.
  • Follow the instructions in Upgrade Assistant to find out if your PC can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, and then follow the steps to purchase, download, and install. For more detailed information, see How to download Windows 8 orUpgrade to Windows 8.

Check back or sign up for an email alert at the bottom of this page to see how my upgrades go.

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