New computer, new frustrations...help please

RubyCamaro · 03-16-2014, 09:32 PM

Okay I have finally made the leap from XP to 8.1. I am sitting here on my new laptop after enduring frustrations of a badly outdated & dying laptop. I have been exposed to some newer systems because of computers at work so I am not finding the transition as difficult as I had anticipated so far. One frustration however has followed me to the new computer.

I hate that computers want to link together all your on-line sites. I do not want my Facebook, YouTube & email accounts linked together & sharing my information. I purposefully don't post certain things on Facebook but if it is linked with my YouTube channel that blows some of that separation. How do I get them to NOT do that?

More difficult still is dealing with our Camaro club e-mail. I am the administrator of the club email. I do not want it linked with any of my other accounts. On the old computer I ended up getting 3 different browsers and only used google chrome for the club email.

Every way I try to access the club email on the new computer it tries to get me to make it the primary account associated with the computer's account which I definitely do not want to do. There has to be a way around this but I need some help figuring out how to do this. Please help.

batman53201 · 03-16-2014, 09:37 PM

cant really help you out, as i just switched to a new laptop with windows 8.1 myself.

i had to use google to ask how to shut the laptop down

anyway, i dont like the new start screen, and i did find a way to go back to the old skin, and now i can shut down and do things just like before.

if you are interested, just download the program from this link.

http://www.classicshell.net/

good luck figuring the rest out

RubyCamaro · 03-16-2014, 09:58 PM

I can navigate okay. I just need to figure out this thing with the emails.

Scott@Bjorn3D · 03-17-2014, 05:15 AM

You need to set your user account to a local account and not to the crap Microsoft is trying to get you to do by linking the machine to your e-mail account. That will fix allot of your issues. And I use ClassicShell like another person linked to on all my Windows 8 customers.

RubyCamaro · 03-17-2014, 06:22 AM

Thanks for trying to help. Please explain further. Remember you are talking to a ol' fart not very computer savy. What do you mean by a local account?

danvillekidd · 03-17-2014, 08:34 AM

Windows 8 defaults to a cloud based storage system and setting your computer to local only stops it from using the cloud system. If you can find the control panel, user accounts, i do believe it's in there where you have to change your computer from "cloud" to local. I'm at work on my phone so I am not exactly sure on the terms it uses and better steps to walk you through. Maybe someone better than me can help if you don't get it fixed. I hate having my personal stuff stored in cyberspace too and had to figure out how to stop it.

Highland Ranger · 03-17-2014, 08:41 AM

A few things:

1. I used a dummy account for the Microsoft cloud stuff and to log in, not a real one that I use for anything else, so that isolates that.

2. I replaced that crazy new touch interface with a classic "skin" that makes 8.1 for the most part act like a Windows 7 computer. You can swipe into the tough interface if you want to play but I almost never do. Name of the software is Start8 (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/) been using since December without issue.

3. Then you can handle separation of accounts as you did before. You can try using multiple browsers so they don't see eachother's cookies or set the browser to forget you every time you close is, or always launch in "private" (internet explorer) or "incignito" mode (chrome) where it stores nothing.

RubyCamaro · 03-17-2014, 10:37 AM

Sounds complicated. I may have to go & let one of the Geek Squad guys or one of my club guys to help me sort this out.

Highland Ranger · 03-17-2014, 01:35 PM

Sounds, but its not. You need neighbors kids help!

That silly touch interface drove me nuts.

*DGthe3* · 03-17-2014, 03:11 PM

I think I somehow avoided all that (not positive though) but I haven't got a clue how I might have done it, if I did it. I've got 8.1, but I'm barely on social media & never in the 'Metro' part of Windows so I can't be sure. But speaking of Metro ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highland Ranger

Sounds, but its not. You need neighbors kids help!

That silly touch interface drove me nuts.

What I can't figure out is why Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to completely ditch the Start Menu interface in favour of that stupid Metro one. Within days of getting my new laptop last year I downloaded 3rd party program to give me back my menu. I think the program was under 5 MB ... so its not like Microsoft freed a ton of space by not including a traditional menu with Win8 alongside their new one.

Highland Ranger · 03-17-2014, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I think I somehow avoided all that (not positive though) but I haven't got a clue how I might have done it, if I did it. I've got 8.1, but I'm barely on social media & never in the 'Metro' part of Windows so I can't be sure. But speaking of Metro ...

What I can't figure out is why Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to completely ditch the Start Menu interface in favour of that stupid Metro one. Within days of getting my new laptop last year I downloaded 3rd party program to give me back my menu. I think the program was under 5 MB ... so its not like Microsoft freed a ton of space by not including a traditional menu with Win8 alongside their new one.

Because they are converging on a single mobile platform. That metro thing is what the have on their phones.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

RubyCamaro · 03-17-2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I think I somehow avoided all that (not positive though) but I haven't got a clue how I might have done it, if I did it. I've got 8.1, but I'm barely on social media & never in the 'Metro' part of Windows so I can't be sure. But speaking of Metro ...

What I can't figure out is why Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to completely ditch the Start Menu interface in favour of that stupid Metro one. Within days of getting my new laptop last year I downloaded 3rd party program to give me back my menu. I think the program was under 5 MB ... so its not like Microsoft freed a ton of space by not including a traditional menu with Win8 alongside their new one.

8.1 brought the start menu option back as well as ability to use desktop instead of the "tiles". So maybe an update if you still have 8 would help.

RubyCamaro · 03-17-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highland Ranger

Sounds, but its not. You need neighbors kids help!

That silly touch interface drove me nuts.

When you get to my age not only are your kids but also the kids of all the neighbors are grown & moved away. That is why we have to hire Geek Squad or beg for help from young co workers & club/forum friends.

Mr_Draco · 03-17-2014, 03:59 PM

And people wonder why I say 8 is the new Vista. 8 is not exactly user friendly and is a pain in the butt for the average person to use.

03-16-2014, 09:32 PM	#1
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,241 View My Garage	New computer, new frustrations...help please Okay I have finally made the leap from XP to 8.1. I am sitting here on my new laptop after enduring frustrations of a badly outdated & dying laptop. I have been exposed to some newer systems because of computers at work so I am not finding the transition as difficult as I had anticipated so far. One frustration however has followed me to the new computer. I hate that computers want to link together all your on-line sites. I do not want my Facebook, YouTube & email accounts linked together & sharing my information. I purposefully don't post certain things on Facebook but if it is linked with my YouTube channel that blows some of that separation. How do I get them to NOT do that? More difficult still is dealing with our Camaro club e-mail. I am the administrator of the club email. I do not want it linked with any of my other accounts. On the old computer I ended up getting 3 different browsers and only used google chrome for the club email. Every way I try to access the club email on the new computer it tries to get me to make it the primary account associated with the computer's account which I definitely do not want to do. There has to be a way around this but I need some help figuring out how to do this. Please help. __________________

03-16-2014, 09:37 PM	#2
batman53201 Account not blocked Drives: The Batmobile Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: wisconsin Posts: 2,158 View My Garage	cant really help you out, as i just switched to a new laptop with windows 8.1 myself. i had to use google to ask how to shut the laptop down anyway, i dont like the new start screen, and i did find a way to go back to the old skin, and now i can shut down and do things just like before. if you are interested, just download the program from this link. http://www.classicshell.net/ good luck figuring the rest out __________________

03-16-2014, 09:58 PM	#3
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,241 View My Garage	I can navigate okay. I just need to figure out this thing with the emails. __________________

03-17-2014, 06:22 AM	#5
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,241 View My Garage	Thanks for trying to help. Please explain further. Remember you are talking to a ol' fart not very computer savy. What do you mean by a local account? __________________ Last edited by RubyCamaro; 03-17-2014 at 10:34 AM.

03-17-2014, 10:37 AM	#8
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,241 View My Garage	Sounds complicated. I may have to go & let one of the Geek Squad guys or one of my club guys to help me sort this out. __________________

03-17-2014, 05:15 AM	#4
Scott@Bjorn3D Drives: Kami, 2013 2SS LS3 Luvin Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Eufaula, Alabama Posts: 6,427	You need to set your user account to a local account and not to the crap Microsoft is trying to get you to do by linking the machine to your e-mail account. That will fix allot of your issues. And I use ClassicShell like another person linked to on all my Windows 8 customers.

03-17-2014, 08:34 AM	#6
danvillekidd 2013 ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 m6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Avondale AZ & Indy will always be home Posts: 870 View My Garage	Windows 8 defaults to a cloud based storage system and setting your computer to local only stops it from using the cloud system. If you can find the control panel, user accounts, i do believe it's in there where you have to change your computer from "cloud" to local. I'm at work on my phone so I am not exactly sure on the terms it uses and better steps to walk you through. Maybe someone better than me can help if you don't get it fixed. I hate having my personal stuff stored in cyberspace too and had to figure out how to stop it.

03-17-2014, 08:41 AM	#7
Highland Ranger Drives: 2014 CRT Convertible ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NW NJ Posts: 377	A few things: 1. I used a dummy account for the Microsoft cloud stuff and to log in, not a real one that I use for anything else, so that isolates that. 2. I replaced that crazy new touch interface with a classic "skin" that makes 8.1 for the most part act like a Windows 7 computer. You can swipe into the tough interface if you want to play but I almost never do. Name of the software is Start8 (http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/) been using since December without issue. 3. Then you can handle separation of accounts as you did before. You can try using multiple browsers so they don't see eachother's cookies or set the browser to forget you every time you close is, or always launch in "private" (internet explorer) or "incignito" mode (chrome) where it stores nothing.

03-17-2014, 01:35 PM	#9
Highland Ranger Drives: 2014 CRT Convertible ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NW NJ Posts: 377	Sounds, but its not. You need neighbors kids help! That silly touch interface drove me nuts.

03-17-2014, 03:59 PM	#14
Mr_Draco Drives: 2SS/RS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 7,411	And people wonder why I say 8 is the new Vista. 8 is not exactly user friendly and is a pain in the butt for the average person to use.

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