Word of Caution

Of course I did install Windows 8 Developer Preview. And of course I selected my primary machine as guinea pig. Installation of Windows 8 itself went into virtual disk onto my RAID mirror and it completed without any issue.

My feeling for interface is that it is too phone-like with all stupid restrictions that this brings. For example, most of dialogs cannot be traversed by using Tab key. If you are using keyboard as your primary input device that will annoy you. Interface between legacy and new applications is troublesome at best and I have feeling that Microsoft will need to do a lot of work on this one.

I also find new start menu as pointless exercise in minimalism. It might be me, but I do not see why menu of only few items deserves it’s own taskbar space. If desire is to remove “clutter” they might as well remove that whole button.

And this is all I have to say so far.

P.S. If you are wondering why there ain’t any more opinions about Windows 8, answer lies in fact that I am not using it anymore.

Although I did install it in VHD, that VHD was on RAID mirror. At first everything seemed to be working fine but after hibernation my RAID was broken and I could not boot. Quick visit to DISKPART (part of Windows 8) gave me opportunity to know that RAID is being rebuilt and, in Microsoft’s eternal wisdom, there was no way to check it’s progress. However, few hours later, sync was done and I could boot.

After next hibernate I was given same treatment once over but this time I could not make it boot (even as RAID status said healthy). My first solution was to execute BOOTSEC.EXE /FIXMBR and BOOTSEC.EXE /REBUILDBCD. I was surprised when these commands (executed from Windows 8 installation prompt) gave me my original (Windows 7) BCD and not a new Windows 8 one. I haven’t analysed it further but it seems that someone forgot to update that part of installation medium.

For better or for worse, I need to install Windows 8 again. This time I will probably sacrifice virtual machine and thus I will not check what I desire the most - Hyper-V in client OS.

Windows 8 Developer Preview

Today world should see Windows 8 Developer Preview. Download will be is available at Windows Dev Center. I can hardly wait to see Hyper-V for client OS in action.

P.S. I will not try it this week since I am behind hotel wireless. As soon as I get some normal connection I intend to start using it. Whatever that brings…

Network Attaching

VHD Attach was designed with ease of use as first priority and as such it’s main use case was attaching virtual drives that are available on local disks. On other side, service uses Local system in order to simplify user’s setup procedure.

Unfortunate consequence of this is not being able to attach network drives that have any user restrictions. VHD Attach will attempt to attach network drive but only under guest credentials. If network location does not accept everyone attach will fail. As always there is workaround.

Easiest solution would be to go into Computer Management -> Services and Applications -> Services and there find “VHD Attach” service. Right-clicking properties and then going to Log On tab will allow for service user change. Instead of Local System account selecting “This account” and filling your user data should do the trick.

After restart of service attaching from network location will work like a charm.

P.S. I am actively thinking about sorting this out without making things more complicated. Who knows, maybe it will be even fixed in next version. :)

Hyper-V This

I adore Hyper-V as a product but I do not use it on my desktop. I tried to use server OS mostly because of Hyper-V but it was just too painful. Then I tried to use Virtual PC but new version got stripped of it’s support for anything that is not Microsoft OS. At the end I use VirtualBox for most of my personal needs and I use Hyper-V Server whenever I have a need for more permanent and robust solution. Well, this is about to change. It looks like Windows 8 is going to have Hyper-V built right in.

Compared with Windows Server line it got one feature that was annoyingly missing - support for WiFi adapters. Finally there is possibility to connect your laptop’s wireless card to virtual machine and to have traffic go through it. That feature was missing for a long time because of some issues with how wireless adapters work and it is good to see that it will be available (hopefully Microsoft will not back out of this) with all naughty stuff sorted in background.

Another Hyper-V “feature” that annoyed me is inability of hibernating machine with Hyper-V installed. There is no mention of any changes here, but I do hope that this issue is also sorted out. I simply cannot imagine desktop/laptop virtualization without this.

All in all seems like Microsoft is putting all it’s virtual eggs in one virtual basket and that there will be finally consolidated virtualization architecture on both server and desktop products. Virtual PC 2007 SP1 be gone, you were inadequate solution anyhow.

Original announcement is available as part of Microsoft’s Building Windows 8 blog.

Long live Ctrl+Alt+Left.

Reasoning

Most of reading that I do is on Amazon Kindle and there I have noticed disturbing trend. Quite a large number of books have Kindle version priced higher than paperback.

I just cannot figure why any cost involved would be any higher for an e-book when compared to a physical book that needs both printing and physical distribution.

Call me old fashioned but I will not buy Kindle book that costs more than physical copy out of principle.