Running Windows 8 / 8.1 and FFXIV

Anyone running FFXIV on Win 8.1? Is it better? Does it handle well?

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

Won't touch either with a 20 foot pole ;) Sorry, can't answer your question other than to upgrade back to windows 7 since windows 8 is obviously a downgrade ;) (personal opinion)

I have been playing on windows 8.1 for a while now. No issues very smooth. Sorry Rhas, I have to disagree with your windows 8 experience. Its def an upgrade.

Not sure what win app menu you are referencing that keeps popping up lol. Never had that.

I'm using windows 8 here. I tried 8.1 preview and went back to 8.0 because of a performance hit I noticed and my raid array going to sleep. I haven't tried 8.1 official release and I'm not keen because they didn't fix the start menu the way I wanted it.

Not sure what app menu you're referring to that pops up at random. I know if I accidentally hit the windows button it pops up. I have updates set to manual.

I'll be sticking with windows 8 because I'm not willing to pay for another windows 7 license.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Won't touch either with a 20 foot pole ;) Sorry, can't answer your question other than to upgrade back to windows 7 since windows 8 is obviously a downgrade ;) (personal opinion)

---

Your personal opinion is also uneducated. I'm running Windows 8.1 and I haven't had a single issue with it, and the game's performance is noticeably improved for me compared to running it on Win7.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eekiki

Your personal opinion is also uneducated. I'm running Windows 8.1 and I haven't had a single issue with it, and the game's performance is noticeably improved for me compared to running it on Win7.

---

Uneducated... lol

Doesn't matter that I'm actually a computer tech nor that I've actually worked for MS before either lol

You can have your opinions and I can have mine, but... uneducated.... lol You don't even know me ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eekiki

Your personal opinion is also uneducated. I'm running Windows 8.1 and I haven't had a single issue with it, and the game's performance is noticeably improved for me compared to running it on Win7.

---

Let me ask you a question - were people's "personal opinion" about Windows ME and Vista uneducated as well? I liked Windows ME and had no issues with it, but Windows 8 even as described by Microsoft (the people who make it by the way) isn't really designed for Desktop computers, it's more of a bringing tablet design to the desktop. It's well known they released 8.1 for the simple fact to deal with many issues and requests to bring Windows 8 more towards the way the previous desktop versions.

http://www.winbeta.org/news/start-me...-81-be-updated Guess all of these were uneducated too :p I tried it on 8 and had issues with it but didn't try 8.1 yet.

It runs smooth as butter on my Windows 8 machine. Had to send the damned thing back for repairs (not OS related) so I'm back on my old Vista jalopy for a bit, & lemme tell you. Windows 8 > Windows Vista by like, a fafillion-billion percent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Won't touch either with a 20 foot pole ;) Sorry, can't answer your question other than to upgrade back to windows 7 since windows 8 is obviously a downgrade ;) (personal opinion)

---

Running Windows 8.1. I'd also like to chime in and say you're wrong, a product of misinformation from internet trolls.

Win 8.1 uses a fraction of the resources as Win 7. I've noticed performance increases in all of my games, especially after the most recent NVidia drivers.

The app style menu will pop once and awhile, but rarely. This last time was at the worst possible moment, right during a HM Primal fight.

I don't use the CRL to access my moves, I just use my mouse to execute my skills so my fingers are typically not in this general area. I read up on this issue in a several places but it was never answered.

I'm just curious on other's experience with 8.1, I'm a little hesitant on upgrading.

If I had a choice I would have Win7, but I got such a good deal on my system that it trumps the fact its preinstalled with Win8 (my Asus G750JX-DB71 scores 7-8k on max-graphics on the bench and it never overheats). To go backwards will be challenging to find appropriate drivers for all the new hardware, I think it could create more issues than what I'm dealing with currently. I had originally played FFXIV 1.0 on a bootcamp Win7 macbook, but it could not handle 2.0.

Running 8.1; no issues here.

I'm not a huge fan of Metro, but you can change things so it boots right to your desktop on startup. Also, you can disable your windows key, if that is the menu you are talking about. I've a programmable keyboard with app profiles so it automatically disables the windows key when I start FFXIV. Hope that helps; sorry if not! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Won't touch either with a 20 foot pole ;) Sorry, can't answer your question other than to upgrade back to windows 7 since windows 8 is obviously a downgrade ;) (personal opinion)

---

Running Windows 8.1 and yeah, I don't agree with your statement. At least provide information on why Windows 7 is superior.

To the OP, yeah, I haven't had any problems running FFXIV on 8 or 8.1. I also like 8.1's desktop interface more than 7's so there's that.

I am not a huge fan of Windows 8/8.1. Yes I tried it, and while technically it may be an upgrade, to me I feel as though my user experience has been downgraded. If I had a touchscreen monitor, I may have felt different. That and I don't like the fact that Microsoft wants to go star trek with their OS and not include the one feature that people want back.

EDIT: in response to post #16, I agree. I would then go to Windows 8 on my gaming machine without a touchscreen. Until then, it's just a kang.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-croft

Microsoft wants to go star trek with their OS

---

Oh man I would pay good money for my PC to have Majel Barrett's voice, and not those crappy wav files for windows events! :D

I appreciate all the comments on 8.1, I might have to give it a try.

I'm currently using START8 to give me back my Win7 start style menu.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dozer

Oh man I would pay good money for my PC to have Majel Barrett's voice, and not those crappy wav files for windows events! :D

---

If you have the sound files its very easy to do, just time consuming. I have mine set like FFVII, my warning sound is the chocobo "wark" lol.

http://funny-pictures-blog.com/wp-co...-8-vs.-Aol.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sinth

http://funny-pictures-blog.com/wp-co...-8-vs.-Aol.jpg

---

Quoted for visibility.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

I appreciate all the comments on 8.1, I might have to give it a try.

I'm currently using START8 to give me back my Win7 start style menu.



If you have the sound files its very easy to do, just time consuming. I have mine set like FFVII, my warning sound is the chocobo "wark" lol.

---

Is it just like the Win7 menu? I tried the others because my dad is technologically challenged and 'needed' his start menu back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by C-croft

Is it just like the Win7 menu? I tried the others because my dad is technologically challenged and 'needed' his start menu back.

---

Its almost like 7. START8 has a free 30 trial and comes with a few different features that helps return the feel of Win7. I think its about $5 to purchase the app.

Was playing on Win7 on my previous PC but it finally died (fixed and gave to my son) and I have a new PC with Win 8.1. The User Interface for the windows original setting was horrible... I hate it lol, but with 8.1 startup to desktop and other tweaks to replace the start button to work like previous Windows it's working smoothly for me.

I haven't any win 8.1 related issue with XIV so far.
I installed FFXIV on SSD in my old PC and on the new machine I just moved the SSD, downloaded the client, chose the same directory as the SSD and it didn't even need to update the game. It worked right away.
Only thing to remember is to make sure to backup your user settings, although we'll have a tool in 2.1 that will make this process easier, I had to copy the user data folder and it loaded all my hud layout, hotbar settings.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

Its almost like 7. START8 has a free 30 trial and comes with a few different features that helps return the feel of Win7. I think its about $5 to purchase the app.

---

I get the same effect for free with ClassicShell and setting it to Win7 menu mode.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

Anyone running FFXIV on Win 8.1? Is it better? Does it handle well?

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

---

I use Windows 8.1 and it works great for pretty much everything. I highly recommend you google and install "Classicshell" which will install a windows 7 style start menu, that in my opinion has more functionality than the real start menu. You can also disable active corners, which can be annoying for some, through the classicshell settings. With W8 you will get a start button with a shell icon, upgrading to 8.1 and reinstalling classicshell will give you a start button with the windows logo (if that matters to you).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

Anyone running FFXIV on Win 8.1? Is it better? Does it handle well?

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

---

Windows 8 is an upgrade from Windows 7 system-wise. 8 has better memory management, faster turn-on/shutdown speed, better network management and a bunch of tweaks that were not possible in Windows 7 that benefits the systems overall. The difference is not that huge, but it is there. Modern video games will most likely run slightly better on Windows 8 than on Windows 7. It will be more or less noticeable with "weaker" systems. That's the theory behind it. In practice, every computer is different, so the results will differ from a computer to another.


That said, Windows 8.1 is like a service-pack (with a fancier name and more drastic changes). It brings major updates to Windows 8 features, notably the Windows search, more customization for the App Menu and the return of a start button (but not the start menu, which Microsoft announced will be available for Windows 8 around 2015 for the next major update). If you have Windows 8, going for 8.1 is strongly recommended.

I used Windows 8.1 preview version, which didn't affect my applications/files, but going from 8.1 preview to 8.1 release forced me to re-install Windows (thus losing all application installed, yet keeping the files). I am not sure of the effects of going from 8 to 8.1 release.

For my own system and FFXIV:ARR, I can say it worked as well in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

For the App Menu popping during gameplay, my guess is that you press the Windows Key (the key in between Ctrl and Alt), which is a shortcut to the App Menu. That or if you still have Windows 8, if you click on the lower left corner of the monitor, it triggers the App Menu as if you had clicked there. With Windows 8.1, you no longer have the lower corner issue, since the start button is back. I can grantee though that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 do not go into the App Menu by themselves without user interaction. It is highly probable that you do something "wrong" while playing, which trigger the App Menu shortcut.


Final words for the players out there: an operating system has two major components:
1. The user interface (what you see). That's about less than 1% of the OS (and that number is lower for most folks out there since they don't use, therefore see everything an OS has to offer).
2. The actual operating system (what you don't see). That's the remaining 99%.

If Microsoft made a mistake with Windows 8's user interface, as an operating system, it worked quite well and is definitely an upgrade from Windows 7. I would not recommend upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 as Windows 7 is already a pretty solid operating system and you won't gain much outside turning your computer on and off faster. If you are good with computers though, you can easily change the user interface of Windows 8 to one so close to Windows 7, most people would never notice.

I like to think one who knows how to deal with computers, knows how to adapt the computer to him/herself instead of adapting him/herself to the computer.

I have been playing on a windows 8.1 os for about 3 months now. Everything works fine for me. My normal os of choice is linux so the only application on the windows os is FFXIV. The app works well in both windowed add full screen mode. I do agree with LloydShade that the user interface of 8 / 8.1 is the worst I have ever seen, it fits a tablet not a desktop os. I say this because multi-tasking is significantly more difficult than it should be, this is due to many apps running full screen in windows 8. So if you are use to XP - Win 7 user interface you might not want to switch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

Anyone running FFXIV on Win 8.1? Is it better? Does it handle well?

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

---

What win app menu? I played fine on my laptop with 8/8.1 without any pop ups.


Windows 8.1 really isn't as bad as people would like you to believe. IT's certainly not on the level with vista or ME or BoB.. It's a nice solid upgrade from win7 in my experience (involving about 435 machines).


My personal machines run Mint, gentoo, XP, VIsta, 7 and 8.1. If you have win7 there's no real reason to upgrade right now as the improvements in performance and such are relatively minor in 8.1.


Even though I don't have a touch screen I am starting to dig the setup for windows 8. Lets face it the right click in the lower left has every option that you usually end up having to dig for in win7. The metro interface is annoying till you get it organized properly.

XIV runs close to perfectly on 8.1, and I'm running it on a Retina MacBook.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leash

Also, does know how to stop that stupid Win App Menu from popping up randomly while in gameplay on Win8?

---

Depends how drastic you want to get ;)

http://i44.tinypic.com/hst8pc.jpg

I understand that my follow up post may be getting lost but I don't use the CRL to access my moves, I just use my mouse to execute my skills so my fingers are not in this general area. My hands are cupped over these buttons, it would be a challenge to hit this button. I've only seen a few other people posts about this issue on other forums.

I have my hot bars staggered near the center bottom of my screen, so they're nowhere near the corners of the screen. I do play this game windowed though, could this have an affect?

Also, this isn't a discussion on which OS is better. 8.1 just came out and just wanted some user feedback on it and see if it is worth upgrading it (since its free for Win8 users).

It is kinda of hard to have a civilized discussion about windows 8.

I am under the assumption that most of us windows 8 users are using something like start8 or classic shell. If you use windows 8 in desktop mode in some way, it is clearly the OS to have.

Anyone who says windows 8 sucks is either ignorant in knowing how to disable metro, or just lazy ( or cheap ). I suppose it is valid to boycott windows 8 cuz you do not like the way MS is going with this. I have some sympathy for you, and it is your right to do this. but....I would rather see everyone to simply use the hack to stick it to Microsoft in that way


Get windows 8, spend $5 on Start8, enjoy

Really don't understand why people cling to the start menu so hard. It's a horribly slow way of getting to your content. Click->Click-Click->Found it!.

Why would you just not use shortcuts on your desktop, or pin items to your start menu, or even better....hit the windows key and type the first couple of letters of what you want to launch and hit enter.. super fast app launch

The new Start menu is just a flat view of the tree you had before. It's much quicker to find what you want, and use it. How often are you spending in your app find products that it's matters that damn much?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Uneducated... lol

Doesn't matter that I'm actually a computer tech nor that I've actually worked for MS before either lol

---

Playing with computers doesn't make you a tech, and pushing a broom @ MS doesn't count either.

Just as a heads up, Windows 8.2 is coming out in April 2014 and it is bringing the traditional Start menu back. On a side note, I'm running Win 8.1 and haven't had any trouble at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Uneducated... lol

Doesn't matter that I'm actually a computer tech nor that I've actually worked for MS before either lol

You can have your opinions and I can have mine, but... uneducated.... lol You don't even know me ;)

---

You are a Lalafell. That is all.

And the game runs so much better on 8.1. After all, DirectX 11.2 is only available on 8.1 at the moment.

i used to hate windows 8 when i first started using it.and the metro ui is still useless, i like how that i can just type whatever i want to run by just tapping the win key. its a lot faster than using the old start menu. gaming wise its been really good. its stable, its fast, much faster than win 7. its really good once u get used to it

Guys, put your opinions about the UI away. An operating system is more than just the stuff on the screen. Technically speaking, 8.1 is an unequivocal upgrade from 7.

The Modern UI doesn't affect anything in game, so I don't know what you're talking about with stuff popping up. You can disable the hot corners if that is what you're talking about.

The game runs without issue.

Perform wells but I do hate Win 8 >.< and 8.1 sometimes give a blue screen of death while playing <.<. But its rare.

I thought I would hate Windows eight but was forced to upgrade, I would never go back, I boot I type F and final Fantasy pops up and boom I'm playing. It doesn't get nicer than than that, I use my desktop rarely now. I've gotten used to just typing in what I want and pressing enter. And I not to mention that it runs a lot better than Windows 7.i have a rare feeling all the people who hate 8 and refuse to upgrade may also be the I loved 11 please make this game into it because it was so much better people.

Well, I just upgraded from 8 to 8.1. Performance hit I saw in 8.1 preview is gone and I now get a slightly higher score with Windows 8.1. When I ran benchmark on windows 7 I got same score as windows 8, however windows 8/8.1 seems smoother; I'm not sure why. I still hate windows 8.1 UI behavior, however I think I can live with it till 8.2. I pin every app I use to task bar so I don't have to use the start screen. It's nice I can directly to desktop with 8.1.

Win 8.0:
http://i.imgur.com/NCZB2YB.png


Win 8.1:
http://i.imgur.com/qcscBaU.png

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Niadissa

Just as a heads up, Windows 8.2 is coming out in April 2014 and it is bringing the traditional Start menu back. On a side note, I'm running Win 8.1 and haven't had any trouble at all.

---

I've been using IBM-Compatible systems with Windows since 1993 and have only used the Start Menu a couple times to load Character Map. To those that must have it though, I can't understand what's so difficult about pressing the windows key if you want to access your start menu, which is now an entire customized screen. The only problem I've had since upgrading to windows 8, and 8.1 is that it takes several times to get the task manager to stay open because it keeps automatically closing when I start it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rhas

Uneducated... lol

Doesn't matter that I'm actually a computer tech nor that I've actually worked for MS before either lol

You can have your opinions and I can have mine, but... uneducated.... lol You don't even know me ;)

---

You're clearly not if you think 8.1 is a 'downgrade' from windows 7. The only issue that you could potentially have with windows 8 is a distaste for the UI, but that's subjective.