Windows 8 Installation Guide/Notes for Answers

This guide is intended to help prepare you to get Answers installed using Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 8. There are several major differences between Windows 8 and its predecessors (Windows 7, Vista, XP, etc). Some of these differences include:

  1. The introduction of a “tile” based default start menu (formerly code-named Metro). This “tile” based menu allows for apps (similar to iOS, Android) to be loaded directly to this screen and launched into a “full-screen” mode.
  1. There is also a “desktop” mode, which looks and behaves like pre-Windows 8 operating systems. Any pre-existing non Windows 8 based applications (i.e. Answers, Microsoft Office, etc), load directly into “desktop” mode.
  1. The original Windows start button/menu has been removed from the “desktop” mode. This was done with the intention of getting users to use the “tile” mode to further integrate people with Windows 8.
  1. The Windows key on your keyboard is used for more features in Windows 8. In previous versions, its main use were to open the start menu and used in combination with other keys for shortcuts (Win + D => Desktop, Win + E => Windows Explorer, etc). In Windows 8, it’s used to switch between apps and tile/desktop mode and other uses.
  1. Windows 8 also introduces “hot corners” or areas on the screen that produce different tasks. The bottom left corner is used to switch between tile/desktop mode. The bottom right corner launches a task bar that allows you to search, view settings, and open up the tile mode.
  1. Windows 8 was also created with the thought of merging together Microsoft’s different platforms (phones, tablets, desktop, server, and gaming).

Given all of that, here are our recommendations for installation and how to bridge the gap between XP/7 and Win 8:

  1. Any PC that needs to use Windows 8 and Answers will need to get an upgrade for their AcuCOBOL runtime (which runs the Answers software). Version 9.1.2 is the first version of Microfocus’ software that will run on Windows 8. Earlier versions have shown installation problems and bugs when trying to run on 8 and are not supported. Please contact us to get you this runtime upgrade.
  1. After getting the runtime installed, there are a couple steps that need to be done prior to installing Answers:
  1. When initially setting up a new PC with Windows 8, it will try to force you into creating a new account that is integrated with a Windows Live account. This is not necessary, so you can go ahead and set up a local account (as previously done).
  1. Two Windows settings must be turned off (restart is required):

Go to right corner context menu, click Settings -> Control Panel -> Change View by to Small Icons -> Select Action Center.

Find User Account Control under Security, click Change Settings, slide down bar to Never notify (same as Windows 7).

User Account Control is a Windows setting that tries to stop the user from installing applications without several warnings. The problem is that it interferes with Answers installation and this is the only way around it.

Find Windows SmartScreen under Security, Change Settings, Set to “Do not do anything (turn off SmartScreen)”. Then when it goes back to the Action Center, go to the top and click the Turn Off Messages about Smart Screen link.

Windows SmartScreen filter is used to try and prevent downloading of applications with prior approval of an administrator. While both settings have good intentions, they do interfere with trying to set up your PC.

  1. If you wish to regain the lost Windows Desktop Start button, you can download a free product called Classic Shell. You can find this download here (download the latest version):

Important settings to set (Click All Settings in settings menu):

Start Menu Style tab:

Use Windows Vista/7 or XP

Controls tab:

Left Click Opens: Classic Start Menu

Windows key Opens: Classic Start Menu

Special Items tab:

Control Panel – Display as Link

Network Connections – Display as Link

Printers – Display as a link

Shutdown – Display as a menu

Show Search menu – Checked

General Behavior tab:

Enable Drag and Drop – Checked

Expand Folder Shortcuts – Checked

Context Menu tab:

Enable Right-click menu – Checked

Enable Exit – Unchecked

Enable Windows Explorer – Checked

Windows 8 Settings tab:

Skip Metro screen – Checked

Disable active corners – Set to Start Screen

Start button tab:

Enable Start Button – Checked

Show on all taskbars – Checked

Button Look – Aero Button

  1. Another product that provides similar features but with a more modern twist that fits in nicely with Windows 8 is “Start Menu Reviver”.
  1. Installation of Answers after that is the standard install that you have done prior to Windows 8. You will need to map the shared datafiles directory and then go to the Answers folder and click the setup.bat script to run the Setup Procedures.

Other notes regarding this new operating system:

  1. We do not yet support the server version, Windows 2012. We have tested this server product, but we could not get all of the necessary components installed. One of vendors, Esker (VSI Fax), does not yet support Windows 2012 and did not have a timeline of when they will (as of Dec 2012). So, at this point, we are still recommending the use of Windows Server 2008 R2 for new servers.
  1. Microsoft Office 2012 also came out with this new version of Windows. It is very similar to Office 2010, except one glaring exception. In Outlook, the interface is set to a white on white setting, which may be uncomfortable for viewing. A fix to this is to go to File -> Options -> General -> Office Theme: Dark Gray.
  1. Another annoyance you may run into is the default loading procedure for file types (such as images, PDF files, Word Docs). Unfortunately, you must go into Control Panel -> Default Programs -> Associate a File Type… and change the file associations with several critical file types. Here are some of our recommendations:
  1. .doc, .docx –Word (desktop)
  2. .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .tif, .tiff – Windows Photo Viewer
  3. .pdf – Adobe Reader
  4. .txt – Notepad or Wordpad
  5. .xls, .xlsx – Excel (desktop)
  6. .ppt – Powerpoint (desktop)
  7. .mdb – Access (desktop)