Upgrading to Windows 8

Hey all,

I'm considering upgrading my NP9150 with a 7970M to Windows 8. I have a copy that I can use, but I'm a bit concerned about a few things. I tried searching, but the search only looks up "windows", which obviously isn't a huge help.

Mainly, I'm not too sure of the process to upgrade. I know you can install it from Windows 7 and it installs over, preserving data, but does this work well? I'm concerned about driver issues, especially with the switchable graphics. I see the thread about the Clevo USB EFI install, but I am not sure if I have to do that.

And for those who are running Windows 8, how is performance and compatibility compared to Windows 7?

Thanks for the help!

 

Here's the whole process of upgrading: How to download Windows 8 - Microsoft Windows

Preserving data works fine, but I still recommend you have a backup solution (even if you weren't upgrading) if you have data you really need. Driver support has improved; just check for Windows 8 drivers for your hardware first if you're uneasy about it (some Windows 7 drivers will function under 8 as well).

Not sure about EFI install; typically an upgrade from legacy BIOS to EFI is not provided to end users though (there are exceptions).

Performance is slightly better in Win8, as it is less resource heavy. The difference in a modern computer is negligible, though.

 

If you do need certain 8 drivers you can also download them direclty from Sager Software Upgrade

 

I had mentioned driver support improving, but I think you meant driver stability; the latter has improved as well, and AMD has fixed a lot of the quirks with Enduro. Hopefully that clears up some of your concerns.