I'm on the fence if I want to upgrade to W8 and I want some opinions from both sides. Could you guys please elaborate how my experience would improve or get worse if I decide to migrate to W8.

Edit: Links from other sources would be ok too.

Gibway: https://www.humblebundle.com/?gift=XPYaRtMhCDk3

10 years ago*

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Also this. If you're an old-skool gamer, you will experience many problems even on 8.1.

10 years ago
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no true. That article is old and does not represent the current state of Win8.

10 years ago
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That seems like i made that comment based on that article but is not. I've just tried Metal Gear Solid 2 on Win 8.1 but it's a disaster. Even worse than Win 8, since it can't be launched.

Also there were others like Hostile Waters (stuttering).

And also since 8.1 metro isn't a problem anymore (except you can't deactivate themes for applications under compat. tab).

But i don't care anymore. From now on i decided to don't make comments about Windows 8. There are a lot of rude fanboys on internet (don't get offended, these words aren't for you). I don't recommend it but apparently there is many satisfied users even for the first versions of Windows 8. i.e. OP gabaeba would like it as well, right?

10 years ago
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GHW_PYHHG8 it is obviously running on win 8 and it is your own fault if you cant find the answer in google I bet that the fix is the same as it was for win7. It was a pain in the ass to set it up for win7 also for me but after some trial and error it somehow worked.

10 years ago
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It hadn't any problems on Win 7. Since Win 8, you can't even fix "higher graphics bug" with well-known nvidia-ATi patch. I've played it under these conditions with Windows 8 but "I CAN'T EVEN LAUNCH IT ON WINDOWS 8.1"

"Google bla bla" doesn't make you genius, you become a worthless egoist like others, so please stop it. You're writing non-existing stories for others like me with your extreme or minimal prejudice. Before that, better try to understand what that guy tried to say etc. In the end how do you know that i didn't make a search on Google for that? Think about it.

I hope you can understand me now.

10 years ago
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A friend play his games on win8 and he change back to win7 because win8 is totaly shit for games.
But the most people think if they has the newest things they are cooler maybe.

10 years ago
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I dont know about your friend but for me games on win8 are running generally with a bit higher fps than they were running with win7.

10 years ago
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+1

10 years ago
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I haven't had a single problem with old games on 8.1 ranging from Diablo 1 to emulators of all systems pre gen 7. This article talks less about the actual running of games though and more the "hassle" of tracking them down and running them. You can find any app by pressing the windows key and typing its name, you can still make desktop icons, and being a steam website I'm sure a lot of us are used to putting non steam games in our library for your convenience. Windows 8 may have had issues with old games before, but I've yet to see even one of them and I've been using it for many months now. Then there's the age of the article which reinforces my last statement.

10 years ago
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2012

10 years ago
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10 years ago
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Windows 8 is not a good choice if your are on an old rig like me. Intel decided that they will not develop any further updates for their older series of video cards, and Microsoft sucks at making drivers.

10 years ago
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Microsoft doesn't make drivers. All drivers you get via Windows Update were made by hardware developers themselves.

10 years ago
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Tell me about that.

10 years ago
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+1

10 years ago
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I get extremely confused every time somebody avoids Windows 8 because of the interface. The entirety of the Modern UI can be avoided just by spending the 10 minutes to setup Classic Shell (with a Windows 7 skin, if you want), and almost every other part of the interface has been improved.

10 years ago
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lolKotaku. Not going near that with a 100foot stick.

10 years ago
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Wait for the new update. It will supposedly bring back the good old start menu. Yay!

Performance is better on windows 8, but there might still be some compatibility issues.

10 years ago
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I don't recommend it. I'm not a fanboy of Windows 7 or a bigoted hater of Windows 8. I can say that there is something wrong with Windows 8 for sure.

10 years ago
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there's nothing wrong with 8.1, you didnt even try windows 8 for yourself

10 years ago
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How do you know that i didn't tried it? :) (don't answer it, since i don't even reply to you again)

10 years ago
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i have a friend that hated windows 8 before he tried it, and was using win 7
now he wont go back to 7 for anything
if u hate the metro start screen, just get StartIsBack or Start8, to get the old Start Menu
also, Metro look > Aero

i used win8 and 8.1 for like 1-2 years, didnt have any problem with any

10 years ago
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Same, dunno why people complain so much, prolly just a reason for them to complain.

10 years ago
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Probably there is some kind of way of thinking difference between Windows 7 and Windows 8 lovers which is OK. Personally i found many foolish obstructs in Windows 8. Now i'm still using Windows 8.1, but i'm looking for chances to downgrade to Windows 7.

10 years ago
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Its not really a downgrade if you change back to win7.

10 years ago
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Can you explain it more? :)

10 years ago
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its because they never installed or used windows 8, and all they do is read shit on internet 'HURR ITS TOUCHSCREEN OS, ITS BAD, GAMES DONT WORK' and they just share their opinions like they know anything about it

10 years ago
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Not to mention you can circumvent the start screen by having it boot to desktop when you log in and having all your frequent stuff pinned to the taskbar (just like 7) or have desktop icons for them.

10 years ago
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Nope, stay on Win7 !!

10 years ago
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I heard that win 8 uses less ram than 7..

10 years ago
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Stick to Win7.

also thanks for Humble Bundle Mojam 2 =)

10 years ago
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I tried windows 8 Before and just no comment its just annoying stay with windows 7 It's a lot better than windows 8.

10 years ago
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ill wait till windows 9. we all know when they first made windows 8. they did it for touchscreen computers/phones. then ported it for normal desktops....

ill pass till 8 is gone.

windows has always been this way...

i hated 95. loved 98. hated 2000, loved XP, hated vista, loved windows 7, hate 8, and if things hold true. i will love windows 9. the math is simple and clear

10 years ago
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First look at 9- looks as 8 does.

10 years ago
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Win 7 looks like Vista... does this pattern tells you something....

10 years ago
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Win7 looks like vista? LOL!

10 years ago
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10 years ago
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id account myself fairly experienced with windows, it was an optional extra when i first started computing and gaming required reboots into dos on occasion and ive never used ME as my OS, ive encountered it on other peoples machines and didnt like it though hence sticking to 2000, xp was and still is a massively successful OS to the point an unhealthy number of machines still use it, microsoft's worst enemy isnt linux or apple its not making an OS thats demonstrably better than xp, had xp dx10 support id still be using it after all

10 years ago
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I find Win 8 runs smoother than 7. my computer boots up in no time and has never crashed.

I'd honestly never go back to 7, once you get used to 8's new interface its actually pretty sweet!

10 years ago
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Funny, none of my set up Windows 7 systems will crash. Only if the hardware makes problems. You need only install Windows 7 correctly.

10 years ago
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USE LINUX

10 years ago
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Actually Windows 7 + Ubuntu was really great combo. I miss those days.

10 years ago
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linux mint is perfect for noobies

10 years ago
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openSUSE, too. :)

10 years ago
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So many games cannot play

10 years ago
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if your hands don't grow from wrong place, there's a lot of games that you can play ;)

10 years ago
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Unfortune, windows for games and linux for all other things.
I hope one day can install only a linux in my machine.

10 years ago
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depends on games. i can say that i can play about half of my library (non-linux native part) on linux

10 years ago
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one person says windows 8 sucks, then the sheep follow without knowing why.
I have not had any problems with it for anything, if anything the menus etc etc make it easier to navigate your files.

10 years ago
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10 years ago
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It's not.

10 years ago
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I was a Windows 7 fan, then when I was going to dual boot Win7/win8.1, it never asked me what partition to install it (it automatically "upgraded" my windows 7 to 8.1). I was pissed as hell, but I decided to download the classic shell mod and now its basically the same thing as windows 7 except it is a bit faster in boot speed. So I think its decent now.

10 years ago
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I had the beta for win7 back in the day and the difference between the beta and the final product was minimal performance wise (ran great, looked great).

Now what I've seen from win8 is that 1. It launched unfinished and 2. It's hard to use compared to Win7/XP.
It also can't find Wifi networks that don't broadcast SSID.

10 years ago
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"It also can't find Wifi networks that don't broadcast SSID."

False. You can do it the same way you did in win7

http://i.imgur.com/4gDVUjz.png

10 years ago
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It launched finished but negative press has forced them to change things

10 years ago
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Good morning. I've been a longtime gamer and now have a win8 gaming rig. While I like the look of the windows 8 metro you have a healthy choice of alternatives if you do not. https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu This one is popular.

Someone above wrote about compatibility issues.

Here is what I have installed right now:
From Steam- CS:GO, Hawken, Max Payne 3, Rainbow 6 vegas 2, Cave Story+, Elder scrolls4 and 5, Fallout:NV, Mount & Blade:Warband, Knights of the Old Republic, X3, Anno 2070, Prison Architect, Tropico 4, Garry's Mod, Hitman: Codename 47, Thief(the new one), FTL, Medieval II:Total War, Civilization4, Sins of a Solar Emp, Left4Dead2, Natural Selection2, TF2, and finally, You Need a Budget.

My currently installed non-steam games are:
Starcraft1 and 2,Eve Online, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Alpha Centauri, Minecraft, Battlefield2142, and Battlefield3

I also have Dolphin(Wii emulator) installed. So there. Let there be no more talk of compatibility issues when it comes to games, whether new or old.

On another topic, I can get irritated with people who repeat that Win8 is made for touchscreens. The win8 start menu (AKA metro) was definitely designed with them in mind, but I'd like to bring up how I have a touchscreen monitor AND DO NOT USE THE TOUCH FEATURE. And my ability to navigate is not hampered by that choice. In fact, the much hated windows 8 start screen does not need to be used to navigate, nor do you need to even see it after the very first time you install and boot up Windows 8.

http://i.imgur.com/ah1YQRy.png

Do this and use winkey + S to search instead of the start menu to avoid it altogether. I believe this is a workaround for the problem that Wime describes in the post below (that there is both a program AND an app called Internet Explorer.) This is a valid problem with Windows 8 that new users may be confused by. The proper solution, however, is to use firefox or chrome.

10 years ago
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Thanks for the feedback!

10 years ago
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don't know about 8.1 but here's what I know

Win8 won't let you start IE in metro look if your resolution is lower than <something> (mine was.)
Win8 is made for touch-enabled screens.
Win8 really is made for touch-enabled screens.
Win8 works really bad with mouse.
Win8 acually has Win7 hidden inside (desktop).
Win8-desktop's applications and metro's aplications don't work together.
That means that if you save a bookmark in metro's IE, it won't be there in desktop's IE.
That on the other hand leads to this - Win8 has double applications, one for metro and one for desktop
Win8 is on the "bad" side in the Windows calendar (you know - XP was good, Vista was bad, 7 was good, 8 is bad)

Yeah... I don't really like Win8 :I

10 years ago
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Metro what's that? that thing from Win 8.1 which I'm never using?

10 years ago
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It's the "tile look". It's called metro as far as I know.

10 years ago
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it not actually called metro as M$ got sued over it being called metro but for the life of me i cant remember what the changed name that no one uses is :)

10 years ago
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They renamed it to "Modern" UI, but IMHO they should have just called it "Mobile" UI since it's the only place it can be remotely useful.

10 years ago
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Oh, I didn't know. Thanks for the info.

10 years ago
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If you have Windows 7, don't bother upgrading. Windows 8.1 is weird and takes some getting used to. I think that really the only feature that is superior to Windows 7 is the task manager. If you have Windows 7, there are apps to skin it to look like Windows 8. Windows 8 isn't that bad for new computers, but it makes no sense without touchscreen. (Do I really need to play Cut the Rope on a high-powered gaming desktop?)

10 years ago
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I like Windows 8.1 just fine. I really don't see any reason not to upgrade.

  • Right clicking on the startbutton gives me everything I need.
  • Tiles don't bother me.
  • Boot time is great.
  • Everything runs.
10 years ago
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+1

10 years ago
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I've used 8 for about six months now, and I'm not a fan. I found 7 to be faster and less resource intensive. I use Classic Shell to make 8 look more like 7, but it still feels like 8 was made for touchscreen devices and I've never been able to get past that.

10 years ago
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So far as I've read, defenders of Win8 haven't stated single reason why should someone switch to Win8....

10 years ago
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This is for win 8.1.1

  • Less resources used
  • Vastly superior taskmanager
  • Vastly superior file copy window
  • Faster startup time
  • Better windows update: Does not need to restart as often after installing an update. If restart is neccesary, it will do so within a day or two, not 10 min. with a max of 4 hours between "alerts". SO much better.
  • Modern UI is very nice to have. With livetiles (like widgets on android phones), are really nice to get lots of live info and nice overview of it all.
  • Modern UI: Overview of all installed software. is much nicer than a tiny window in the corner.
  • Better search engine
  • Right clicking window logo in lower left corner, gives a menu with all the needed system admin tools you could need.Clicky for example
  • Better SSD support.

Of bad things to say about win 8.1.1 is really the steep learning curve when it comes to modern ui. It can be a bit frustrating at first, because we are so used to use Windows in a certain way with things being a certain place. Press winkey and search for what you want to do. Usually finds what you are looking for. Vanilla win 8 is not great; modern ui and desktop works poorely together in vanilla. Win 8.1 works much much better. Win 8.1.1 is a small improvement over win 8.1.

I have used win 8 since 2012. Everytime I use my student laptop with win 7, I miss win 8.1.1. So go for it, but be ready to learn how to use it. Like with all actual new things.

10 years ago
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"Vastly superior file copy window" - elaborate please. What's better precisely?

"..not 10 min. with a max of 4 hours between 'alerts'" - I've had an alert window on the bottom right of my screen for 4 days now. Don't click "Postpone" or "Restart now", simple.

"..livetiles.." - How much time exactly do you spend looking at these tiles? I see my desktop once when I boot up, and almost never after, till the next reboot. 99% of your time is spent looking at program windows, or fullscreen applications (like games). Other than that, live updating tiles take resources to run something that at best can be described as "nifty". There's nothing crucial or hugely efficiency affecting about livetiles and their oh-so-precious live stats.

"Overview of all installed software is much nicer than a tiny window in the corner" - pure personal opinion. Give me a nice alphabetical list I can quickly and easily navigate with my keyboard, and I'm happy.

"Better search engine" - again entirely personal. I've heard many, many people complain about the new sort and navigation logic in both search results, as well as the previous item mentioned.

"Right clicking window logo in lower left corner, gives a menu with all the needed system admin tools you could need" - ever hear of "Classic Shell"? I can do the exact same thing in Win7, heck I can even make it look far more organised and better than that screenshot.

"Better SSD support" - elaborate, please.

10 years ago
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http://www.itpro.co.uk/desktop-software/21919/windows-81-vs-windows-7-which-is-best-for-you

There. Some things are better in Win7, some are better in Win8.

Also, in regards to the "Vastly superior file copy window" it consolidates all the windows into one, with options of allowing the same action be applied to all in the process. It also does not open multiple windows, only one. It also takes less time to copy stuff as well. (see above link)

In 8.1, you can skip Metro entirely and boot to desktop. Personally, I've found Metro to be way faster and easier in terms of finding programs I've installed. It'd take me ages to find something in the clusterfuck that was the Start menu. It's also way easier to organize on 8.1. If you still miss the Start Menu, then it will be back in 8.2, in autumn 2014. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/386059/windows-8-2-release-date-features-and-free-cloud-version

If you do want to search with it tho, there's actually 2 separate search engines, one for all files, and one for only programs. The one for programs is found in the Metro UI, with an arrow on the bottom right side, which takes you to another part and has a search bar in the top right. Use that one, it'll grab results pretty much instantly. The explorer search bar is essentially the same as Win7, but with better speed in terms of showing results.

"Better SSD support": Win8 supports USB 3.0 by defualt. No other software needed, no updates needed, no drivers to find in other sites. Thus, write/read speeds are better for win8 right off the bat.

If anything, get 8.1 over 8. It is leagues better than 8 is.

10 years ago
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"'Better SSD support': Win8 supports USB 3.0 by default."

What does USB3.0 have to do with it? SSD's aren't connected via USB. Also, USB drivers are always a part of motherboard / chipset drivers, which you should always install right after an OS, anyway..

10 years ago
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Woops, misread something then.

Actually, when I was trying to find info on SSDs and Win8/8.1 all I seemed to find was that there was a problem with how it handled SSDs in that it would sometimes see them as HDDs and try to defrag them. Post was found here btw and it states some of the benefits of it and the problems too, with a solution for it as well.

10 years ago
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I was very pleasantly surprised by Windows 7 and have never seen a reason to upgrade. I'm sure it'll follow the usual path and I'll skip the next OS and get the following one. I've gone 98/XP/7 without missing a beat. Microsoft loves making a garbage OS in between the good ones. I think they do it just to lower expectations, so you'll love the one after it.

10 years ago
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Bah I always hated Windows 8, the metro UI is just ugly. It never suited me, I feel like their trying to put and OS for tablets on PC's.

I upgraded, kept it for a couple weeks, then I very happily downgraded back to Windows 7.

Windows 7 all the way.

10 years ago
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Remember if you do upgrade, don't hate on win 8 straight away, it usually takes about 3 weeks before I stop getting annoyed at a new operating system. Seriously though I have win 8 and love it, everything works the same as it did for win 7, I've never had a problem with compatibility, my laptop boot up time is about 4 seconds but I have an SSD, and it works great for me. In saying that if you have win 7 already I probably wouldn't recommend the upgrade, I would say that win 8 IS an upgrade, but I wouldn't say by much. Even getting it for free I would say the hassle to find drivers, install, do a reformat etc etc, just isn't worth it, but then again I'm super lazy.

10 years ago
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Closed 10 years ago by gabaeba.