Useless Windows Tiles Problem

[ro2124]

After years of frustrating problems with anything to do with Windows, I have reserved a special place of hate for Windows 8.1 and those stupid tiles.
From the day I bought my laptop with 8.1 the dammed things have never worked from day one and wasted days and days trying to fix them without success.
8.1 was supposed to be the big thing with tiles etc and typical Microsoft the very basic thing. the tiles they bleated about do not work.Yeah typical Windows cant even get the basics right!
In the end just used an add-on program so I could use the normal start program as in previous versions of Windows.

But unfortunately that did not solve all the problems. I still cannot access PC settings, click on that and just a brief flash of icon appearing and thats it nothing.
Now hit a another major problem I'm trying to connect a new phone to Bluetooth on PC unfortunately it seems only works through those stupid tiles.

When I try to pair the device the authorisation code appears on the phone and on Windows a small blue tile appears in the top right-hand corner saying Tap Here to connect your phone. So I click on that tile and guess what? Yeah it just disappears, so I cannot enter the authorisation code.
It's a damn nightmare after several hours of trying I just gave up I've had enough of bloody 8.1.
So as a last resort thought I'd try here to see if someone has any ideas how to solve this.

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps you should've considered upversioning to Win 10. It defaults to those horrible tile things, but you can get rid of them. Apologies re your main bluetooth issue. Not sure what to suggest about that but someone is likely to visit and be able to suggest something soon.

[murraymints]

get 10 !

[EDDIE51]

Yes you will have to upgrade to W10. Unfortunately you have missed the free upgrade , so it will cost you. I would contact Microsoft customer support, they just might offer you a discount.

[TTG]

As a last resort you can get a genuine licence key for Windows 7 Home Premium from ebay for about £12. You just need a Windows Home Premium oem installation disk. Borrowing one from someone is legal. You pay for the licence key. You can get a key and disk for about £30 from ebay if you cannot find one.

[Bertrum]

You could try downloading Classic Shell from
www.classicshell.net/
Free software that gives Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 the look and feel of Windows 7

[ro2124]

Yeah I did in fact consider 10, but by experience I don't touch anything new by Microsoft unless I absolutely have to. It invariably means hassle, always potential problems with that incompetent bunch, some people have upgraded no problem others were not so lucky, anything by that bunch is always potluck so I try to avoid it.
So I continued using 8.1, as it was running fairly well (as I installed classic Shell some time ago, as Bertrum also suggested).
But as I found out some tile crap you just can't get rid of, even with Classic Shell, PC settings is impossible to access and of course now the problem with Bluetooth, so I can't connect my phone.

Anyway missed the 10 free upgrade now,so guess I just have to grin and bear it until eventually will need new computer which will have 10 installed.

Microsoft products have always been crap and they always will be, as far as I am concerned. They just improved a bit over the years but mostly still crap even with the latest versions of recent years, still get the same crap, Windows can't do this, Windows can't do that, Please wait for this, Please wait for the other.
In comparison with Android, been running that for years and never had single problem with it, damn shame they don't make similar computer operating systems and just do tablets/mobiles.
Actually one way to go for the future, I believe there are devices now that actually run Windows and Android together, that might be a good idea!

[fiesata]

You could try downloading Classic Shell from
www.classicshell.net/
Free software that gives Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 the look and feel of Windows 7

I agree one of the best free or paid for software utilities ever make the awful Win 8/10 interface user friendly

BTW Windows 10 upgrade is still free to people who use assistive technology

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-assistive-features/

[ro2124]

@fiesata

As as I said in other post already installed Classic Shell some time ago, but no joy. Some things like PC settings and the Bluetooth code thing, still will only show through that stupid tile system and if they don't work- your screwed!

[fiesata]

I've never found that, Classic Shell menus show exactly what the native Windows menus show