3 things to consider before upgrading to Windows 8

Windows 8 has been on the shelves for awhile now, but businesses tend not to rush in ?before upgrading to new operating systems. Instead they abide by the ?if it?s not broken, don?t fix it? rule. Upgrading your business to Windows 8 without doing your homework could create more problems than it solves.

Check software compatibility?

Every Windows upgrade presents compatibility challenges, which is why IT departments tend to test new versions of Windows on a few computers before rolling it out across the entire organisation. Regardless of the size of your business, you should dip your toe in rather than jump in.

Whether you?re buying new computers or upgrading old ones, it?s important to check whether all the software and services your staff relies on are compatible with Windows 8.

For MYOB software, here is the list of supported?software versions on Windows 8.

Sort out all your drivers

Make sure you consider important devices such as printers, scanners and USB mobile broadband modems.

If you?re upgrading from an earlier version of Windows it may also be necessary to upgrade each PCs drivers ? the software supporting internal components such as the graphics chip and networking card. Microsoft offers a free Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, designed to assess your computer?s suitability for Windows 8 in terms of hardware, software and drivers.

If you?re upgrading from Windows 7, your files, applications and settings ?should? easily transfer to Windows 8. If you?re upgrading from Windows XP or Windows Vista, you?ll need to reinstall your applications after you upgrade. Software designed for Windows 7 or Vista ?should? run smoothly on Windows 8. (Note that ?should? doesn?t mean ?will?, which is why you should proceed with caution.)

Once you?ve installed Windows 8 on an old computer, running Windows Update may identify software and driver updates which were overlooked by the Upgrade Assistant. If you still encounter stability issues, it?s worth checking the hardware manufacturers? websites for driver updates.

The PC maker ? such as Acer, Asus or Dell ? could be your one-stop shop for new drivers. Otherwise you might need to check with the individual component manufacturers, such as Gigabyte for the motherboard, NVIDIA for the graphics chip and Realtek for the network card. You can download drivers and install them manually using the Windows 8 Device Manager.

Finding new drivers can be particularly troublesome when it comes to notebooks and tablet PCs. If you encounter too many Windows 8 hardware and driver issues that can?t be resolved by consulting the vendor or your trusted technology advisor, it might be easier to hold off until your next hardware refresh ? when your new computer should come with Windows 8 and all the required drivers pre-installed.

Don?t just take the vendor?s word for Windows 8 compatibility; you?ll want to test software, hardware and drivers yourself before a business-wide roll-out. Moving to Windows 8 could force you to upgrade mission-critical software, which may in turn create new compatibility issues or necessitate extra staff training. It can have a wide flow-on effect, and you may also need to consider your relationships with your customers and suppliers when contemplating Windows 8.

Staff training

Apart from compatibility issues, moving to Windows 8 is now designed around the new tablet-style Modern UI interface, so the move to Windows 8 involves the extra hassle of training staff how to use the new operating system.Modern UI can present a steep learning curve, particularly for staff unfamiliar with touchscreen devices.

It is possible to push Modern UI aside to access the traditional Windows desktop, but it?s not possible to automatically do this when the computer first starts (although you can cobble together a workaround using Scheduled Tasks).

When you do find the desktop you?re in for another shock: the iconic Start Menu has been abandoned ? a change which is likely to flummox a generation of Windows users. It is possible to survive without the Start Menu, but once again it can require extra staff training and time to adjust.

For a smooth transition to Windows 8, it?s important to treat it as a change management project rather than simply drop your staff in the deep end.

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Source: http://myob.com.au/blog/3-things-to-consider-before-upgrading-to-windows-8/

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