Windows 8

[billdan (Bill)]

My old laptop died with XP Pro on it.

So I'm going to buy a new one but of course its all Windows 8 now.

Does PHD, Stellarium and EQMod run on WIndows 8?
I also use EZcap from QHY and need to know if that works as well.

Regards
Bill

[rogerco (Roger)]

Yes, I use QHY cameras EzCap, Nebulosity PHD, and EQMOD did seem to work the EQ6 but I haven't extensively used it. Automating via Stellerium I haven't tried but the program it self works.

The only thing I couldn't get to run was old Orion Starshoot Solar System camera (series II I think) they had worked fine under XP but not Win8. My Celestron Neximage 5 works fine however.

[pluto (Hugh)]

I use EQMod with Stellarium Scope on Win8 and it works fine. Same with PHD and PHD2. I haven't used EZcap but EZPlanetary works fine.

If you're using a usb to serial cable you might want to check if it works with Win8. I've never had a problem with mine but mine did say it worked with Win8 when I bought it.

EDIT: I should add that I've used all these on Win8.1 too and they all worked the same.

[billdan (Bill)]

Thanks for the quick reply Roger, I also have an EQ6.

I only use Stellarium to check whether my list of objects are at a suitable height for imaging not to control the EQ6.

I only use the laptop for capturing and guiding, then dump all the subs onto a USB stick and process them inside the house.

Thanks
Bill

Thanks Hugh it gives me confidence that everything should be OK

[Irish stargazer (John)]

Download the Stardock Start8 windows start button to get the best of Windows 7 and 8. Best $5 you can spend,

[lazjen (Chris)]

Or Classic Shell which is free.

One thing to keep in mind that I've noticed with the newer laptops is the USB support - I had to switch to a powered hub for my devices as direct connect was no longer reliable. I think it has something to do with the power supplied, but I'm not sure.

[acropolite (Phil)]

+1 for classic shell. I had a lot of trouble getting the Starshoot autoguider running on my W8 laptop, if you have any USB2 ports on the new laptop I'd suggest using those for your older hardware. A thread on the problems I had here.

[rogerco (Roger)]

Yes, sorry forgot, I use the USB2 ports on my laptop not the USB3 as I too experienced the difficultes documented elsewhere with QHY and PHD, EQMOD. So yes it is worth while checking your intended laptop has a few of the older type.

[billdan (Bill)]

Thanks everyone for your great advice on Windows 8, but in the end I chickened out and bought another used laptop the same as mine that died.

My laptop a Dell Latitude D630 the screen died, probably a broken ribbon cable near the hinges. On Gumtree a lady in the next suburb had one for sale for $150.00. So I bought hers and simply swapped the hard drive and I was up and running again.

My reasoning apart from the low price was the Dell has a proper DB9 RS232 port which means I didn't have to buy a USB converter, and I can stay with XP Pro which I know inside and out.

Thanks again
Bill