Have Dell or Microsoft with windows 8 killed the F8 key
I wonder why some things happen, by people who does´nt seem to have thought things trough properly. And the same people are getting payed a nice salary for their thinking and decision-making.
For example I have a new laptop I bought recently, a Dell Inspiron 7520. A Laptop and it is nice in many ways, but with the installation of Windows 8 – and I have updated it to Windows 8.1 – the crucial F8 Key have stopped working like it has always done for decades. And let me in short tell you why the F8 key is so important.
I can have various programs installed, for example CorelDRAW, Photoshop, Openoffice, Word and just about any program out there. When a program, for example my favorite program CorelDRAW, needs to go back to a Factory Default state, the way it was when installed from the beginning, to quickly fix something, I press down F8 key while pressing down the program icon of the program. Be it CorelDRAW or any other program. A dialog pops up asking if I like to make the program go back to a Factory Default. I click yes and all is fine.
Now, suddenly for whatever “intelligent” reason either Dell or Microsoft have removed the possibility to click the F8 key on program icons on the Task Bar and desktop shortcut icons. Because windows 8 is said to have another workflow and button for System Recovery. But thing is of course, F8 key too me is not about System Recovery at all. To me F8 is about using a perfect quick fix button Corel Corporation for example have assigned since decades back to make it easier and quick for their program users to get back to work. It is simply the “magic button”.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 version have millions of users around the world – go figure what they may feel right now. All due to either Dell or Microsoft.
There is a workaround I found out yesterday. But the workaround is something millions of users around the world wont know about. Because even if I write this blog about it, there simply aint millions of users reading my blog.
Workaround is as follows.
1. In Windows 8, go via the EXPLORER icon on the Task bar and click to open it.
2. Go to OS / C: and Program/Corel/ Coreldraw…..X6/Programs and right-click the program and create a Shortcut on the Desktop
3. Select the Shortcut icon on the Desktop & click F8 key will NOT work
4. Instead Select/right-click and when the Flyout menu open…
5. Use the Arrow keys to browse up to “OPEN”
6. Press Down the F8 Key + Click on “OPEN” and keep pressing.
7. RESULT: THIS will start CorelDRAW and ask if you like to select Factory Default – like its supposed to.
8. Click YES
9. RESULT: It now works and CorelDRAW is now set to a Factory Default state.
What a cumbersome workflow.
Now compare this with a computer with either Windows 7 or older OS´s
1) Press down F8 key
2) Press, click, the program icon
3) click yes
4) Finished!
There is another way to find Factory Default, but not a F8 key, but again talk about cumbersome. MIcrosoft apparently thought it more obvious? You have to go the Sidebar and… Nah, I stop there. So stupid the whole thing.
If you have the same problem on your computer with Windows 8, then please contact Microsoft or Dell.
ATTENTION: the F8 key and CorelDRAW graphics Suite X6 works fine with Windows 7 and older, and any other brand program out like Photoshop. But with Windows 8, it is a totally other issue.
Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, graphic designer & artist
www.canvas.nu
www.stefanlindblad.com
You wrote:
”CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 version have millions of users around the world”
Where are this users? On Facebook CorelDraw have 65000 likes and in coreldraw.com forum every day ”run” max. 50 user. Interesting:)
Haha, cheeky dude;-)
But on a serious note, what you say is interesting from another subject all together of course: despite all the hype about social media, and despite it rightfully is an important channel for many users around the world, most people on this planet Tellus do not even have internet connection. And most users most probably just do their work and dont go online everyday.
I agree, but the difference between 65000 facebook likes and min. 1 million CorelDraw users is big, or not?
Hi Yo, I see your point.
But thing is I know by reliable facts that there are millions of users of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. And even more millions using Adobe software. I know by fact that the millions are actual licenses. And then count the ”grey” numbers, i.e. the ”illegal” users being even more.
Many users are either unaware of the Facebook page, or simply just dont click the ”Like” button. I read several facebook pages personally without clicking the ”like” button. A ”like” subscription adds a lot of traffic on my own Facebook wall, and crowd it from seeing what friends are doing. I guess some people do the same. After all we are currently aroun 7 billions on our planet.
Many users are registered on communities and forums important for them. For example the specialized http://www.t-shirtforums.com/ , http://www.sawmillcreek.org/ , and various sign maker forums, fashion, architecture, PR and so many various businesses. And way more forums and communities than these. The Program suite CorelDRAW & Photo-Paint is used in so many businesses. I dont think we should be so stucked by the ”likes” on facebook and various forums. Just take the example of Brazil who have a lot of CorelDRAW Graphic Suite users. Many of them prefer to speak portuguese instead of english. Take the chinese users in China, same there. Actually there are quite many users in China and not to forget Russia and Germany. And even in my own Country Sweden. There is a Swedish language version of CorelDRAW Graphics Sutie, and swedish is still a little language. We are only around 9 million people living in Sweden. So despite many in Sweden in the advertizing and printing business not thinking CorelDRAW to be used, there as so many users that Corel think its worth making a swedish language version. At the same time as there is the english language version sold as well in Sweden. And still all software makers struggle. And that is due to the grey numbers, i.e. illegal downloads.
Glad to hear she at least got money and won. Not always the case as many simply dont have the funds to manage this themselves.