While we ’re huge fans of Windows 8 ’s Metro port , there are plenty of folks who ’d rather never lease it see the visible radiation of day . If you ’re one of them , ourfriends at Laptop Magexplain how to quash it from the get - go .
As set up , the Windows 8 Consumer Preview forces users to navigate through two attractive , but disparate UIs : the roofing tile - based Metro Start Screen and the traditional desktop , which now comes without a start menu . Even though 99.9 % of Windows broadcast run in background mode , the raw OS effectivelyforces you to returnto Metrowhen you want to browse through your practical software and launch one . Fortunately , with a few tweaks , you’re able to live 100 % of your Windows 8 life in desktop mood , without even setting foundation in Metro .
Boot to The Desktop in Windows 8
The first and most unavoidable time you ’ll see Metro in a given Windows 8 academic session is upon head start - up . There ’s no mode to handicap Metro , but you’re able to push the background mode covering to load as shortly as you lumber in , in effect covering over Metro , before it even has a chance to imbibe . Here ’s how .
1 . Create an Explorer script file that launches the desktop . Open Notepad and spread or type in the following text :
[ Shell ]
Command=2
IconFile = Explorer.exe,3
[ Taskbar ]
instruction = ToggleDesktop
Save the Indian file as showmydeskop.scf and put it in a location you ’ll easily think .
2 . Launch Windows Task Scheduler . you’re able to find Task Scheduler by using Windows 8′s built - in search or by navigating to the Administrative Tools subdivision of Control Panel .
3 . Select Task Scheduler Library in the left windowpane battery-acid .
4 . Right click in the chore area and select Create New Task .
5 . inscribe a name ( ex : ShowDesktop ) on the General tab .
6 . Set the task to activate at log on by clicking young on the initiation tab , and pick out “ At log on ” from the Begin Task leaning .
7 . Make your script an activity by clicking New on the Action chit , selecting “ go a syllabus ” from the Action menu , and entering the full path of showmydesktop.scf ( ex-husband : C : myscriptsshowmydesktop.scf ) in the Program / handwriting field .
8 . Toggle off “ Stop if the computer switches to assault and battery power ” on the conditions tab . You want to lumber in to the desktop whether your notebook computer is plug in or not .
9 . Click Ok and end the Task Manager .
Prevent Your Media Files From Launching in Metro
By default option , Windows 8 launches your images , medicine data file and videos in its Metro pic spectator and medium player . So , even if you are just minding your own byplay browsing your picture library in Windows Explorer , you ’ll be shoved head - first into the Metro UI as soon as you double get across to view a file cabinet .
Fortunately , there ’s an easy way to prevent your media files from opening into Metro . All you have to do is associate the appropriate file cabinet types with Microsoft ’s desktop media player and pic looker .
1 . start the Control Panel . you may get to it by hit Win + roentgen , typing control panel into the duologue boxful and hitting Enter .
2 . Select Default programs
3 . Click “ set up your default programs ” A two - pane windowpane come out .
4 . Select Windows Photo Viewer in the left menu and chatter “ prefer defaults for this program . ” A list of file extensions appears .
5 . Toggle on the Select all clitoris and click Save . Now all photos should be consort with the desktop photo viewer .
6 . Repeat steps 4 and 5 for Windows Media Player to connect music and video files with the desktop player .
Install Third-Party Start Menu Utilities in Windows 8
Though there ’s no way to enable Microsoft ’s own old - school Start Menu in Windows 8 , a issue of third - company utilities provide alternatives that are almost as good . Here are three of our favorites :
• ViStart : Visually the most similar to Windows 7′s Start Menu , ViStart places the familiar Windows logo orb in the lower left corner of your taskbar and shows an Aero styled fare with subfolders . regrettably , it ’s not a complete reproduction as you ca n’t drag and throw off cutoff onto it or right click to change their property . ViStart takes over ascendency of the Windows key on your keyboard so that , when you conjure it , you start the menu . Keep in judgment that breaks some build - in keyboard shortcuts .
Some users have also describe that the ball overlaps other taskbar icons , but we did n’t have that problem . However , we did bump it was far too easy to unintentionally select the Metro pop push button on the low left over corner of the screen when we were targeting the orb .
You candownload ViStartfor spare from LeeSoft software . Make trusted you hit decline when the installer attempts to load RegClean Pro .
Start8 : Made by Stardock , a troupe famous for its UI - sweetening utilities , Start8 make Windows 8′s Metro “ all apps ” menu serve as the start menu , thrust it to appear in the down in the mouth unexpended corner of the screen when you click its start button . Though a going from Windows 7′s UI , we like Start8′s approach because it allows you to see all of your apps using Windows 8′s built - in menus , without the hassle of leave the desktop .
you may even configure Start8 to show the real Metro home screen in a chassis , allowing you to see all the alive tiles , without leaving your desktop . Unlike ViStart , Start8 prevent you from accidentally set in motion Windows 8′s built - in Start Screen . When we clicked in the lower left-hand corner of the desktop , Start8 – not Metro – opened . You candownload a beta of Start8from Stardock ’s site .
• StartMenu7 : Like ViStart , StartMenu7 emulate the look and feel of a traditional Windows starting time menu , with stack of options thrown in for customizing the ground and font size of it . However , we found the broadcast a bit clumsy as it creates a huge menu that floats several picture element above the taskbar . Like ViStart , it does not allow retarding force and drop , though unlike ViStart , it does brook correct clicking on its cutoff .
Thankfully , StartMenu7 does not take control of the Windows key , but it go wrong to foreclose you from circumstantially opening the Metro carte when you tick in the humiliated left street corner of the screen . A more robust , customizable version ofStartMenu7 is useable for $ 19.99 , but you candownload the canonic version for freefrom StartMenu7.com .
Create a Custom Toolbar for Your Programs Folder
If you do n’t like using third - political party utilities to create a Start Menu , Windows 8 has a build - in result that does n’t give you the familiar Start orb , but does bulge out - up a carte with all your shortcut when you tap the taskbar . just by make a impost toolbar and assign it to the proper folder , you may bond this new menu to the right side of your taskbar .
1 . Right tap the taskbar and select New Toolbar from the Toolbar carte . A dialogue box appear and ask you to choose a leaflet .
2 . voyage to C : UsersMYUSERNAMEAppDataRoaming MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuPrograms where MYUSERNAME is your actual username ( x : Avram ) and C : is your system driving letter . Then click prime folder . The Programs menu will look on the good side of the taskbar , next to the tray .
3 . Drag the border line to the left to make the toolbar bigger if you want to make it larger .
4 . Select “ shut away the taskbar ” after right clicking on the taskbar to keep the toolbar from being inadvertantly drag in around .
alas , the toolbar will only show programs that get put in into the current user ’s Start Menu / Programs folder . A few applications install into the default user ’s Programs folder at C : UsersDefaultAppDataRoamingMicrosoft WindowsStart MenuPrograms , but you ’ll need to make a 2nd toolbar if you want easy approach to those cutoff .
Pin Shortcuts to the Taskbar
In world , you do n’t even need a Start Menu to get to your applications ; you could just pin your most authoritative shortcuts directly to the taskbar as you would in Windows 7 . If you have a shortcut to a favorite coating sit on the background , you’re able to simply drag it onto the taskbar where it will stay pinned . However , if you do n’t have a shortcut ikon for a particular program staring you in the face , you ’ll ask to pasture or seek for one .
To seek for shortcut icons :
1 . Launch windows Explorer . you may do this easy by hitting Win + E.
2 . Enter C : into Explorer ’s address ginmill . If your Windows drive is not century : , use the correct letter of the alphabet .
3 . Enter the name of your program into the search box ( x : Firefox ) and hold off while a list of results seem .
4 . see for a shortcut in the result set and hale it to the taskbar .
To browse for shortcut icons , you’re able to simply navigate over to the Start Menu / Programs folders for both the current the default user and endeavor to find them there . explore for shortcuts is clearly a much fast way to go .
Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8 Apps
Though Microsoft has done away with the Start Menu in Windows 8 , it did n’t eliminate your power to create keyboard shortcuts that launch your pet software with custom key combos you countersink . To create a keyboard crosscut for any app :
1 . situate the lotion ’s shortcut picture . If it is n’t already on your desktop / taskbar , use Explorer ’s search feature ( draw above ) to query for it .
2 . Right click the shortcut and prize properties .
3 . Enter a fundamental combo in the Shortcut key field . The combo must be CTRL + ALT + a third tonality such as a letter or number .
4 . clack OK .
you could now launch your diligence by simply hitting the key combo you ’ve set , no mouse effort required . That said , some applications you run may occasionally have their own CTRL + ALT + fundamental combos that overrule yours , though this problem is extremely rarified . We advocate assigning hot keys to your most frequently - used computer programme like your browser app . Using the first letter of the program name as the third key ( X : CTRL + ALT + W for Microsoft Word ) can be a good way to remember your shortcuts .
related to stories from Laptop Mag :
Windows 8′s Competing Interfaces Will double over Your Effort , Halve Your Fun
How to Dual - Boot Windows 8 While Keeping Windows 7 As Your Default OS
Windows 8 Consumer Preview : What Works , What Does n’t
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