Indoobidubly Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Buying a new laptop that will come with Windows 8. I already tried using Windows 8 on a relatives PC and I didn't like it (not a hater, it's just not for me). I plan on using just the Desktop mode of Windows 8 and not the Start Screen. I know that programs like Start8 exist to bring back the Start Menu, but is there any way to disable all of the Hot Corners? I'd also like to disable the Charms Bar. Are there any other curveballs that I'm missing that make the Win 8 desktop different from the the Win 7 desktop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorsonic Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Start8 can disable all those corners you mentioned, and can take you to the desktop when you login. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Some things like network connections that would normally pop up from the taskbar near the clock are now part of the Metro UI, so afaik you will still have some Metro left (Unless someone has managed to change that since I last tried) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Elі Subscriber² Posted February 13, 2013 Subscriber² Share Posted February 13, 2013 Start8 does all that you asked and more, but I think after you give a try to Win8 for just a few weeks you will not want to disable the new features, it's really cool after you get to know it, give it time to learn it, it has a learning curve. articuno1au and johnporter29 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperAFK Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 If you use a start menu application like start8 (paid) or iobit start menu 8 (free) then you can easily have it act like windows 7, you can boot straight to desktop, disable hot corners etc (start8 has options to do this, not totally sure about other start menu apps since I haven't used them, but most probably have the same options)... Start8 does all that you asked and more, but I think after you give a try to Win8 for just a few weeks you will not want to disable the new features, it's really cool after you get to know it, give it time to learn it, it has a learning curve. I gave it a try for a few weeks and it wasn't hard to get used to, but I do find somethings are definitely still quicker with the start menu (like rebooting). I like start8 because it can give you the best of both worlds. It sets the right side windows key to open the start screen, and the left one to open start menu, and you can enable/disable each hot corner according to your preference. The few metro apps I do use occasionally I have pinned right to the start menu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
link6155 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 StartIsBack, probably the best start menu for windows 8. Not only does it bring back the real native start menu, but it lets you log right into the desktop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Elі Subscriber² Posted February 13, 2013 Subscriber² Share Posted February 13, 2013 IMHO Start8 is the best option, you get the best of both worlds with it, you can either make the Start Icon bring up the classic Win7 Start Menu, or bring just the new Start Screen, or if you would like it can do both, clicking on the icon can bring the old Start Menu while clicking on the Windows logo on your keyboard brings up the Start Screen or viceversa, plus it can log you in directly into the desktop as well if you so wish, plus it also lets you disable ALL hot corners or just 'Some' if you want, fully functional, awesome program and very little resource usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mzta cody Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 There's also the Ribbon interface, that has been welded onto Explorer. I myself have no problems with the ribbon, but if you'd rather have a Windows7-like Explorer, with the good old "command module", there's this software. http://winaero.com/download.php?view.18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted February 14, 2013 Member Share Posted February 14, 2013 If you don't mind me asking, why not just use Windows 7? Sandor 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firey Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I'd install 7 on it personally. However if you insist on sticking with 8, use startisback. Removes all the metro that start8 keeps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam14160 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 You people do know that you can by pass the Modern UI (Start Up Screen) by holding down the "The Enter Key" after entering your password; guess not. By holding down the Enter Key you can jump to the desktop screen. If you have something like a dock or an app like Fences you may not need to go to the Start Screen except for Modern UI apps. Personally I use Rocket Dock (free), hence not paying for a Menu app that is not needed. . .:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George P Global Moderator Posted February 14, 2013 Global Moderator Share Posted February 14, 2013 Those start menu apps are going to have a hard time 1-2 years from now when the desktop changes even more. I doubt Windows 9 will have a desktop like 8 does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxomatosis Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Those start menu apps are going to have a hard time 1-2 years from now when the desktop changes even more. I doubt Windows 9 will have a desktop like 8 does. Then I doubt Windows 9 will have as many users as Windows 7/8 has now ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George P Global Moderator Posted February 14, 2013 Global Moderator Share Posted February 14, 2013 Then I doubt Windows 9 will have as many users as Windows 7/8 has now ;) No, it'll have more I bet. When the two sides that 8 brings are further merged into one and flow/work better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLegendOfMart Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 If you don't mind me asking, why not just use Windows 7? Maybe he doesn't have Windows 7? Or maybe he wants to take advantage of all the enhancements that aren't superficial, after using 8 I can't go back to Windows 7, so I bought Start8 and jobs a goodun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperAFK Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Those start menu apps are going to have a hard time 1-2 years from now when the desktop changes even more. I doubt Windows 9 will have a desktop like 8 does. I bet it will, MS would be insane to drop win32 support this early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George P Global Moderator Posted February 14, 2013 Global Moderator Share Posted February 14, 2013 I bet it will, MS would be insane to drop win32 support this early. Dropping win32 support and changing the desktop ui more are two different things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickkins Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Classic Shell does all the things mentioned, very very well, and is free. One need never even see the metro nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViperAFK Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Dropping win32 support and changing the desktop ui more are two different things. It wouldn't make any sense for them to totally change the legacy desktop though. The big reason the classic desktop UI is still around is backwards compatibility for desktop apps, and these programs are all designed to work with the classic desktop. it makes no sense from a backwards compatibility standpoint for MS to completely change how the "legacy" desktop works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George P Global Moderator Posted February 14, 2013 Global Moderator Share Posted February 14, 2013 It wouldn't make any sense for them to totally change the legacy desktop though. The big reason the classic desktop UI is still around is backwards compatibility for desktop apps, and these programs are all designed to work with the classic desktop. it makes no sense from a backwards compatibility standpoint for MS to completely change how the "legacy" desktop works. From one angle what you say is right but from the other apps will still run and work as they do even if there are more changes to the desktop ui itself. Say they add a notification center later, I can then see them replacing many things you see in the systray, or the systray itself can be dropped. If so apps, legacy apps, still run, you don't need the systray to run or use them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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