Win8 Consumer Preview Disable Metro

[p1p3]

I really have a hard time understanding the hostility about people who wants to customize their operating system. If someone wants to use the old windows 95 desktop background on their new computer because they like the way it looks you don't tell them to go back and use windows 95, you help them copy it to their new computer. This is similar. People don't want to use an old operating system, they want to find a way to make the operating system behave in a way they like. And of course it can be done, we are just trying to figure out a way to do it with minimal effort. If I want to run Linux apps on my windows computer it can be done. The question is how to do it and if it is realistic to do it without spending hundred of hours rewriting large portions of code to get it to work.

For me personally the best solution would be a combo with both the "old" windows 7 start menu and the new metro interface working side by side.

[Matt Sharpe]

This thread has gone way way offtopic.

I explicitly stated in the first post that I don't want to discuss whether one should or should not disable metro.

I simply asked if anyone knew if it was possible.

That shouldn't be too much to understand, people.

[p1p3]

From what I understand Windows Server 8 beta has the old start menu. Maybe that is where to start looking? And I'm not suggesting running a server OS as your desktop OS, only that we might find a way to use information or files from that beta.

[Matt Sharpe]

I'm sure there'll be a way to find out whether the code still exists for showing the start menu.

If it does, then it's likely there's a way to activate it somehow.

[neufuse Veteran]

If you want to disable Metro, what's the point of upgrading to Windows 8? Why not just stay with 7?

there are a lot of nice new features in 8 that aren't metro... some of us would love to have them and no metro start crap

[Dot Matrix]

From what I understand Windows Server 8 beta has the old start menu. Maybe that is where to start looking? And I'm not suggesting running a server OS as your desktop OS, only that we might find a way to use information or files from that beta.

Sorry, buddy....

[techguy77]

Sorry, buddy....

I actually like Windows 8 Server because it doesn't come with any Metro Apps installed since i am not interested in them. I wonder if Businesses get option to disable Metro Start Menu, i am sure that will be one of the questions for Microsoft.

[cropcircles]

Don't you think if enough people respond negatively regarding Metro that MS will implement a disable option like they did with UAC. Have you techno scientists looked into the bowels of 8 to see if its hiding.

[neufuse Veteran]

Don't you think if enough people respond negatively regarding Metro that MS will implement a disable option like they did with UAC. Have you techno scientists looked into the bowels of 8 to see if its hiding.

no, because the head of the windows division right now is very do it my way who cares what the public thinks... I think he got a big head when he said do the ribbon in office everyone will love it... now he seems to think he can do what ever he wants and people will love it

when we basically get blog entries from MS saying tough and deal with the UI you know they no longer care about public opinnion like they use to

[techguy77]

no, because the head of the windows division right now is very do it my way who cares what the public thinks... I think he got a big head when he said do the ribbon in office everyone will love it... now he seems to think he can do what ever he wants and people will love it

when we basically get blog entries from MS saying tough and deal with the UI you know they no longer care about public opinnion like they use to

They took a bit of Apple approach but that explains why Apple has only <10% Desktop Market Share. if it wasn't for mobile devices Apple wouldn't be mentioned a lot. I am glad they got Ribbon interface across whole Desktop. I thought they MS will stop there and focus more on back end changes and improvements such as Task Bar with Windows 8.

[Wakers]

no, because the head of the windows division right now is very do it my way who cares what the public thinks... I think he got a big head when he said do the ribbon in office everyone will love it... now he seems to think he can do what ever he wants and people will love it

when we basically get blog entries from MS saying tough and deal with the UI you know they no longer care about public opinnion like they use to

Oh hello, you seem to be repeating arguments that people made about Windows 95. Thankfully, there weren't forums around then that I had to read your crap on.

[migo]

Don't you think if enough people respond negatively regarding Metro that MS will implement a disable option like they did with UAC. Have you techno scientists looked into the bowels of 8 to see if its hiding.

No, that won't happen. They're going all in with Metro. I wouldn't be surprised if by Windows 9 there's no legacy mode.

[Zimmedon]

No, that won't happen. They're going all in with Metro. I wouldn't be surprised if by Windows 9 there's no legacy mode.

You mean remove the desktop from a desktop OS? Brilliant!

[BumbleBritches57]

I don't know if the actual code has been removed, but I DO know that the start orbs are no longer present AT ALL in explorer.exe

BUT, in Vista, the start orbs were located in Aero.msstyles. so they may have easily put them there (I highly doubt it though.)

[King Lizzle]

One way I've found to bring back some Start Menu functionality is to create a toolbar in the taskbar which goes to this folder:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

As long as you install programs for "All Users" instead of "Just Me" you'll have a menu which basically acts like the All Programs section of the traditional Start Menu.

[DClark]

Why do people still assume that metro will replace the desktop? That doesn't add with what MS has been saying.

[ManMountain]

It's not as if all Windows versions prior to Win 8 by default had much happening on the desktop, other than a wallpaper and desktop icons. I don't mind Metro really at all, at least the screen space is occupied with somewhat useful tiles, I'm just finding certain layouts awkward. For example, I find it cumbersome to access sleep / restart or power down. It would make better sense rather than have it hidden in PC settings to have it to the right of your profile picture in the upper right.

It's easy enough to add a tile linked to shutdown -s -t 00 I know, but it's a waste of tile space.

[Dot Matrix]

No, that won't happen. They're going all in with Metro. I wouldn't be surprised if by Windows 9 there's no legacy mode.

Can't. Not for another few (and by few I mean pretty much never) years. Too many legacy apps to support yet. FAR too many.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

They took a bit of Apple approach but that explains why Apple has only <10% Desktop Market Share. if it wasn't for mobile devices Apple wouldn't be mentioned a lot.

That doesn't make any sense. Apple are in no way trying to eliminate Desktop apps on the Desktop (computer) where they have a <10% market share. The area where Apple is going with full-screen only immersive apps, is only on tablets, where they basically own the market with the iPad.

Microoft's (weird) reaction to this is to not only apply the iPad approach on tablets, but in the process rid themselves of the Desktop on regular computers as well, to the extent that that is possible. Newly added functionality, like the PDF reader, isn't even provided as a Desktop app anymore.

[techguy77]

That doesn't make any sense. Apple are in no way trying to eliminate Desktop apps on the Desktop (computer) where they have a <10% market share. The area where Apple is going with full-screen only immersive apps, is only on tablets, where they basically own the market with the iPad.

Microoft's (weird) reaction to this is to not only apply the iPad approach on tablets, but in the process rid themselves of the Desktop on regular computers as well, to the extent that that is possible. Newly added functionality, like the PDF reader, isn't even provided as a Desktop app anymore.

I am just saying that if Apple had a good approach in the past they would own 90% of Market. But i agree. Not even Apple tried to do what MS is trying to do which is irrational.

[9UnknownMen]

They took a bit of Apple approach but that explains why Apple has only <10% Desktop Market Share. if it wasn't for mobile devices Apple wouldn't be mentioned a lot. I am glad they got Ribbon interface across whole Desktop. I thought they MS will stop there and focus more on back end changes and improvements such as Task Bar with Windows 8.

That's hilarious. What the hell do you think Win8 is targeted at genius?

The Mobile market is cutting out the bottom of MS's cash cow and this is release is a attempt to stem it.

[Matt Sharpe]

I don't know if the actual code has been removed, but I DO know that the start orbs are no longer present AT ALL in explorer.exe

BUT, in Vista, the start orbs were located in Aero.msstyles. so they may have easily put them there (I highly doubt it though.)

Ahh finally some progress. Thanks for the infos.

[migo]

You mean remove the desktop from a desktop OS? Brilliant!

Yes, it is brilliant. I know you can't see it, but this will be way better in the long run.

[Semtex]

I don't know if the actual code has been removed, but I DO know that the start orbs are no longer present AT ALL in explorer.exe

BUT, in Vista, the start orbs were located in Aero.msstyles. so they may have easily put them there (I highly doubt it though.)

But full menu start is present in Windows 8 Aero.msstylles, I've open it in WSB 1.5, all images, margins etc are on right place, I think MS can push one update to enable normal menu start ;)

Or they will remove this part later... who knows?

[Steven P. Administrators]

But full menu start is present in Windows 8 Aero.msstylles, I've open it in WSB 1.5, all images, margins etc are on right place, I think MS can push one update to enable normal menu start ;)

Or they will remove this part later... who knows?

Interesting! Wonder if they are seeing what the feedback is?