Is there a way to boot Windows 8 (RTM) to the desktop?

By Elliot B.
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Experienced

CG-88

Posted
Posted

MSFT included no option to boot directly to desktop from what im aware of, goes straight to modern-ui.

I know they didnt in the RP and from what I have read it is not in the RTM.

And yeah people have used the hacks and they have worked perfectly in the RP but in RTM I dont think they work based on some comments on winunleaked

Grand Master

+Frank B. Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted

It's one click to go to the desktop. Once its loaded don't reboot the PC anymore unless it's for updates; put it to sleep instead.

Problem solved.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It's one click to go to the desktop. Once its loaded don't reboot the PC anymore unless it's for updates; put it to sleep instead.

Problem solved.

I see no option anywhere to put the PC to sleep. Searching the full screen Start menu for "Sleep" produces no results.

Also, it's not one click. First you have to "sign in" and then you click to go to the Desktop. Sure, you can use netplwiz to disable requiring a password, but I would still rather skip the full screen Start menu.

Veteran

ZakO

Posted
Posted

I haven't used it but I believe Stardock has a free utility that allows you to boot straight to the desktop?

A password was mandatory during installation!

What version of Windows 8 did you install? None of the versions I've installed (CP-RP-RTM) have had a mandatory password during installation.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
  • Author
Posted

"Start8" from Stardock still works. Using it on Win8 RTM as we speak.

I just wish there was a way to get the "old" start menu back.

Ooh, I'll give that a whirl :) Thanks.

I haven't used it but I believe Stardock has an app that allows you to boot straight to the desktop?

What version of Windows 8 did you install? None of the versions I've installed (CP-RP-RTM) have had a mandatory password during installation.

When you install the RTM, it asks you to sign in to your MIcrosoft Account.

It then uses that as a PC login.

Grand Master

Lexcyn

Posted
Posted

When you install the RTM, it asks you to sign in to your MIcrosoft Account.

It then uses that as a PC login.

To be fair you can set a "PIN" instead of using your password... that's what I do since my Live password is a randomly generated strong password that I would never remember lol

Grand Master

Brandon H Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

When you install the RTM, it asks you to sign in to your MIcrosoft Account.

It then uses that as a PC login.

yes it asks if you want to use that but there's still an option down in the corner (forget what the option is exactly, it's like customize or something) that gives you the choice of using a local account
Apprentice

AnDom

Posted
Posted

Classic Shell 3.51 also has the option to bypass the "Start" screen and go directly to the desktop... along with giving you a fairly functional start menu to boot.

I have not played around with it too much though, loaded it while I was playing with Windows 8 in a Virtual Machine yesterday.

Neowinian

jimlaman8

Posted
Posted

There are a few ways to do this.. some of which are posted here. One involves creating a task that will launch automatically after login (which you can also set to do automatically, the login).. Another being the move the desktop tile to the top trick.

Grand Master

Jose_49

Posted
Posted

Ooh, I'll give that a whirl :) Thanks.

When you install the RTM, it asks you to sign in to your MIcrosoft Account.

It then uses that as a PC login.

It is not mandatory. If you look carefully enough, it will ask you at the left corner if you want to use a local account.

Anyways, if you want auto-login do this:

Open Run (Winkey + r)

Type "control userpasswords2" without commas and with the space.

Uncheck "Users must enter a name and password to use this computer."

Press "OK"

Put your password.

Voil?

Experienced

Routerbad

Posted
Posted

A password was mandatory during installation!

There are local policy settings available to allow blank passwords. I see your point, though. You can't count that against the time it takes to get to the desktop because it's mandatory by default.

Experienced

Routerbad

Posted
Posted

Ooh, I'll give that a whirl :) Thanks.

When you install the RTM, it asks you to sign in to your MIcrosoft Account.

It then uses that as a PC login.

If you are not connected to a network during setup it will create a local account instead, I'm not sure if it requires a password TBH because I restarted after I realized that so I could use the MS account.

Experienced

Kelxin

Posted
Posted

OFMG, the title of the thread is

Is there a way to boot Windows 8 (RTM) to the desktop?

not, ask me why I want to go to the desktop, or bitch about me wanting the desktop, or tell me how simple it is to click on the button to go to the desktop. or complain that the person doesn't like the craptastic metro junk.

To actually ANSWER your question, I've found that replacing

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"Shell"=explorer.exe

with

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"Shell"="explorer.exe /select,explorer.exe

Still works in the RTM x64 Pro version of Windows 8 to force the start screen to close and your desktop to open on bootup.

Grand Master

Raa

Posted
Posted

Still works in the RTM x64 Pro version of Windows 8 to force the start screen to close and your desktop to open on bootup.

Just tried this, and it flashed in the classic shell, then went to modern, then back to classic opening my libraries window.

Any chance that it can just show the classic shell, but not the libraries window?

Great tip though, thanks. (Y)

Grand Master

Noir Angel

Posted
Posted

I'd recommend Tihiy's mod that allows you to use the 7 explorer in Windows 8, whilst retaining the explorer ribbon but putting the start button back and bypassing the start screen completely. Since version 0.3 the grey taskbar bug is fixed it's well worth using.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • ImgDrive 2.2.7

      By Copernic · Posted

      ImgDrive 2.2.7 by Razvan Serea ImgDrive is a CD/DVD/BD emulator - a tool that allows you to mount optical disc images by simply clicking on them in Windows Explorer. If you have downloaded an ISO image and want to use it without burning it to a blank disc, ImgDrive is the easiest way to do it. ImgDrive features: One-click mounting of iso, cue, nrg, mds/mdf, ccd, isz images Runs on 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions Mount ape, flac, m4a, wav, wavpack, tta file as AUDIO CD (16-bit/44.1kHz) Mount a folder as DVD/BD Mount images in command line Does not require rebooting after installation Support up to 7 virtual drives at the same time Support multi session disc image (ccd/mds/nrg) A special portable version is available Translated to more than 10 languages Support File Type: .ccd - CloneCD image files .cue - Cue sheets files of ape/flac/m4a/tta/wav/wv/bin .iso - Standard ISO image files .isz - Compressed ISO image files .nrg - Nero image files .mds - Media descriptor image files ImgDrive 2.2.7 changelog: Added command line parameter to set number of drives Added AACS-Auth support for HD DVD Bumped kernel driver version to 2.2.7 Download: ImgDrive 2.2.7 | 692 KB (Freeware, paid upgrade available) Download: ImgDrive Portable 535 KB View: ImgDrive Home Page | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • AnyDesk 9.7.7

      By Copernic · Posted

      AnyDesk 9.7.7 by Razvan Serea AnyDesk is a fast remote desktop system and enables users to access their data, images, videos and applications from anywhere and at any time, and also to share it with others. AnyDesk is the first remote desktop software that doesn't require you to think about what you can do. CAD, video editing or simply working comfortably with an office suite for hours are just a few examples. AnyDesk is designed for modern multi-core CPUs. Most of AnyDesk's image processing is done con­currently. This way, AnyDesk can utilize up to 90% of modern CPUs. AnyDesk works across multiple platforms and operating systems: Windows, Linux, Free BSD, Mac OS, iOS and Android. Just 7 megabytes - downloaded in a glimpse, sent via email, or fired up from your USB drive, AnyDesk will turn any desktop into your desktop in se­conds. No administrative privileges or installation needed. AnyDesk 9.7.7 fixes: Fixed an issue that prevented users from creating meetings without an active license Download: AnyDesk 9.7.7 | 8.0 MB (Free for private use, paid upgrade available) Links: AnyDesk Home Page | Other platforms | Release History | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Hey Google, these are the Gemini features I want in 2026

      By Snake Doc · Posted

      I used a Pixel 10 Pro XL when it first came out for about 8 months. When I first got it, it was using Google assistant and that was fast, when asking it to call somone etc. Then it automatically switched with some update to Gemini. Doing even the simplist of things like asking it to call someone in my contacts was soooooo slow compared to Google assistant. I guess it had to go out to the cloud to do that? Back on iPhone and while Siri is dumb right now, it does do those simple things, like call someone, set a timer, star the stop watch etc, really fast. That an while I like Google Material Design 3 over iOS 26, they Pixel 10 Pro XL was so slow in comparison to the iPhone 17 Pro I am using.
    • Hey Google, these are the Gemini features I want in 2026

      By Snake Doc · Posted

      I use Gemini in my rotation of AI clients...that work pays for. It is good at most things, better than copilot for imgage searching and making images, worse at writing vs Claude and way worse at hadling technical issues when it comes to Azure stuff. I also use YT premium and maps. Anything else Google is a pass for me. I have now seen multiple people locked out of their Google accounts for reasons that are just very vauge.
    • Microsoft is building an AI datacenter that "uses less water than a fast food restaurant"

      By Ivan Jenic · Posted

      Microsoft is building an AI datacenter that "uses less water than a fast food restaurant" by Ivan Jenic Image: Microsoft Microsoft has announced plans to build a new datacenter campus in Pecos, Texas, as the company continues to invest billions in AI infrastructure. The new facility, called project Kilby, will reportedly have a capacity of 2 gigawatts and will be one of the largest single capacity additions in the company’s history. To power the campus, Microsoft signed a 20-year deal with Chevron to supply natural gas from the Permian Basin, America's largest oil field. This deal is set to become the largest collaboration to date between a U.S. oil and gas giant and Big Tech. It’s no secret that Big Tech has often been criticized for exploiting natural resources for its AI developments. Microsoft is trying to mitigate some of that negative consensus by promising to build its own power supply for the new datacenter, independent of the public grid. The Pecos datacenter will be powered by a power plant hub, built by Chevron, with up to 2.5 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity, with potential to scale to up to 5 gigawatts. The facility will include at least seven GE Vernova turbines, with first power potentially coming online as early as late 2027 or early 2028. The power plant hub is part of an approximately $7 billion investment by Chevron, making it one of the largest dedicated energy projects tied to a single datacenter campus in the U.S. Microsoft hasn’t publicly disclosed the amount it’s investing in the new datacenter. Microsoft has also committed to implementing a closed-loop cooling system that will only require an initial water charge to operate. The company said that “the total lifecycle water use of this datacenter is only a fraction of that consumed annually by a typical fast-food restaurant.” What the press release doesn’t mention, however, is how much water the natural gas plant itself will consume, or how a 20-year fossil fuel commitment squares with the company's pledge to be carbon negative by 2030. The construction of the new datacenter should provide over 6,000 construction jobs at peak build-out, and create hundreds of operational job roles once the facility is built. Via: Reuters

  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      tuben earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      mnsgroup earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Conversation Starter
      sumytbe earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Year In
      B4dM1k3 earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Year In
      DarkWun earned a badge
      One Year In

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      525
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      199
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      94
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      82
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      67
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!