Running Programs

Hi all,
I'm a new user of windows 8, and as first impression, I like it a lot. But I have a question:
when I start an application (such as word, excel, task manager, etc.) from start menu, windows goes to the classic desktop and runs the application itself. Once I have finished using it and close, it returns to the classic desktop, not to start menu. Is it possible to modify it?

Thank you for your support

Marco

Hi Marco,

How I understand it is that all your old apps like office have to run in the desktop side of the OS(win32) even though it puts a shortcut to it on the metro interface. New apps like office 365 which you can get from the store will run from the start screen (Metro UI). I'm sure the guys here will tell me if I'm wrong.

Dear shanerlb,
thank for your replay.
I understand that programs like Office 2010 won't work, but what about Windows Explorer or file Mnager. It is a windows 8 program, thus it should work correctly. They always take me back to the classic desktop.

The behaviour is the same for Win 7 and Win 8. The interface is different.

In Win 7, you click on the start orb, open word document, the start menu will disappear. To run another program you need to again click on the start orb.

In Win 8, you click on the word document to open, the start screen disappears. To run another program you need to open the start screen again by pressing Win Key

This is not the point.
The point is that when you close the word document, windows 8 should take you back to the Start Menu, not to the classic desktop and then I have to go to the start menu by pressing the win key.

These apps were not designed for the Metro interface they are still based on the old windows architecture but they have been enhanced for windows 8 ie the amazing ribbon!

Metro apps will take you back to the start screen which is based on mobile OS.

I'm sure I will get told otherwise but how I understand it, windows 8 is a new OS based on the windows phone OS, and now can run on ARM technology, to run old style applications it opens the desktop as an app/win32 part of the OS to make them run. that is why they come back to the desktop when closed as they are in that enviorment.

If anyone can explain this in more detail I would be thankful

I'm pretty sure you are right, but I still do not understand why it applies also to integrated programs in windows 8, such as windows explorer or control panel

It's because win8 was very poorly designed, even x64 desktop programs will launch from the mobile side of the OS onto a real desktop.
If you wish to run a desktop and mobile app simultaneously simply put the mouse @ the top of the window till it turns to a hand and drag down a little you can then run a mobile app along side a desktop.
But if your sick of flicking backwards and forwards (which can get disorientating if your busy) simply add a shell to reinstate the traditional windows/start button like this http://www.eightforums.com/software-apps/5437-classic-shell-windows-8-a.html for one but not limited too.
If you don't wish to use the desktop simply don't install any desktop apps/programs and use only the mobile apps on the windows store.

Everyone loves a shortcut but what you are wanting simply isn't going to happen, unfortunately. The Metro interface and the desktop are seperate interfaces. Think of the Metro start menu as a web browser. When you are at the Metro interface you have opened your browser and when you launch a application, Jetpack joyride, for example you have opened a new tab within that browser. You close the app and are returned to the browser. When you launch a traditional piece of software from the start menu you are effectively opening a shorcut which automatically puts you into the desktop. Close the program and you go back to the desktop. I hope that my analogy makes sense. I personally do not know of any way to force the start menu to appear after closing a program. Considering that it is accessible in a number of ways, the simplest being the single key press, I don't think it needs to be any shorter. The metro UI exists for one purpose, to generate $$$ and enhance user experience through the apps.
Windows 8 = mobile app store merged into desktop PC. But you know this already.

marcom said:

This is not the point.
The point is that when you close the word document, windows 8 should take you back to the Start Menu, not to the classic desktop and then I have to go to the start menu by pressing the win key.

Click to expand...

That's just the way it works. It's a pain to go back and forth to the start screen (which MS apparently recognizes) to do things on the desktop--which is where "serious" work/play occur. Many have an add-on start menu for the desktop. And, some, including me, use this approach--Start Menu Toolbar - Create on Windows 8 Taskbar.