Is there a way to boot and start with the desktop instead of Metro?

Pixel Eater

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I love Metro, but I think booting into it is worse for me than if the Start menu were hanging open everytime you booted 7. I have to say this is an additional step that makes it feel a bit forced, a bit in the user's face. Has anyone figured out how to go straight to the dekstop?
 

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Hi,

Extract my zip to C:/Users/<User Profile>/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup
 

Attachments

  • Shows Desktop.zip
    371 bytes · Views: 263

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I love Metro, but I think booting into it is worse for me than if the Start menu were hanging open everytime you booted 7. I have to say this is an additional step that makes it feel a bit forced, a bit in the user's face. Has anyone figured out how to go straight to the dekstop?

Try this one.

How to Switch Back to Windows 8 Start Menu from Start Screen

Do you hate Windows 8 Start Screen? Or is it not the best way to start programs and application when you use the keyboard and mouse? Don’t worry you can simply switch back to usual Start Menu using a simple Windows 8 registry hack.

This Windows 8 tutorial will be answering the following questions?

How to switch back to Windows 8 Start Menu instead of touch friendly Metro Start Screen?
How to get ride of Start Screen?
Optimize Windows 8 to use with mouse and keyboard?
How to get the traditional Windows look in Window 8?

Warning

Registry hacks may cause serious damages to the operating system and may cause problems booting up the computer.
This tutorial is tested on Windows Developer Preview and may change on the final Windows 8 version.

Enjoy the the traditional look in two steps

Press Windows Key + R (Windows 8 Shortcuts)
Type regedit
Browse toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\Explorer.
Double-click RPEnabled
Change its value from 1 to 0

[video=youtube;BBkm40HcISk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBkm40HcISk&amp;feature=player_embedded[/video]
 

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Hello Bellnorth,

Sorry, but disabling Metro like that no longer works in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview release. :(
 

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You can create a desktop shortcut in the start folder (I have documented it on this site a couple of times) but it really does not speed up the transition or bypass the Metro screen. The best way is to just click on the desktop app icon in Metro when it shows up and don't look back...
 

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This is about the fastest method I've found, but it's still not ideal.
 

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Nah, much easier to create a Desktop Shortcut in:

C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Right click in the folder, click on Create shortcut and give it the following location:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

Name it Desktop shortcut. Done.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit GA
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    i7-4770K Haswell
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    16 GB of Corsair 1866
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    GTX 780
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Nah, much easier to create a Desktop Shortcut in:

C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Right click in the folder, click on Create shortcut and give it the following location:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

Name it Desktop shortcut. Done.


I was using that before but it was taking 10 to 15 seconds to load the desktop. The method described in my post only takes a second or two.
 

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Nah, much easier to create a Desktop Shortcut in:

C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Right click in the folder, click on Create shortcut and give it the following location:

C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

Name it Desktop shortcut. Done.


I was using that before but it was taking 10 to 15 seconds to load the desktop. The method described in my post only takes a second or two.
Took 8 seconds here. I used the 'Show Desktop" shortcut in lieu of the Shell. Not very practical one way or the other. Win+D is faster.
 

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I've confined Windows 8 to a VM only now, so timings may be due to this vs bare metal. It's just a shame any of these 'hacks' are necessary.
 

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I've confined Windows 8 to a VM only now, so timings may be due to this vs bare metal. It's just a shame any of these 'hacks' are necessary.

Mine runs in Virtual Box too. The double boot that I have on my laptop I am going to dismantle. It is a real pain. Takes 10 times as long to boot than normal - especially into Win7 now. I will put it on a USB3 disk and switch the boot sequence with the BIOS. Have to wait to get the lappy back. It is in repair at Toshiba - it is only 3 months old.
 

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I SWEAR I have been through this twice on other posts! Yes, my desktop shortcut is LONGER WAIT but overall it is THE SAME LENGTH as other ways! Explanation? When you QUICKLY get to the Desktop, it TAKES A WHILE for the all of the startup programs and notifications icons to load up before you are able to do much. You end up waiting for them to load. With the DESKTOP SHORTCUT, they are all loaded by the time the desktop is shown (last in line so to speak). Net effect: ZERO.
 

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    i7-4770K Haswell
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    ASUS Z87-PRO
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I SWEAR I have been through this twice on other posts! Yes, my desktop shortcut is LONGER WAIT but overall it is THE SAME LENGTH as other ways! Explanation? When you QUICKLY get to the Desktop, it TAKES A WHILE for the all of the startup programs and notifications icons to load up before you are able to do much. You end up waiting for them to load. With the DESKTOP SHORTCUT, they are all loaded by the time the desktop is shown (last in line so to speak). Net effect: ZERO.

Quite so. However, it really doesn't matter which option people choose to use, they're all just a kludge to fix Microsoft's irrational decision to force metro down our collective throats. With regard to time it takes to switch from Metro to the desktop and for it to become usable, I've tried all of the methods currently available and the script I linked to gets there faster than all of the others, Your mileage may vary.
 

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    HD7860
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    Xonar Essence STX
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    Benq
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Yes, I am using a scheduled task to do the job.

John's way works fine also.

I would rather go straight to the main interface and avoid the Kiddie screen altogether.

Haven't figured out how yet.

I do it in winpe - but that is because I didn't include metro.


Microsoft's irrational decision

Maybe the aircon at MS has been spiked with some kind of hallucinatory substance.
 

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Me, I close my eyes while Metro is being displayed before the desktop appears. POOF, problem is fixed... Chances are someone will manage to bypass Metro in CP sooner rather than later. Minor inconvenience at worst.
 

My Computer

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    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit GA
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    PC/Desktop
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    i7-4770K Haswell
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    ASUS Z87-PRO
    Memory
    16 GB of Corsair 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Cooler Master Storm Headphones
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27 inch U2711 IPS
    Screen Resolution
    2560 by 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 250GB SSD plus 2 3 TB drives
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    Corsair-750
    Case
    Corsair White Graphite Series 600T
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    Corsair H00i Water
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    Corsair K90
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser
    Internet Speed
    6.3 MBps
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    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MS
I would rather go straight to the main interface and avoid the Kiddie screen altogether.

Haven't figured out how yet.

I just did thanks to you. Bored, so I had a look.

Type gpedit.msc in the start, press enter.

User Config | Administrative Templates | All Settings | Do not show the Start Menu when user logs in

It can also be done for all users I suppose, in the appropriate section.
 

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    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
Why didn't I think of that?

Will take a look next time I summon up the energy to boot into 8 again.
 

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Why didn't I think of that?

Will take a look next time I summon up the energy to boot into 8 again.

lol

After one log of/on and one reboot, it still is not working here although it is set to enabled.

MS ????

Edit: Found the explanation -

"This group policy only applies to the Windows Server 8 Beta with the Desktop Experience Pack installed.

If you enable this setting, the user will see the desktop after logging in to a new session, instead of seeing the Start menu. The Start Menu will continue to function as normal, except that it will not show automatically after login.

If you disable this setting or do not configure it, the Start Menu will appear after the user logs in to a new session."

--------------

My other idea is to try to find the registry key that starts explorer.exe at log in. Maybe there is a switch included in the line that can be removed. Something like

%windir%\explorer.exe -s

...where s means start menu.

Anyone feel free to check for it if ya want.
 

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    8250 x86 + 7 SP1 x86 + Ubuntu 12.04 LTS x86
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    OCZ 2 GB DDR @ 400 MHz
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    HIS AGP HD 3850 Turbo Ice-Q
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    MOTU Traveler firewire interface
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    Acer x223w
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar Black 1 TB Sata II, WD 400 GB Sata I, WD 120 GB Sata I
    PSU
    300W generic
    Case
    Cybertron
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keyboard 200, Dell RT7D20
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
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    2 MByte/sec Down, 250 KByte/sec Up
It's in winlogon - there is no switch for the Kiddie menu there as far as I could see when I looked a while back.
 

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  • OS
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Might be creating a task to start at winlogon instead of at user logon is the answer.
 

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