Options for Managing Go to Desktop or Start after Sign in

Hi, David here. Over the past year we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from our customers about the pain of changing from older versions of Windows over to Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. While it’s a great OS with a lot of compelling features, it’s a big change – and as any desktop administrator will tell you, change is a really scary thing for users who just want to be able to log in and get their work done every day. Well, we listened, and in the update we’re releasing this week, we’ve made it easier for you to help manage the change for your users and make the transition to Windows 8.1 a little more friendly for them. Below is some awesome information courtesy of the inestimable Warren Williams.

First, a quick history lesson. Don’t worry, there’s not a quiz at the end.
Start Screen history

Starting with Windows 8.0 Start is the main application launch pad in Windows. Start replaces the Start Menu used in previous versions of Windows going back to Windows 95.

With each update of Windows 8.0, more control over Start’s configuration has been added.
Windows 8.0

The Start Menu was removed from Windows and replaced by Start. The default behavior in Windows 8.0 is that users always boot to Start. There was no Microsoft supported method of controlling the boot to Start behavior in Windows 8.0.
Windows 8.1

In Windows 8.1 Microsoft added the ability for users and administrators to control what environment would be displayed when the user logged on. The user can either boot to the Start screen or the Desktop. The behavior was still to always boot to the Start screen however the behavior could be controlled manually with a setting in the Taskbar Navigation properties. Administrators could use a new a Group Policy “Go to the desktop instead of Start when signing in” to specify what environment the user would see after signing in.

Everyone got that? Ok, let’s talk about the new stuff now.
Windows 8.1 Update

In Windows 8.1 Update Microsoft added the ability for the OS to perform device type detection. After applying Windows 8.1.update Tablet devices will boot to the Start Screen and have modern application file associations. All other device types boot to the desktop and the desktop application file associations. The two preceding behaviors occur if the default setting for Taskbar Navigation properties have not changed.

Source

A Guy

See also: How to Go to Desktop or Start when You Sign in or Close Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Good topic, saved me asking a stupid question - how to boot to desktop:eek:. Now I've just got to figure out what do I prefer?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    AsRock
    CPU
    Intel Core2 Quad Q8200
    Motherboard
    AsRock N7AD SLI
    Memory
    8GB DDRII
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Geforce GTX760 Twin Frozer
    Sound Card
    On Board Realtec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hanns G 221A
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi_HDP725050GLA360
    Case
    Yes, I have one. Less messy that way
    Mouse
    Squeek
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast
Glad you found it useful ;)

A Guy
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Home x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    INTEL Core i5-750
    Motherboard
    ASUS P7P55D
    Memory
    KINGSTON HyperX Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1866Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX750
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 27MP33HQ 32" IPS LED
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Evo 120 GB, 2 x SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
    PSU
    ANTEC TruePower New TP-550, 80 PLUS®, 550W
    Case
    ANTEC Three Hundred Illusion
    Cooling
    COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus, 3 x 120mm 1 x 140mm Case
    Internet Speed
    20 + Mbps
    Browser
    Vivaldi
    Antivirus
    Avast
Fortunately there is an option to Choose when Sign-in wants to Startscreen or Direct to the Desktop, I am still getting used to startscreen
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit Spring Update
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    Intel (TM) Core i7 3.33 GHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    NvIDIA 7200
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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