Yes, you can have your Start button back

LTWUser

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I got a new computer with Windows 8. I put the Classic Shell on. It skips the worthless Metro interface and goes right to the desktop.

Some observations. The Aero Glass interface is gone. Some guy has come up with a work around but I am a little jumpy about trying that. The "new look" 8 windows are a few steps backwards and look just slightly better than Windows 3.1.

I just have to shake my head and wonder who thought the Metro interface was an improvement. It isn't. It is all directed to get you into the Microsoft store. That is what it is all about - get you into the store to buy stuff. I should have known. Like they say in "All the President's Men" - "Follow the money". Oh, and once you are in the store, it is like a casino, it's hard to find the exit. The only word that comes to mind is "stupid".

Oh, one other irritation. The most used application in the history of computing is missing from Windows 8 - Hearts.

So if you just want your desktop and Start button button back, just put Classic Shell on and you'll never have to
be bothered with Metro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Welcome to the forums. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I got a new computer with Windows 8. I put the Classic Shell on. It skips the worthless Metro interface and goes right to the desktop.
I've heard that a lot. :)

Some observations. The Aero Glass interface is gone. Some guy has come up with a work around but I am a little jumpy about trying that. The "new look" 8 windows are a few steps backwards and look just slightly better than Windows 3.1.
Have a glass: http://www.eightforums.com/customization/23145-aero-glass-windows-8-beta-1-a.html

I just have to shake my head and wonder who thought the Metro interface was an improvement. It isn't. It is all directed to get you into the Microsoft store. That is what it is all about - get you into the store to buy stuff. I should have known. Like they say in "All the President's Men" - "Follow the money". Oh, and once you are in the store, it is like a casino, it's hard to find the exit. The only word that comes to mind is "stupid".
Casino indeed. :D
You need to figure out how to close that stuff: move mouse to top of screen (not in corners) when hand appears on top of screen, click and drag the entire (Store) window to the bottom to exit. The first time you encountered this... good luck.

Oh, one other irritation. The most used application in the history of computing is missing from Windows 8 - Hearts.
Get it back with the pack: http://www.eightforums.com/gaming/12352-windows-7-game-pack-windows-8-a.html

So if you just want your desktop and Start button button back, just put Classic Shell on and you'll never have to
be bothered with Metro.
This will add extra difficulty in future versions if Metro gets more developed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
I tried the "Windows 7 Game Pack on Windows 8" link. You end up on a page that says that it has been removed. Too bad. Thanks anyway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
Nice. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy DV6 7250
    CPU
    Intel i7-3630QM
    Motherboard
    HP, Intel HM77 Express Chipset
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD4000 + Nvidia Geforce 630M
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6' built-in + Samsung S22D300 + 17.3' LG Phillips
    Screen Resolution
    multiple resolutions
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 250GB + Hitachi HDD 750GB
    PSU
    120W adapter
    Case
    small
    Cooling
    laptop cooling pad
    Keyboard
    Backlit built-in + big one in USB
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Sensei
    Internet Speed
    slow and steady
    Browser
    Chromium, Pale Moon, Firefox Developer Edition
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's basically it.
I initially posted here just to vent about Windows 8 but it turned out that I got some excellent instruction as well. Thanks so much.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Your first post probably coincides with the way many feel about this 8 thing.

If you are stuck with it, you can try and work around most of the metro madness.

Interested to see how much worse it gets from here on in. MS will be trying desperately to hook the users into their online subscriptions, advertising and whatever other other monetising schemes they can dream up. They will offering glass beads to tempt the users to sell their souls. It will be fun to watch.

You will come across some users, even on computer forums who can't see what is going on. They are pretty funny.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Most of us here, just use Windows 8 as if it were Windows 7. So far nobody has come up with a Transparency for 8, but despite that lack of that, I like the way Windows 8 can match it's colour to whatever BMP you have on your desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
It is obvious to me what is going on - Microsoft is essentially saying "You will come to our store and buy our stuff and you WILL like it".:D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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