Solved How to uninstall Skype in Windows 8.1 [Classic Shell]

justme

Member
Member
Messages
212
Hey guys, I have a rather st**id problem.

I installed Windows 8.1 on my new lap top a few days ago (Thanks Superfly and popeye).

Then I wanted to make it look and function more like Windows 7, so I installed Classic Shell and got my Start button to look and function as it does on Windows 7 (and XP before it)

Well, today I decided to download skype, and I went to the download page and saw that apparently I already have skype on my machine, so I turned it on. Suddenly I was asked to input my lap top's entry password, and then after that to put my Microsoft information (Username, password)... Well, I didn't like that very much, I want the classical Skype...

So I googled, and the solution is simple, to uninstall skype as it is in Windows 8.1, and then to download and install skype, and problem solved.

Alright, but the instructions on uninstalling skype are for windows 8 platform, which I don't have now that the start button has been made to look like Windows 7...

Alright, I went to control panel -> programs, then to my computer -> program files, then to the start button -> all programs, and nowhere did I find skype in order to run the Uninstall.exe, or to remove from the control panel..

Then I googled how to revert to Windows 8.1 function from classic shell, and apparently people are having problems returning EVEN IF they Uninstall classic shell... and I don't want to get into another set of problems.

Now, this should be the easiest thing to solve, how did this get complicated? :sarc:

So I gotta ask, how do I uninstall Skype from Windows 8.1? In order to download classic skype and use that.

Thanks guys :)


p.s I'm not sure if I put this thread in the right section, if not, admin please move it to the appropriate section. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
I don't use the classic shell but if you hold down Ctrl while you click the start menu does it open the Windows 8.1 start screen?

If yes, type 'Skype' in and see if it comes up.

Regards,
Jamie
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30GHz - S1155
    Motherboard
    Asus P8P67 LE Rev3, Intel P67, S115
    Memory
    8GB Corsair DDR3 XMS3, PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650
    Sound Card
    On-Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 24" {Extended Display}
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200
    PSU
    550W Coolermaster GX550
    Case
    Silverstone Precision PS04B
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse
    Internet Speed
    80MB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MSE / Windows Defender
I don't use the classic shell but if you hold down Ctrl while you click the start menu does it open the Windows 8.1 start screen?

If yes, type 'Skype' in and see if it comes up.

Regards,
Jamie

Aha, Ctrl didn't work, but the left-Shift did :)

Awesome, let's see if I can uninstall skype now as those tutorials show..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Press the Windows key on your keyboard to go to the Start screen. On the Start screen, locate the tile for Skype, right-click and select uninstall.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
    Memory
    16G, 8G, 8G
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
    Hard Drives
    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750M
    Case
    Antec 100
    Cooling
    Coolermaster CM 212+
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
    Mouse
    Microsoft IntelliMouse
    Internet Speed
    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
    Browser
    FireFox, MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Press the Windows key on your keyboard to go to the Start screen. On the Start screen, locate the tile for Skype, right-click and select uninstall.

The Windows key on my keyboard still opens the Start menu as it is in Windows XP and Windows 7, it doesn't open the Windows 8-type-screen, the tablet-type-screen... But JDobbsy1987's solution worked, except that instead of holding Ctrl I had to hold Shift, close enough :)

Thanks guys, that did the trick. I uninstalled Skype, downloaded skype again, and now it works as it always did. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Glad to hear that worked :thumbsup:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-2500K @ 3.30GHz - S1155
    Motherboard
    Asus P8P67 LE Rev3, Intel P67, S115
    Memory
    8GB Corsair DDR3 XMS3, PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650
    Sound Card
    On-Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    3 x 24" {Extended Display}
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    300GB Seagate Barracuda 7200
    PSU
    550W Coolermaster GX550
    Case
    Silverstone Precision PS04B
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120
    Mouse
    World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse
    Internet Speed
    80MB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MSE / Windows Defender
Glad you got it going. I guess Classic Shell alters the behavior of the Windows key. Just one more reason why I don't use any of those Start Menu utilities.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
    Memory
    16G, 8G, 8G
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
    Hard Drives
    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750M
    Case
    Antec 100
    Cooling
    Coolermaster CM 212+
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
    Mouse
    Microsoft IntelliMouse
    Internet Speed
    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
    Browser
    FireFox, MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Glad you got it going. I guess Classic Shell alters the behavior of the Windows key. Just one more reason why I don't use any of those Start Menu utilities.

You know, I always remove everything and anything I can from my lap tops; programs, pictures, music, my lap tops are empty of content, except what's absolutely necessary. And I'd remove classic shell too, if I could get my start button to work without it.

So do tell, how do you/is there a way to get the classic start button in Windows 8.1 without using Classic Shell or some other utility?

And to be honest, I like it that the Windows key pops up the start menu instead of the Windows 8 tablet-type-screen...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
Nope, I don't know how to get the Start button back again without using Classic Shell or some other utility but then I have been using Win 8 since the 1st developer preview and have yet to feel the need to restore the Start button. I don't even use the Start button on my Win 7 machines as I prefer to use a desktop toolbar. I've used toolbars with Win 2000, XP, Win 7 and now Win 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 Pro (desktop), W10 (laptop), W10 Pro (tablet)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built i7-8700K, Hp Envy x360 EVO Laptop, MS Surface Pro 7
    CPU
    3.7Ghz Core i7-8700K, 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 4.7Ghz, 10th Gen Core™ i5-1035G4 1.1Ghz
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming, HP, MS
    Memory
    16G, 8G, 8G
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon RX580, Intel Iris X Graphics, Intel Iris Plus Graphics G4
    Sound Card
    ATI High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual Samsung U32J59 32 inch monitors, 13.3" display, 12.3" display
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160 (Desktop), 1920x1080 (laptop), 2736x1824 Pro 7
    Hard Drives
    500GB ssd boot drive with 2 & 10TB Data (Desktop), 512GB ssd (laptop), 128GB SSD (tablet)
    PSU
    Corsair CX 750M
    Case
    Antec 100
    Cooling
    Coolermaster CM 212+
    Keyboard
    IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
    Mouse
    Microsoft IntelliMouse
    Internet Speed
    665Mbps/15Mbps down/up
    Browser
    FireFox, MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender on all
    Other Info
    Retired in 2015 after working in the tech industry for 41 years. First 10 years as a Technician, the rest as a programmer/software engineer. After 1 year of retirement, I was bored so went back to work as a Robotic Process Automation Consultant. Retired for 3rd (and final) time in 2019.
Glad you got it going. I guess Classic Shell alters the behavior of the Windows key. Just one more reason why I don't use any of those Start Menu utilities.

You know, I always remove everything and anything I can from my lap tops; programs, pictures, music, my lap tops are empty of content, except what's absolutely necessary. And I'd remove classic shell too, if I could get my start button to work without it.

So do tell, how do you/is there a way to get the classic start button in Windows 8.1 without using Classic Shell or some other utility?

And to be honest, I like it that the Windows key pops up the start menu instead of the Windows 8 tablet-type-screen...
If you ever want to change any settings in Classic Shell all you Have to do is right click on the start button and click settings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY 700-074
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 4430 @ 3.00 GHz
    Motherboard
    MS-7826 (Kaili)
    Memory
    12 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT 740
    Sound Card
    Integrated IDT 92HD68E2 Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27C230B
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    240 GB Kingston SSDNow V300 Series
    PSU
    stock
    Case
    stock
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech K520
    Mouse
    Logitech M310
    Browser
    Fire Fox
    Antivirus
    Eset Smart Security 7
By default Classic Shell sets the Win key to open the classic start menu. This is its primary purpose after all :)
This can be configured from the Controls tab in the settings.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Back
Top