Windows 8.1 return to Start (Metro).

[Slartybart]

Well, this confused me as well. After some testing, I found out that there are conflicting settings in Taskbar and Navigation.

Basically, it's a small bug or at the very least a lousy way to control the movement between Desktop and Start Menu.

Win8.1 Update - Nav Settings Explained Part Duex - YouTube

OldGuyGeek, if it's not a bug, it's a very poor design by Microsoft for Windows 8. I'm sure Windows 8 on tablets and phones operates differently, but for those with a laptop or desktop using a mouse and keyboard (the vast majority of Windows 8 users probably), all this switching back and forth from Desktop mode and Start mode is a waste of time and confusing. At least with just plain Desktop mode, you can create links on the desktop, keep files and folders on the desktop, programs are easily accessible with a menu tree. With the new Start, there's a lot of actively updating icons, but I can't imagine anyone sits and reads their news and weather on the Start screen. Most applications will be classic desktop applications and not Metro apps, so why Windows 8 keeps dumping users back into Desktop mode after the close of an application, bearing in mind it booted into Start mode, is beyond me. I don't know about others, but for me at least it's frustrating and will probably go back to plain Desktop mode permanently.

The start menu may be making a comeback in Windows 8.2: DailyTech - Report: Windows 8.2 Revives Start Menu, Runs Metro Apps in Desktop Mode

Did you make the Taskbar > Taskbar tab change OldGuyGeek showed in his video?

Did it work on your system?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

That's plain weird. I can't think of anything other than a sticky key. It should give off a constant system beep if it is, though.

Push Escape key then open a program such as Notepad or Wordpad to see if it continues to type the asterisk. Perhaps try the keyboard on another machine.

Does the keyboard driver look ok in Device Manager?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
If you want to run Metro apps from desktop it's actually quite easy. You don't need to switch back and forwards from Metro to desktop - and you don't nee any Registry hacks or 3rd party apps.

http://www.eightforums.com/general-...ps-desktop-taskbar-create-cascading-menu.html

The Store app is slightly different -- to pin to desktop see the screenshot below.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[OldGuyGeek]

Not a Bug

OldGuyGeek, if it's not a bug, it's a very poor design by Microsoft for Windows 8. I'm sure Windows 8 on tablets and phones operates differently, but for those with a laptop or desktop using a mouse and keyboard (the vast majority of Windows 8 users probably), all this switching back and forth from Desktop mode and Start mode is a waste of time and confusing.

I said it was either a small bug (they didn't mean for the settings to conflict), or poor design.

But the return Start Menu has been pushed out to probably sometime in 2015. probably in Windows 9.

In the meantime, check out my new video on how to make a mini-start menu using the taskbar function in Windows 8. It was there in Windows 7, but few people used the additional toolbar function since the Start Menu did just about everything.

Windows 8.1 - Make a Mini Start Menu - YouTube