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Many people complain about the start screen of Windows 8, especially people used to desktop PCs, rather than tablets. I have read contradictory comments about ClassicShell letting one boot to the desktop. Does it really let one boot directly to a Windows 7 look-alike desktop rather than the typical Windows 8 'touch' screen?
P.S.: I don't have a PC with Windows 8 installed, otherwise, I would have tried it myself.
Jérôme Verstrynge
Posted 2013-06-10T22:14:57.657
Reputation: 267
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To answer your question, yes the Skip Metro screen option of Classic Shell works as advertised:
BTW, nothing much has changed about the desktop in Win8 (it's not a "look-alike desktop") except for the loss of the Start button and the Start Menu being replaced by the Start Screen. Even Windows/File Explorer (which you seem to be concerned about as per your other question) is pretty much the same; it's just been "ribbonified" like Office was.
A "fake" Start button will reappear in the free Windows 8.1 Update/Service Pack later this year (it will simply take you to the Start Screen), and Boot to Desktop will be an officially supported feature so there'll no longer be a need to use 3rd party apps just for this.
Karan
Posted 2013-06-10T22:14:57.657
Reputation: 51 857
I think JVerstry is specifically talking about http://www.classicshell.net/
– rob – 2013-06-10T23:10:59.260@rob: Right, and what did you think I posted a screenshot of? :) (Don't go by the window title, that's what it is in the program. Focus on the window icon instead.) – Karan – 2013-06-10T23:13:46.457
Thanks for the clarification; the window title is what threw me off. – rob – 2013-06-11T15:17:09.073
@rob: NP, I knew you were trying to help and thought I might have misunderstood the OP and started discussing some other program altogether. – Karan – 2013-06-11T15:21:36.483
@Karan I have set the setting as your snapshot but the start button does not showed; i.e. have to start Classic Shell once at start up. – Nam G VU – 2013-06-15T02:17:21.527
1@NamG.VU: As I mentioned in response to your previous comment on the other question, unfortunately this isn't something I can really debug. If a reinstall doesn't fix this, I again advise you to post on the CS forum for best results. – Karan – 2013-06-15T02:40:53.133
OK @Karan. Thanks a lot! I'll post the forum then. – Nam G VU – 2013-06-15T03:05:20.913
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WinKey + D will give you the desktop (like windows 7 has) from the start screen of Windows 8.
eichoa3I
Posted 2013-06-10T22:14:57.657
Reputation: 1 394
I know "Soluto" will do it as well as Stardock "Start8". – djangofan – 2013-06-10T22:47:57.107
This is true but fails to answer the question. – Karan – 2013-06-10T22:52:23.747
I think JVerstry is specifically talking about http://www.classicshell.net/
– rob – 2013-06-10T23:11:20.260Yes, I am talking about classicshell.net – Jérôme Verstrynge – 2013-06-11T10:02:02.243
Do you mean specifically the ClassicShell add-on? If so, it may help to include a link to http://www.classicshell.net/ in your question to reduce confusion.
– rob – 2013-06-10T23:09:51.1001This doesn't seem like a real problem you face. You have not even tried it in a virtual machine. – Ramhound – 2013-06-11T01:42:21.887
last I was aware, MS had not said for certain exactly what will be in 8.1. also, the issue is not what a user "is used to", but what a user user "is using". why would anyone use metro on a pair of 27"s without touch capacity, running at 1080p? I'm set up for lots of screen real-estate, and the ability to pack things in rather densely for dev work. at that resolution and dimension, the size of someones finger print on a tablet is like 5" square on my rig. – Frank Thomas – 2013-06-11T02:33:15.200
@FrankThomas: By now there aren't any Win8.1 surprises given the official announcements: 1 2 3 4 (fixed broken YT link).
– Karan – 2013-06-15T02:13:31.500