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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
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  • 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 Jun 10 '13 at 23:09
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    This doesn't seem like a real problem you face. You have not even tried it in a virtual machine. – Ramhound Jun 11 '13 at 01:42
  • 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 Jun 11 '13 at 02:33
  • @FrankThomas: By now there aren't any Win8.1 surprises given the official announcements: 1 2 3 4 (fixed broken YT link). – Karan Jun 15 '13 at 02:13

2 Answers2

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To answer your question, yes the Skip Metro screen option of Classic Shell works as advertised:

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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
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  • I think JVerstry is specifically talking about http://www.classicshell.net/ – rob Jun 10 '13 at 23:10
  • @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 Jun 10 '13 at 23:13
  • Thanks for the clarification; the window title is what threw me off. – rob Jun 11 '13 at 15:17
  • @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 Jun 11 '13 at 15:21
  • @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 Jun 15 '13 at 02:17
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    @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 Jun 15 '13 at 02:40
  • OK @Karan. Thanks a lot! I'll post the forum then. – Nam G VU Jun 15 '13 at 03:05
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WinKey + D will give you the desktop (like windows 7 has) from the start screen of Windows 8.

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