Start Menu on Windows 8 - Windows 8 General

Stardock brought the start menu back to Windows 8:
http://richard.blogdns.com/posts/bring-back-the-start-menu-in-windows-8#.UEAp6RIj4us

i think it's humorous that people don't like their environment to change so there is always some userbuilt UI revert to almost any UI update (including games/programs)

Watercycle said:
i think it's humorous that people don't like their environment to change so there is always some userbuilt UI revert to almost any UI update (including games/programs)
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I understand what you are getting at, however, I don't necessarily dislike metro, I just think it's implementation is flawed. Desktop apps just live in a different ecosystem. I love metro...for metro apps. Using it to launch/navigate with desktop apps sucks however. I'm a full time developer that uses Visual Studio as well as Sublime Text (for rails apps). I use Microsoft Office 2010 extensively. Bringing back some of those desktop features goes a long way in improving productivity.
The start menu in Windows 7 was perfect for me. I could hit the windows key, quickly type cmd and push enter, and a command prompt would open up. While you can still do that in Windows 8, there is a noticeable delay to open metro, and you lose visibility of your workspace temporarily. Microsoft should have made metro optional but installed by default. Stardock is doing what microsoft should have done in the first place.

betam4x said:
I understand what you are getting at, however, I don't necessarily dislike metro, I just think it's implementation is flawed. Desktop apps just live in a different ecosystem. I love metro...for metro apps. Using it to launch/navigate with desktop apps sucks however. I'm a full time developer that uses Visual Studio as well as Sublime Text (for rails apps). I use Microsoft Office 2010 extensively. Bringing back some of those desktop features goes a long way in improving productivity.
The start menu in Windows 7 was perfect for me. I could hit the windows key, quickly type cmd and push enter, and a command prompt would open up. While you can still do that in Windows 8, there is a noticeable delay to open metro, and you lose visibility of your workspace temporarily. Microsoft should have made metro optional but installed by default. Stardock is doing what microsoft should have done in the first place.
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Noticeable delay? That's odd.. I find it to be faster than Windows 7.
In the end, I welcome Metro. It's been well over 10 years with the Start Menu but Metro fills the void in functionality, and it looks nice.

Related

Who finds uninstalling an application weird on Windows 8

So you're in Metro, sry Modern UI, right-click on a program and it brings up various options all in the modern UI style, however once you select uninstall, it takes you back to the old style of Windows to do the dirty work. I am the only one to find this strange?
Doesn't happen on RTM. Everything stays in Metro.
Whattt?
If you uninstall a Windows Store (Metro) app, it uninstalls immediately from the Start screen.
If you uninstall a desktop app, it will switch to the desktop and uninstall like any other desktop app always did.
If your Metro apps are kicking you to the desktop to uninstall, then that's just not correct. lol
prjkthack said:
Whattt?
If you uninstall a Windows Store (Metro) app, it uninstalls immediately from the Start screen.
If you uninstall a desktop app, it will switch to the desktop and uninstall like any other desktop app always did.
If your Metro apps are kicking you to the desktop to uninstall, then that's just not correct. lol
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I'm talking about a desktop app, but viewed from the Metro screen, it just seems strange the OS switches interfaces, surely all the required functionality could be performed in Metro, it doesn't lead to a consistent user experience, IMO.
Turbotab said:
I'm talking about a desktop app, but viewed from the Metro screen, it just seems strange the OS switches interfaces, surely all the required functionality could be performed in Metro, it doesn't lead to a consistent user experience, IMO.
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There's no choice. Uninstallers are often custom executables which need to do a whole bunch of stuff, exclusive for each installation.
Uninstallers are tailor-made by app developers.
Turbotab said:
I'm talking about a desktop app, but viewed from the Metro screen, it just seems strange the OS switches interfaces, surely all the required functionality could be performed in Metro, it doesn't lead to a consistent user experience, IMO.
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Actually, it is totally consistent.
I would expect that an app that runs on the desktop will also perform its uninstallation on the desktop. After all, desktop apps are not installed the same way as a Metro app, so it certainly would not uninstall using the Metro-method. A desktop app can be installed in numerous ways, using the various installation processes and applications available for many of year.
I expect that a Metro app would uninstall within the Metro interface.
I hate this idea (and its MS fault for explaining it all badly) that the start menu is a new interface and thus separate from the desktop. Its just a new start screen it fills the screen instead of being a small clumsy list. Metro Apps run side by side with the desktop its not 2 separate things and I think this is why there is so much confusion. People seem to think you either work in one or the other when you still work the same as you always have just with an added layer of functionality. This means that using the old style uninstaller is no more strange then the hole of control panel still being in the "old" style. I love that it gives you a direct link not only to Programs and Features but also has the specific app highlighted.
lumpaywk said:
I hate this idea (and its MS fault for explaining it all badly) that the start menu is a new interface and thus separate from the desktop. Its just a new start screen it fills the screen instead of being a small clumsy list. Metro Apps run side by side with the desktop its not 2 separate things and I think this is why there is so much confusion. People seem to think you either work in one or the other when you still work the same as you always have just with an added layer of functionality. This means that using the old style uninstaller is no more strange then the hole of control panel still being in the "old" style. I love that it gives you a direct link not only to Programs and Features but also has the specific app highlighted.
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MS are to blame but a sizable portion of the blame lies with people who feel the need to spread FUD and those willing to believe that FUD without confirming it for themselves. And as this very website as seen for its self, those individuals that feel the need to make crap up and slag off win 8 / wp8 are often android users, not always, and im not generalising, but from my experience Linux based platform users (desktop and mobile) tend to be the most anti- everything-to-do-with-MS people I have ever had the miss fortune in talking to.
in saying that, I whole heartedly agree with you that MS has done almost nothing to combat that

cant disable metro ui

im trying to disable metro.in the register but there isn't RPenabled to disable it.
i want to remove it.so it goes straight to the desktop just like windows 7
I'm pretty sure this was removed in the official release.
JihadSquad said:
I'm pretty sure this was removed in the official release.
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it was removed.
Learn metro, its actually pretty good once you get the hang of it with or without the touch
It was in fact removed well before release. "redpill" (what is controlled by the registry value you seek) is an MS-internal test mode for secret and/or experimental features. It's been present for at least a few previous beta products too, covering things like Win7's new taskbar. Only the very first public build of Win8 used the Redpill switch; everything after that had it built in.
There are third-party apps which disable TIFKAM (The Interface Formerly Known As Metro) to a lesser or greater degree, but I can't recommend any of them as I don't know what they actually do to the system. Personally, I just move the mouse to the lower-left corner (where the Start button appears usually), and then Right-click followed immediately by a Left-click. That will take you to the desktop from anywhere. Another way to do it is hit [Win]+d, the "Show Desktop" shortcut from previous Windows versions still works on Win8, and if you aren't on the desktop it will take you there.
To boot to desktop, change
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
from "explorer.exe" to "explorer.exe /select,explorer.exe"
There are other ways w/o involving external software, one of which is to set up a task that runs on desktop. To find out, Google.
As far as disabling Metro altogether (ie the hot-corners), use any of the common 3rd-party fixes like Classic Shell. They work fine. Then you'd have basically an improved Win7 with some new features.
Unlike the "embrace change" advocates here, I think the user should decide if he wants to use Metro.
Good tip on the Shell registry change, thanks!
Thanks for the shell reg change, nice find. But we do have a choice to use metro or not, MS isn't a public service made to suite our needs, its a private company that can do as it wants, whether that is what we want as users is a different story, the best way to to affect change on private companies is to vote with your wallet so to speak. I'm not arguing that metro is better or anything there are issues with win 8, but as it stands there is a choice, an buying something then complaining it isn't what you want is perhaps a little silly, an we wouldn't do it in any other market cept the movie industry of course! Nope, MS will have your money an they won't be to bothered about anything else.
Sent from my Samsung Focus S using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
>it stands there is a choice, an buying something then complaining it isn't what you want is perhaps a little silly
The OP asks if there's a way to boot to desktop, not whether he wants Metro. Please restrict the editorializing and proselytizing to appropriate threads. Thanks.
BTW, credit for the reg edit goes to another in the Win8 Dev subforum. It's a compact variation of starting a desktop task (the task in this case being Explorer itself). Explorer's parameters are below for those interested. You can vary the results by experimenting with different combinations:
/n: Opens a new window in single-paned (My Computer) view for each item selected, even if the new window duplicates a window that is already open.
/e: Uses Windows Explorer view. Windows Explorer view is most similar to File Manager in Windows version 3.x. Note that the default view is Open view.
/root,<object>: Specifies the root level of the specified view. The default is to use the normal namespace root (the desktop). Whatever is specified is the root for the display.
/select,<sub object>: Specifies the folder to receive the initial focus. If "/select" is used, the parent folder is opened and the specified object is selected.
Usage examples here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/130510
Guys no need to go into the shell!!
Get this app called pokki(search on google) .Install it.Once you install it click the pokki icon on desktop.Then check the boot to desktop option.If you want you can also get back the start button,thereby saying goodbye to metro altogether.
Hope this helps....
Thread Closed
e.mote said:
>it stands there is a choice, an buying something then complaining it isn't what you want is perhaps a little silly
The OP asks if there's a way to boot to desktop, not whether he wants Metro. Please restrict the editorializing and proselytizing to appropriate threads. Thanks.
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e.mote said:
Unlike the "embrace change" advocates here, I think the user should decide if he wants to use Metro.
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...I was referring to your post above, its irrelevant we think it should do, it is what it is. There's no need to get all uppity about it. Once again, thank you for the interesting find.
>>Unlike the "embrace change" advocates here, I think the user should decide if he wants to use Metro.
>...I was referring to your post above, its irrelevant we think it should do, it is what it is. There's no need to get all uppity about it. Once again, thank you for the interesting find.
You should work on your reading comprehension. I said "the user should decide," not what I think Win8 should or shouldn't be. And you're welcome.
I'm using the classic shell add on:
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
It allows one to bypass the Win 8 UI and go directly to Windows. Plus it puts the start menu back in. I personally see no reason to try and disable the Win 8 new shell; just ignore it and stay on the desktop.
The only exception is that the new UI has some settings on my ultrabook that are not present in the Desktop interface (like controlling the GPS).
stevedebi said:
I'm using the classic shell add on:
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
It allows one to bypass the Win 8 UI and go directly to Windows. Plus it puts the start menu back in. I personally see no reason to try and disable the Win 8 new shell; just ignore it and stay on the desktop.
The only exception is that the new UI has some settings on my ultrabook that are not present in the Desktop interface (like controlling the GPS).
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Click to collapse
To be honest, I found ClassicShell to be buggy and unreliable. It frequently caused Explorer to crash.
I used Start8 through the trial and it seemed decent enough (I didn't crash hourly), but by the time that it expired I felt that Metro was just fine and didn't bother.
mrappbrain said:
Guys no need to go into the shell!!
Get this app called pokki(search on google) .Install it.Once you install it click the pokki icon on desktop.Then check the boot to desktop option.If you want you can also get back the start button,thereby saying goodbye to metro altogether.
Hope this helps....
Thread Closed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or install start8
Verstuurd van mijn GT-S5660
netham45 said:
To be honest, I found ClassicShell to be buggy and unreliable. It frequently caused Explorer to crash.
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Click to collapse
I have it on one system, and although I haven't noticed it to cause any stability issues, I found Start8 to be more refined.
In any case, here are the top start menu/metro avoidance programs:
Classic Shell
Start8
StartMenu7
StartMenu8
Pokki
ViStart (linked but not recommended because it tries it's best to install all kinds of 3rd party toolbars)
netham45 said:
I used Start8 through the trial and it seemed decent enough (I didn't crash hourly), but by the time that it expired I felt that Metro was just fine and didn't bother.
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I found just the opposite. I tried Metro for a while and just found it didn't do anything objectively better than the start menu, and the hot corners kept getting in my way (several of my programs have a lot of tools/buttons at the corners and edges and I was continually activating the various hidden menus). I tried Start8 and it works perfectly.
Theres an app called "FxxkMetro.exe" (actually spelt like that). It's designed to "seek out" and terminate all running instances of Metro, completely disabling it.

Multiple metro splitting / customizable metro splitting

I didn't find any topic about this. Excuse me if a topic already exists.
Name it as you want, but windows 8 allow us to split the screen and see two metro apps at the same time. I miss the windows' windows ( windows without windows is quite stupid for me ), but I like metro. Is there any way to split the screen many times, horizontally and with different ratios? ( not only 80:20 )
Many thanks.
Inviato dal mio HTC Desire con Tapatalk 2
It's been asked before, but nothing found. The official reason is that using a fixed-width sidebar mode allows developers to optimize their app interfaces for the width of that sidebar, but it would be nice to, for example, have two apps side-by-side in portrait mode on a 1920x1080 monitor (giving about 950x1080 each). I'm sure if such ahack is found, it'll be posted here...
GoodDayToDie said:
It's been asked before, but nothing found. The official reason is that using a fixed-width sidebar mode allows developers to optimize their app interfaces for the width of that sidebar, but it would be nice to, for example, have two apps side-by-side in portrait mode on a 1920x1080 monitor (giving about 950x1080 each). I'm sure if such ahack is found, it'll be posted here...
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Right, many thanks for answering. I'll pantientiently wait. So sorry for useless topic.
Optimization or not, in Win7 I could have A LOT of windows on the screen at the same time. Falling back to 2 in the new version is very disappointing. Samsung smartphones have visual multitasking and my 1920x1080 PC can't have more than two windows? If it wasn't for performances of Win8, I would be on Win7 right now.
Win8 is capable of having an arbitrary number of windows open at once... I get almost no use out of the Metro apps and just do everything on the desktop.
GoodDayToDie said:
Win8 is capable of having an arbitrary number of windows open at once... I get almost no use out of the Metro apps and just do everything on the desktop.
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Yep, desktop is just like win7 desktop, so you can get unlimited windows. But Metro apps are quite integrated with everything and living without them is hard. And I can't see a youtube video while writing a document.
You can't? Word and a browser pointing at YouTube works fine for me...
Seriously, aside from mail (which I only use because it'll connect from outside work's firewall) and Skype (which works great snapped to one side), the only "Metro" apps I use are games (which I would have full-screened anyhow). The music, pictures, and messenger apps are crap. I manage my calendar from the phone and only "use" it on the PC to see and dismiss notifications. I prefer the desktop control panel and OneNote. The built-in PDF reader app is... not great, so I have Foxit. Metro IE is worthless next to the desktop version. Metro remote desktop is OK, but the desktop version is powerful and familiar. Start and the Store are both "metro" but aren't really apps in the usual sense. SSH and such are available on the desktop (I use Interix).
If anything, I'd say Metro apps are the opposite of "integrated with everything". They can't change system settings, and often can't even check them. They have very limited ability to talk to other programs, whereas almost everything on the desktop supports drag&drop, for example. They can't do anything requiring high privileges. They're terrible for browsing the filesystem. They suck for multitasking in general. They can't (officially) launch other programs. They might not be an evolutionary dead end, but they aren't an evolution I'm happy to see. Give me sandboxes, and maybe even a store, but let *me* control the sandbox and let me apply them to desktop software. Give me synced app state, but let everything use it not just the stuff from your store. Give me Vista's Windows Mail instead of this crap. Touch-friendly is great, but even on my Surface I don't so much except games with touch; give me traditional UIs too.

Is the new Windows 8 finally worth the transition from 7?

My biggest fear is that troubleshooting, and the hell hole of creating network drives, sharing permissions and all kinds of other thigns I had to do to stream my Media to my android and PS3 will just repeat itself or get worst if I upgrade.
What are the general experiences with media and directory sharing on Windows 8 vs Windows 7? Can you drop all of Microsoft's security mechanisms as a whole?
hm
write a simple script for your network file sharing, are you doing an upgrade or going from scratch?
buffalosolja42 said:
write a simple script for your network file sharing, are you doing an upgrade or going from scratch?
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Unsure about that. I would like to from scratch since if I do make the move to Windows 8 I will probably load it onto an SSD and have two HDDs for storage
Wrong forum, mate. This is Windows Phone 8. The Windows 8 forum is over there. Please ask a moderator to move this thread.
I was shocked with how stable Windows 7 is, it very rarely freezes or reboots etc.
I can't believe how often Windows 8 freezes, reboots, fails to start, can't diagnose startup problems or if it does, I do it 3 times and somehow it finds a problem on the third time, why is that?
I use exactly the same programs on each OS. I have used 8 preview, 8 and now 8.1 each one is unstable and creates problems. For a desktop user, it's a nightmare.
SharpnShiny said:
I was shocked with how stable Windows 7 is, it very rarely freezes or reboots etc.
I can't believe how often Windows 8 freezes, reboots, fails to start, can't diagnose startup problems or if it does, I do it 3 times and somehow it finds a problem on the third time, why is that?
I use exactly the same programs on each OS. I have used 8 preview, 8 and now 8.1 each one is unstable and creates problems. For a desktop user, it's a nightmare.
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I have been running windows 8 on my daily use machine since the week it launched, not once has it frozen, rebooted or failed to boot. Nor have I heard of such prolific issues from anyone else
Honestly I threw 8.1 preview on one of two new boxes at home, 7 Ultimate on the other.
Both with SSD caching and boot times are similar. Performance also seems similar.
I got one copy of 8 for one system and one for the other.
Metro was made for touch screens (and is great with one) - but the box with 8 will never have it.
So I have it boot straight to desktop and I'll live on the desktop except for occasionally finding an app.
(Think I might look at that Pokki or other start menu alternatives..)
If you have a touch screen go 8. If you don't stick with 7...
According to me it is not up to the mark...... 7 is better may be future updates may change my attitude...
Sent from my Xperia U using xda app-developers app
I cannot find *one* thing superior in windows 7 to windows 8 bar the fact that driver signature enforcement is enabled (but can be disabled for a single boot if you need to install some drivers anyway, once installed an unsigned driver will work fine after a reboot).
Start button being absent like everyone complains about. Who seriously uses the start button? All it does is let you launch programs or shut the PC down. Well I can launch programs just fine from desktop (albeit I like a clean desktop so don't), task bar, start screen or via search. Search is easy to get to, hit the windows key to go to the start screen, start typing and it immediately searches for that program. Shutdown, I never shut down from the start bar anyway and haven't in years, Control-Alt-Delete, or charms bar > settings > Power > Shutdown. Or windows key + D to go to desktop (or the button on the task bar, or some other way that I don't care to mention) and hit alt-F4 and windows will prompt for shutdown. Admin functions like control panel etc, hold the windows key and press X, a menu appears where the start button used to reside and lists most useful functions immediately, or you can move the mouse into the bottom left so the button to go to the start screen appears and then right click it.
Metro/Start as they prefer to call it that (seriously, they dropped the metro name way before full release) you look at for all of 2 seconds. I have a tile on it to go to desktop, but prefer to use windows key + D. Other than that, I actually use it with tiles for my favourite programs neatly pinned to it.
The start button is archaic. I saw someone saying that its impossible to throw away years of using a start button, I honestly wondered who was still using it, it was hideous. I got my first PC when I was 8, 2002 if you must know. At the age of 8 you learn to do things 1 way and usually stick to that. Yet I got windows 8 shortly after release (it was still during the discounted price period) and adapted to the lack of start bar within an hour, prior to that I was a heavy computer user. There we go, 11/12 years of heavy computer usage with the start bar being present and I throw it out within an hour. That was so hard.
Things change. Deal with it. The start button has been with us for how long and it is finally old enough that it needs putting to rest. Once upon a time we only used "primitive" command line entry systems (many still do), many of those users were angry when the modern desktop appeared, now its commonplace.
SixSixSevenSeven;45816830 ...
Start button being absent like everyone complains about. Who seriously uses the start button?[/QUOTE said:
Are you serious?
Given that Windows 8 has been dubbed the new Vista by many major publications, computer experts and power PC users, and that one of the biggest complaints among these users and businesses in surveys and that feedback from multiple major global PC manufacturers from consumers that the Start Menu was one of their key issues, given that the largest computer manufactuer by sales - Lenovo has intervened and preinstalled the free Start Menu replacement Pokki on all new Windows 8 machines, given the sheer amount of questions on this site about the Start Menu, give the huge number of sales of 3rd party software that replace the missing Start Menu (such as Start8) I would say many, many, many of us use the Start Button and the Start Menu.
Logical error #1 'If I have no use for this, then no one else does' ...
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Vista came out six years ago. Huge numbers of people *still* actually go into a menu structure to find their programs instead of just typing a few letters of the program name or description or executable file name, then hitting Enter.
The only conclusion I've been able to draw from this is that the majority of computer users are, in effect, idiots. This seems somewhat unlikely, but I'm pretty sure that recognizing the advantages in speed and convenience do not require above-average intelligence, yet people still fail to take advantage of it.
The Start screen is irrelevant to me, aside from its segregation of search results (fixed in 8.1 anyhow). The demand for Start Menu replacements says an awful lot about the intelligence of the Windows userbase, more than about the quality of the OS in general. With that said, I will grant that the Windows devs may have screwed up by failing to take into consideration just how dumb their target market is (at least with regard to computers).
Educating them - on a grand scale, the way MS did for the Start button in Win95 - might work. It would be interesting to see. The MS of today seems completely incapable of effective marketing and communication compared to the Microsoft of yesteryear, though.
In my opinion, Windows 8 is a great system for what is under the hood. The system and startup is dramatically feature and has much more safety features built in. The fact that Microsoft built in Microsoft Security Essentials means that you no longer have to deal with anti-virus and firewall stuff and since it is built in, it doesnt slow down your system anymore is a bonus. Also, the new backup features, performance tools and task manager are greatly improves and much better then recent versions.
As for the metro (or "modern") garbage, If you are using your PC as umm.. a PC it is really un-needed and unnecesary but is easy to get rid of using third party apps to get you back to the Windows 7 style desktop. I currently use Startisback which also makes other desktop changes to get rid of metro completely. If you want apps, installed Google Chrome and use Google's new desktop apps. This would also make it much easier for Android users as everything pretty much syncs with the phone.
One small other "rant" make sure you use a uxtheme patcher and a visual style... whose idea at Microsoft was it to use black text in the window border but white text on the taskbar?
In my opinion that gives me the best of all worlds.
SharpnShiny said:
Are you serious?
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Actually I am. I find the idea of the start button to just be obsolete and the new system to be FASTER for power users who can be bothered to get their heads out of their asses and adapt to change.
SixSixSevenSeven said:
Actually I am. I find the idea of the start button to just be obsolete and the new system to be FASTER for power users who can be bothered to get their heads out of their asses and adapt to change.
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Yes because clicking then moving your hands to the keyboard then typing is so much better than click click and click.
Saves movement, saves time but I guess it's just obsolete
hakcenter said:
Yes because clicking then moving your hands to the keyboard then typing is so much better than click click and click.
Saves movement, saves time but I guess it's just obsolete
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don't need the mouse to navigate windows 8 itself. See that lovely windows logo key, press it, takes you straight to the start screen where you can start typing. Want to get to the settings charm to shut down the pc, windows key + I, if you want you can even navigate that menu with the arrow keys but alternatively the icons are large so easy to hit with a nice imprecise high speed mouse movement. Windows key + X, opens a menu with things like control panel and device manager etc, in this list each item has a single character somewhere within the item name underscored, press thus character and it selects that menu option, Win + X and then C opens the command prompt for example. Very little mouse use is required, can do most things for windows 8 itself (except apps and desktop programs) with just a keyboard.
tp2215 said:
...
One small other "rant" make sure you use a uxtheme patcher and a visual style... whose idea at Microsoft was it to use black text in the window border but white text on the taskbar?
In my opinion that gives me the best of all worlds.
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Click to collapse
Could you recommend a uxtheme? You use it to restore some Windows 7 font/UI right? Do you restore glass/Aero? I've been using Start8 which I like a lot, but for the other features they really want you to pay at several gates...in the end, making Win8 look a bit more like Win 7 costs a small fortune with them.
edit - I just spotted the popular early mod of aero in 8 has come out of beta and is still free: http://glass8.berlios.de/
This update is really interesting...it's Aero Glass within a Win 8 framework...it's a curious UI mix.
SharpnShiny said:
Could you recommend a uxtheme? You use it to restore some Windows 7 font/UI right? Do you restore glass/Aero? I've been using Start8 which I like a lot, but for the other features they really want you to pay at several gates...in the end, making Win8 look a bit more like Win 7 costs a small fortune with them.
edit - I just spotted the popular early mod of aero in 8 has come out of beta and is still free: http://glass8.berlios.de/
This update is really interesting...it's Aero Glass within a Win 8 framework...it's a curious UI mix. *pets cat and ponders*
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For some great uxtheme just search around deviantart here is a good place to start http://www.deviantart.com/customization/skins/. There are lots of them scattered around that, if anything, will restore the look back to Windows 7. Most of them have versions that will also tie right into the aero mod that you mentioned. One word of advice though from expereince, if the pc wants to update, switch back to default style before restarting. Microsoft released several updates that seem to "softbrick' your pc if the patch is installed. It will just boot with a black screen and the only way to repair would be to refresh or system restore.
hakcenter said:
Yes because clicking then moving your hands to the keyboard then typing is so much better than click click and click.
Saves movement, saves time but I guess it's just obsolete
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Just for the record, the keyboard is always faster than the mouse.
mcosmin222 said:
Just for the record, the keyboard is always faster than the mouse.
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Click to collapse
Not when you count time from shifting your hands from the mouse to the keyboard.
Like browsing the web, then you wanted to open up Photoshop well now your up crap Creek cause you can't just have a simple shortcut on the ready.
Anyone defending the missing power user feature of having a central location for common tasks is just sailing their boat to no where. Especially when you look at the fact the guy that pressed for 8 was fired... Yawn.
Watch the next windows brings it back then all you crazy dudes won't find a single utility to remove the menu cause it's just stupidity at it's finest.

What do you Think of Technical Preview

This thread is to discuss the Windows 10 Technical Preview. Some things can be things that you like and don't like about it and bugs you have come across while testing it out. Here are some things I like about it.
Pros:
- Start menu has returned (yes I'm a laptop user and this is very welcoming for me)
- Seems to use slightly less RAM than Windows 8 did and a good bit less than 7 did.
- Most apps and programs seem to work without any problems or compatibility issues.
- You can now run modern apps from within the desktop which helped solve the two-faced issue that Windows 8 suffered from
- Multiple desktop support, something Linux and Mac have been able to do for years now.
- You can now create desktop shortcuts for modern apps
Cons:
- With there being practically no window boarder, some programs may look weird or render improperly
(example: there is a dark bar under the close button in Chrome EDIT: Chrome has been updated and doesn't do this anymore)
- Windows Explorer may freeze up and stop responding for about 30 seconds (it usually will work again when you close the Explorer window and reopen it)
- Charms work on the desktop, but not in modern apps (Charms are completely gone in build 9926, but it doesn't bother me)
- You can't remove or move the search or task view on the taskbar (I find them useful, but I know the shortcuts for them and they just add clutter to my taskbar EDIT: It's been fixed for a while I know, but I never updated the thread for it)
- Navigating the task view can be a bit cumbersome and your added desktops don't save.
Bugs I've come across:
- Textbox went away at the lockscreen, forcing me to restart
- Snap is currently broken. I can only snap one window but I can't snap another window while the first one is snapped (EDIT: This issue seemed to fix itself after restarting my computer. Snap works properly now after rebooting)
- Second display support is currently broken. When you plug a laptop or tablet to a screen wit ha higher resolution while the computer is either off or asleep, you will be greeted with either a black or blue screen, which also forces you to restart (fixed with October 2014 patch)
Workarounds:
These are temporary workarounds to fix various issues, bugs or annoyances in Technical Preview
- To be able to snap two windows, snap your first window and then minimize it. Open or select your second window and snap it to the other side. Bring back up your first window and both windows should be equally split across the screen.
- To use a second screen, tun on your computer and log on before connecting it to a second screen. Also, unplug the second screen before putting your computer to sleep, or else you will have the same problem
I'm a laptop user - is it still possible to keep the Windows 8 style start menu? I prefer that, better to make full use my 17" screen, rather than the imo annoying Windows 7 menu that opened up in a postage-stamp-sized window.
I had multiple desktops on my Amiga 19 years ago Though the downside is it's harder to do things like drag and drop, and more confusing keeping track of where things are. Can't say I've missed them.
I agree it's annoying if the search button can't be removed - similarly it's annoying they stuck the start button back in Windows 8.1. I know the shortcuts for keyboard, and the hotspot worked fine with a mouse/touchpad. Particularly annoying on my 10" Transformer Book where I have less screen space.
mdwh said:
I'm a laptop user - is it still possible to keep the Windows 8 style start menu? I prefer that, better to make full use my 17" screen, rather than the imo annoying Windows 7 menu that opened up in a postage-stamp-sized window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the taskbar properties, you can customize the Windows 10 start menu settings. Here you can activate start menu as well kown of Windows 8 by turning off the Windows 10 start menu.
Tested it and removed it. Nothing to see if your not an developer or IT pro. And the fact that you can only use
it when your online, or at least use an online account just creeps me out. It looks like MS is going to close the
system up and demanding users to use cloud based systems. In other words, there getting even more on the
data mining bandwagon. And closing it up is hoping an new bread of developers will commit to Windows again.
Which isn't all that bad if the price and quality of the apps get way better then they are now.
Sure, they call it an tech preview, but they obviously already have the thing ready. The tech demo is buggy
by design that's for sure. And the start menu, if that is going to be the way it's going to be, is just silly and boring.
Must be an prank, surly they can come up with something more inspired. Using windowed apps on the desktop, an
sell point. seriously? Been doing that from Windows 8. Other features underlined for the time beeing all boring!
So move along, nothing to see for now.
All in all, if the preview is any indication, it will be nothing to write home about. For the average user.
Just the same old thing again. Except if the apps get consistent design! Not that oldskool Windows crap.
I have been using Windows from 1.0 or at least 30 years in my case. And its still flat and squared. Just saying...
XP endured for 10 years. Sure, it was an robust OS after win 9x, I loved it. Also loved 95-98 NT2000, so..
But was also glad to see Vista(..) after all those years working with the same old thing. Windows 7(what Vista should have been) was sweet but eventually quickly broken. 8 an experiment. 8.1.1 what 8 should have been to start with. Now that I am no longer in IT for some years, I hope that windows 10 will amuse me like Android or Mac does for Apple users. But respect individuality and freedom within the os. No forced net hookup and no extra data mining/spying.
With that out of the way, Windows 10 is either going to be an NT2000, Vista or a 8 seeing that 8.1.1 is just getting momentum and an base in the tablet segment.
What is there to think about Windows 10 Preview, if you are just an user, nothing. Just being an bore
Buggster said:
Tested it and removed it. Nothing to see if your not an developer or IT pro. And the fact that you can only use
it when your online, or at least use an online account just creeps me out. It looks like MS is going to close the
system up and demanding users to use cloud based systems. In other words, there getting even more on the
data mining bandwagon. And closing it up is hoping an new bread of developers will commit to Windows again.
Which isn't all that bad if the price and quality of the apps get way better then they are now.
Sure, they call it an tech preview, but they obviously already have the thing ready. The tech demo is buggy
by design that's for sure. And the start menu, if that is going to be the way it's going to be, is just silly and boring.
Must be an prank, surly they can come up with something more inspired. Using windowed apps on the desktop, an
sell point. seriously? Been doing that from Windows 8. Other features underlined for the time beeing all boring!
So move along, nothing to see for now.
All in all, if the preview is any indication, it will be nothing to write home about. For the average user.
Just the same old thing again. Except if the apps get consistent design! Not that oldskool Windows crap.
I have been using Windows from 1.0 or at least 30 years in my case. And its still flat and squared. Just saying...
XP endured for 10 years. Sure, it was an robust OS after win 9x, I loved it. Also loved 95-98 NT2000, so..
But was also glad to see Vista(..) after all those years working with the same old thing. Windows 7(what Vista should have been) was sweet but eventually quickly broken. 8 an experiment. 8.1.1 what 8 should have been to start with. Now that I am no longer in IT for some years, I hope that windows 10 will amuse me like Android or Mac does for Apple users. But respect individuality and freedom within the os. No forced net hookup and no extra data mining/spying.
With that out of the way, Windows 10 is either going to be an NT2000, Vista or a 8 seeing that 8.1.1 is just getting momentum and an base in the tablet segment.
What is there to think about Windows 10 Preview, if you are just an user, nothing. Just being an bore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are missing the point.
This is a preview, microsoft needs to keep track who is actually testing it. Don't worry, there will be no such thing as a cloud OS. Plus, this version is just to test stability and stuff. Features will be added in time.
You are missing the point.
This is a preview, microsoft needs to keep track who is actually testing it. Don't worry, there will be no such thing as a cloud OS. Plus, this version is just to test stability and stuff. Features will be added in time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are missing the point here(no insult intended) Cloud is already integrated in the OS, every iteration a bit more. A lot of users already use there Outlook account
to log on daily and use the cloud drive. MS don't need to keep track in the way you mean with this preview. There are lots of background services already sending telemetry
to the servers, with unique id.
So the preview, as we all know it's an preview for testing, doesn't really need your explicit permission to use your system data. That's already part of the agreement of using this preview. It's "informally suggested" you test it as your daily driver. That's why they ask for an personal outlook account. In which you give explicit permission to use your private data and cover any legal issues. What else would be the point of testing it publicly without explicit user data and telemetry. I'm not slandering MS here. That's not my intention.
Again, there's not much to test for your normal user. The new feature aren't in there remember? Your not getting anything. It's you that's being tested
There could still be a local account be used... There is an option on account create
The search box on the task bar could be hidden with menu on right click
Windows 10 became laggy and slow after few days... Super UI, have to wait for final release.
Well I did come across a minor wifi issue when trying to connect to my college wifi. The issue I had was it had a hard time connecting to it at first (I was able to get it to connect after trying a few times). I think the issue was it couldn't figure out the network security settings (which requires logging in with a username and password) and it would immediately pop up saying can't connect to network. Another wifi issue I've came across is there is difficulty disconnecting from a network and hopping on another one. When you hit disconnect, it will sit there with the spinning circles until you switch the wifi adapter on and off.
In all honesty though, it could be my laptop causing the problems because it's a 4 year old computer but I never ran across those issues on Windows 7
no contora up till now
I experience some bugs wth windows store
I think Cortana is jealous of Android
True story:
I installed build 9926 (major hassle but another story) and started playing with Cortana.
I set Android as topic that interested me and a few links popped up. I clicked a link, IE opened, and the page started loading, and just kept loading - no text. A minute later (I'm running Win 10 in VMWare) I copied the link, went to my host system, and pasted it into Firefox. Worked fine. Another two or three minutes later, IE said the page was running 'a very long script'. I clicked to send a frown (IE feedback to MS) A window popped up, I explained the problem, and Win 10 crashed. HARD. Just locked up. Finally had to delete the VM and reinstall.
I'm kind of afraid to tell Cortana I like Android now.
BSOD
Tried installing the Preview on my PC. Nothing unusual happens during the installation. All runs well after series of restarts. The problem only arises after I switched off my PC. When I opened it again I was greeted with BSOD.
Anyone here experiencing the same issue?
JeySi said:
Tried installing the Preview on my PC. Nothing unusual happens during the installation. All runs well after series of restarts. The problem only arises after I switched off my PC. When I opened it again I was greeted with BSOD.
Anyone here experiencing the same issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't say that I have, but can you include any other information within the BSOD such as the bugcheck code or any other text besides the usual "Your computer has been shut down and we're collecting data" text? It could be a driver that's being updated through Windows Update or a preview update that's causing issues.
i think windows 10 will be a success unlike windows 8 failed to attract users

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