Thread: Win 8 and me

I have found one Little compromise for the Startup menu. Google and download Vista start up. Wroks fine. If you want to customise the programs, with your own folders etc, then do it in Program data - Microsoft -Windows - Start Menu. Vista Start menu will pick up yopur alterations. You can also, if you prefer, make a shortcut from that folder to the desktop.

Originally Posted by davehc

I have found one Little compromise for the Startup menu. Google and download Vista start up. Wroks fine. If you want to customise the programs, with your own folders etc, then do it in Program data - Microsoft -Windows - Start Menu. Vista Start menu will pick up yopur alterations. You can also, if you prefer, make a shortcut from that folder to the desktop.

Yes,there are several programs that will put a Windows XP ,Windows 2000 or Windows Vista start menu into windows 7 and Windows 8. But the best one is Classic Shell as it is a free program. And it is also more user friendly and has a lot of settings options.

Classic Shell gives you the Classic Windows 2000 start menu,and Windows XP start menu. As well as the Windows 7 and windows Vista start menu and has some other themes. Check it out. It also works in Windows 8.

I use Classic Shell on both Windows 7 and Windows 8. And I have also used it on Windows Vista. I like the Windows XP start menu in Classic Shell.Andrea Borman.

It really hasn't been that bad for me, so far. That Metro stuff was a bit confusing, but everything else is working fine. I have the Control Panel pinned to the Taskbar, so settings are within reach for me. Most of my software from Windows 7 & XP is working fine, except Perfect Disk 12.5, my paid defrag program.

Even ESET Endpoint Security Suite (Beta) installed perfectly. I'm not depending on Windows Defender (a re-branded MSE) to protect me. It's been rumored that the latest Avast (version 7) runs good on 8 CP. When this ESET program ends on 04/30/2012, I'll try out Avast 7 IS for the 20 days that they usually give. I won't buy at first, but wait until they offer 3 PC's for $29.99 (they always do).

I like the SafeZone browser that's included with Avast Internet Security, even if there's a virus or keylogger on the PC, the SafeZone browser (Chrome) redirects the traffic to their safe servers, and shields the user from any threats present. Plus, and this is included with the Free version of Avast, is the Boot Time scanner. It scans your entire hard drive (except those where Linux OS's are present) for infections, outside of the Windows environment, so that the results are more accurate. Certain places can't be accessed with the regular Full Scan, just as with Perfect Disk. Their boot time defrag gets the system & page files, resulting in improved startup and overall speed (assuming that the OS & computer is otherwise healthy).

Windows 8 is going to be a good OS. Give it some time.

Cat

Originally Posted by Andrea Borman

Classic Shell gives you the Classic Windows 2000 start menu,and Windows XP start menu. As well as the Windows 7 and windows Vista start menu and has some other themes. Check it out. It also works in Windows 8.

Thanks Andrea. I have never tried the "Classic", but curiosity will make me! But, tell me, are you using the developer or the consumer release.. There is a difference and, unfortunately, most of the "tricks" no longer apply to the consumer.
Unfortunately, because of my particular computer operating conditions, I normally have to try and make the Os's work with the provided (built-in) facilities.. I cannot deny, though, the usefulness of trying out some of the third party compromises. (Keeps you with an open mind - not MS tunnel vision. Lol)

I've just downloaded Classic Shell and will load in onto the Windows 8 installation and see how it goes.

however, it doesn't really answer the main question which is, in its original form with Metro, it is a pad operating system not a desktop one. The desktop should have its own front end and not a series of large boxes to start programmes running. It ids for this reason that I can't imagine many desktop users buying it and I should think corporates will ignore it too!

The Classic Shell did work great for all versions of Windows 7 and even Windows 8/DP, but does NOTHING on Win-8 Public Preview.
It did install OK, but makes NO difference in the way that Windows 8/PP works. I'd just love to have a real Start menu and Programs Menu again. Without that ability, I can't see Windows 8 ever replacing Windows 7 or its predecessors.

Just like the two tweaks to turn off the Metro UI, that worked OK on the 8/DP versions, do nothing on the Public Preview.

I was so depressed after a couple of hours working with the new Win-8, that I had to get away from it. That was two days ago and I've not gone back to it yet. Right now I'm on my old reliable Windows XP-Pro-SP3 and still loving it.

I keep each OS on a separate HD and only power up the one I want to use. That prevents any OS from seeing the other one and wanting to muck about with it. There was a reported interaction between XP and Win-7, when both OS HD's were alive on the same PC.
(and never the trains shall meet...... old railroad saying)

To be able to start a program quickly, I just went into Windows Explorer, found the .exe file for the program I wanted and sent it to the desktop as a shortcut. Well, at least that function has not been 86'ed in Win-8.

Buried deep within Win-8 are many things reminiscent of Win-XP, but you really have to dig for them. (like Mining for Gold)

The City Lights theme is working great on my Classic Desktop.

Some other things that seem to be working on win-8 are "Grant Admin Full Control" and "Disable UAC".
The script to "Toggle Hidden Files" (ON or OFF) seems to work too.
A few other tweaks I've tried seem to do nothing.

I'm going to investigate the "Disable Metro UI" script to see if its maybe just trying to change a registry key that no longer exists.
Creating the key might fix that problem. I suppose someone will fix that if I just wait long enough. Eh?

Cheers Mates,

DrWho. If you really don't see yourself getting into Metro, do try Vista start menu, Vista Start Menu - Convenient alternative to Start menu It might help you to see Windows 8 in a better light!

Thanks Dave,
I did download and install the Vista thingy, but it only sits there as a program you have to run. It does nothing for the actual look of Win-8. But again, I have it and thank you.

Since, like, Forever, we've been mousing to the lower left corner of the screen to shut down the computer, so I pinned my Quick Shutdown icon to that same location. I put the Vista Menu icon just to the right of it. All this to gain some sort of continuity with Win-7.

Here's a pic of my new Windows 8 desktop:


It looks like I've got a lot of homework to do, with the registry.

I still don't have Firefox 10.0.2 working up to par. No matter what URL I try to load, like this one, FF just seems to stall out.
If I put the same URL into I.E. it pops up immediately. FF worked great with Win-8/DP. Go figure. MS has found a way to force people to use I.E. as well as their Metro UI. Grrrrrrrr!

Laters!
The Doctor

Maybe a point of view. After all, you need to click the old menu to access it? It is very customisable. Here's mine so far.

We knew the Metro disables would not work after the DP. And 'your' tiles can be arranged & 'cleaned up', including removing ones that are not going to be subjectively used or wanted...take off one's that are of no interest to YOU. The Beta is still not the Final product but, far superior to the DP. Depending on attitude, it really doesn't take long to discover how actually neatly & easily one can configure & navigate it.