You can make Windows 8 look and act like Windows 7 or XP.
There is a manual way to remove the new “Start Page” front end and put back the “Start Menu”, there is a free software package to do it, and there are a few paid packages to do it.
For a paid package ($5) try http://www.startisback.com
Another paid package ($5) try https://store.stardock.com/product/ESD-SDS-W1211
For a free package (personal use) try http://www.classicshell.net/
For more of my comments, scroll to the bottom of this post.
For a “do-it-yourself” effort read the following:
Some nice person did go onto the Microsoft forums and gave a description of how to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7. I’m going to quote his whole comment here, certainly giving attribution and a link to the original message.
Attribution: Herman Jone DC, posting on a Microsoft Q&A site
Quote:
Ok, so you bought a new laptop or desktop and the dopey salesman told you you’re out of luck and have to get Windows 8 since thats all microsoft is shipping. Well, its not the end of the world.
You can take it out of the box, set it up and live with it. Some people (not very many from what I’m reading) like the new Windows 8 interface but most do not. Or, you can make a few FREE modifications that I have tested and can tell you work very well.
1. Setting up windows 8 out of the box: You do NOT need to provide or setup a hotmail, livemail or any other microsoft account when setting up the machine. Read very carefully during installation and it will offer you the chance to “continue without setting up” any email whatsoever. It will warn you that syncing will not be as seamless if you continue but this is a lie and you can add any email account you choose later.
2. Suppressing the metro interface: The first thing to is download Classic Shell http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ This is must to getting the look and feel of Windows 7 or even XP back while utilizing the new beneficial features of Windows 8. Download it, install it, and it will ask you what style of start bar you want and you’re good to go. Classic Shell will somewhat suppress the metro interface and boot directly to desktop. It will also put the start bar back (in the shape of a sea shell – classy!)
3. Adding gadgets: If you liked the Windows Vista and 7 Gadgets, you can get ’em back in short order from 8Gadgetpack http://8gadgetpack.bplaced.net/ This will offer you to put all the gadgets like weather, clock and calendar back and you won’t have to call up the charm bar to see any of that, it will be right there on your desktop. It loads on startup and will stay there just like in Vista and Windows 7.
4. GEEK ALERT: Disabling the charm and switcher bar will require a simple (but scary) registry edit: Here’s what to do you closeted-geeks:
Open the Run box by hitting Win+R, and then launch the Registry Editor by typing regedit into the box and hitting enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsCurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell, right-click in the right-hand pane and create a new key called EdgeUI. Select the key and in the right-hand pane create a new DWORD and call it DisableCharmsHint. Right-click the DWORD and select Modify. Change the Value Data to 1. This will stop the Charms bar appearing when you move your mouse to the top or bottom right-hand corners. Note, create a DWORD 32 even though windows 8 will most likely be in 64-bit.
Now,
Keeping that same key open, create a second new key and call it: DisableTLcorner Right-click it, after creation, modify its value to 1 as well and close the registry editor.
Congratulations! You’ve just disabled the Charm Bar and Switcher in one fell swoop! But you didn’t remove them entirely and thats ok, because they do actually have some value and you may want to call them from time to time. You can now do this by moving you mouse to the absolute top right or left corner of the screen and they will appear.
Confused about this: See this excellent tutorial on modifying the registry for this procedure: http://www.howtogeek.com/127645/how-to-disable-the-charms-bar-and-switcher-hot-corners-in-windows-8/
5. Remove the lock screen: This is a screen which covers over your desktop or metro screen when not in use. You may or may not want to keep this. If you don’t need to password protect your machine and don’t want to have this feature active, you can turn it off and keep it inactive until you do want it. I would not recommend disabling this, just turning it off.
a. Type netplwiz in the Windows 8 start screen.
b. Choose your user account.
c. Uncheck the option: “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer”
d. Enter your password (if you have one assigned)
e. Restart your Windows 8 computer.
6. Removing annoying apps from the metro screen which interfere with the desktop: If you don’t wish to have a metro app creep up on you while enjoying your new windows 8 desktop, simply, call up the charm bar (by going to the very top right-hand corner of the screen now), then clicking on the Start app that appears once the bar opens. This will take you back to metro. Find the app that is offending you and right click on it. A bar will appear across the bottom of the screen which will offer you the chance to uninstall it. Do so, and it is gone forever and will annoy you no more. Press Ctrl and Esc to get out of metro and back to the desktop.
Do all these things (which should take no more than a 1/2 hour) an you too, will have a windows 8 desktop that looks and feels just like Windows 7, Vista or XP depending on how you modified classic shell.
More comments from me:
You would think that Microsoft would provide the answer … but apparently they are trying to do something nefarious. What do you think it is? I think there is a systematic effort by some corporations to create a society with absolute surveillance and advertising in every aspect of our lives, and the Windows 8 front-end is just another example of preparing us for that day.
That’s it, just my take on the new Windows 8 – Hope this will help someone out there.