New laptop has Windows 8 and cant get on with the bloody app/tile icon front page. Basically what i want is to try and have a more traditional view, like windows XP or 7 (what im used to).

Im aware of various programmes that can do this for you, any recommendations? These two look promising, but before i download one any advice would be appreciated.

http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

The windows 8.1 update should be available very soon, that should give enough of the old options while taking advantage the new to not use a third party program.

Classic Shell is what we’ve been recommending to people who ask at work.

http://www.classicshell.net/
It’s more powerful than most of the others though so be careful. Had no complaints so far.

samuri- thank you sir!

Loathed the start screen and now it’s gone, cracking 😀

Win8.1 update (preview) on my work machine just gave me a start button. Press start and then all the tiles are presented to you! I gave it my full 30secs attention and then installed classic shell again. Maybe you can change it to give you a start menu, but I didnt see it immediately.

Yeah the 8.1 update is bollocks for anyone that wants to go back to something like the Windows 7 UI. MS clearly don’t listen, or at least don’t want to admit they completely **** it up.

This seems relevant:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/06/28

Thanks IA, I was looking for that 🙂

Windows Key +…

D switches between touch and desktop interfaces

I calls up the power-down modes

X calls up a powerful PC admin menu

Q calls up a list of the installed apps

W calls up a settings search

E calls up the My Computer screen

Remember to use Windows key + D to get back to the desktop.

Windows 8 can be a really nice place to be if you use these shortcuts.

It’s still shit even if you remember a load of shortcut keys (rather than press on oh-so-obvious icons/menus arranged in an oh-so-obvious manner like on a Start button). I still use Windows 7 myself but have the misfortune of ‘supporting’ my GF’s W8 laptop. I thought she was just being pedantic when complaining about how the whole in-built picture gallery stuff works but frig me a 4-year old could design something better.

Classic Shell is what we’ve been recommending to people who ask at work.

http://www.classicshell.net/
It’s more powerful than most of the others though so be careful. Had no complaints so far.

Plus 1. No issues thus far.

useful – thanks muchly

+another for Classic Shell in fact I only “upgraded” to windows 8 as I knew I could get classic shell and a start button instead of that tile crap or I would have stayed on VISTA!

Thanks to all of those who recommended classic shell. I’ve just put it on my work windows 7 box and it is the best “productivity” upgrade I’ve yet seen.

Many thanks,

P

Cheers for the suggestions, will give the classic shell a go.

Cheers for the suggestions, will give the classic shell a go.