Start button for Win 8, this is great

**Medico** · 2012-04-13 04:17

No theme. I shuffle through about 100 desktop landscape pics at 10 minute intervals. I use the Aero like look I have grown accustomed to on Win 7. I do show other shots in other threads. I dual booted Win 7 and Win 8 CP and dragged most of my landscape pics directly from my Win 7 desktop themes into a "themes" folder I created, then further moved them to my Win 8 CP OS. This is one reason why I do not spend much time on Metro, I do not like the look, the colors, the lack of anything fun to look at. It's just plain ugly IMHO.

**alan sh** · 2012-04-13 08:15

Wonderful.

I downloaded it and installed it. Then, not really "with it", I thought "OK, How do I start it"? So, I clicked on the "Start" button to find the app - DOOHHH!!!!!!

**Drew1903** · 2012-04-13 19:10

Kinda confusing... I just get 8 figured out & now you tell me I have to use it as if it's 7, geeeesh. Is it ok if I just carry on & leave well enough alone? I have Applications folder on the Taskbar & a Power button in the System Tray, I'm happy. And Favorites are in Quick Launch, it's all good

I'm easily confused. When we went Metric, I hada harder time doing the math converting back n forth... so I just used the simpler Metric.

I don't really care, just teasing. Certainly, ppl can use Windows8 as if it's Windows7, if, they like. I will try to find out if Classic Shell will be denied in future versions of Win8; right now, I'm not sure.

Cheers,
Drew

**acbeaton** · 2012-04-14 09:43

Quote: The need for the Start Menu is very important in Windows 8.

I am with Gary T. Livingston on this one. At first sight of Windows 8 and the chaos which is the Metro interface, I predicted it would bring Microsoft to its knees and that view was reinforced after I spoke to a friend, a very experienced 'computer guru', who works on system repair and maintenance for one of the big electronics multiples in the UK, and takes the same view as Gary. I quickly learned that there were ways of restoring the Start Orb to Windows 8 and solved my problem using a free program called ViStart. I was in the market for a new monitor so I bought a touch-screen model so that I could 'benefit' from the full Win 8 experience. I have been using Win 8 CP quite seriously now for several weeks. It is dual-booted on my desktop PC with Win 7 64-bit Ultimate, which developed a problem not long after I had installed Win 8. The two events were not related. There are some things I cannot do because of the understandable lack of drivers, but Win 8 has proved an excellent replacement for most applications. Metro and touch-screen working have proved totally irrelevant - in fact a hindrance in working with a desktop PC. Microsoft would be well advised to consider very seriously whether they dare foist Metro onto what must be a huge part of their customer base - in the workplace. My Windows 7 problem is now fixed, but I continue to use Win 8 CP (in Desktop mode) for preference where I can because of its speed. Whether the speed (including speed of booting) is due to the software or just because it is a new installation and therefore lightly loaded and uncluttered with the debris of old apps I do not know, but it is OK to use.

**Drew1903** · 2012-04-14 13:07

I know I'm repeating but, there is no need to the old start button (Windows Orb) or the old start menu. There may be a desire for same but, there is no need.

'acbeaton',

The reasons for the performance boosts you're seeing is technological changes or differences under-the covers in Windows8. The BOOT is new & improved, the CPU & RAM handling are enhanced and the resource demands of Windows8 are much lower, much less than prior OSs.

Cheers,
Drew

**acbeaton** · 2012-04-15 09:33

Originally Posted by Drew1903

I know I'm repeating but, there is no need to the old start button (Windows Orb) or the old start menu. There may be a desire for same but, there is no need.

'acbeaton',

The reasons for the performance boosts you're seeing is technological changes or differences under-the covers in Windows8. The BOOT is new & improved, the CPU & RAM handling are enhanced and the resource demands of Windows8 are much lower, much less than prior OSs.

Cheers,
Drew

I accept that the old button is not essential, but equally it is useful because it is familiar - and maybe a 'comforter'

- for existing users dumbfounded by the Metro interface and I, for one, see no good reason for removing it. Reference to various Windows 8 forums shows that there are many like me. Surely MS will get the message.

Thank you, Drew, for confirming that the Windows 8 performance boost is real. The speed of startup alone is worth a bob or two.

**handcuff36** · 2012-05-09 09:31

Ted, me again, on a different mood.

My 2¢, I did not use the Start Menu much, I use still the Quick launch. Gary ought to show his paying customers that it can be set up so easily and will be better than the SM, so easy to drag an .exe to it and it shows there with the proper icon. I have 22 icons on the Taskbar, much more than SM will offer you.
You can keep the 2¢, my pleasure.

**Drew1903** · 2012-05-09 13:01

I will, also, support the terrific enhancement Quick Launch brings to the table. I have always used & greatly appreciated it. I made sure to put it (back) in Windows7 & same applies w/ Win8. This combined w/ the Rt Clk menu @ the bottom-left corner creating & having an Applications folder ( & its Jump List ) on the Taskbar & using the Desktop Toolbar makes everything very functional, pleasant, enjoyable & easy.

Cheers,
Drew

**Medico** · 2012-05-09 15:43

I use the QL bar as well as a Shortcuts Toolbar for all my apps. I installed and use the Classic Shell for a few things as well. I like the way the Control Panel, Documents and Favorites are accessed. And like others have said, it just feels comfortable. I think I will keep it. I do not use it much for apps, except for the System Tools and Administrative Tools and such. I am looking forward to Win 8 RP and feel that setting up my customizations will be a breeze. I have saved everything I need to my Data Partition so I can just bring it back when I clean install Win 8 RP.

**BATcher** · 2012-05-10 03:01

Originally Posted by Ted Myers

I have saved everything I need to my Data Partition so I can just bring it back when I clean install Win 8 RP.

That's a good strategy, especially if you are multibooting (say) XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

The operating system booted always has the C: partition, and I reassign the drive letters in each operating system boot so that the data drive is D: - it doesn't really matter what letters are given to the other two (unused at the time) operating systems, and I suppose I could just unassign them both!

**Medico** · 2012-05-10 05:41

I access the Data Partition from both Win 7 and Win 8 CP. I have copied everything from Win 8 CP to a folder on my Data Partition so that I can put it back into Win 8 RP once I clean install it. Whenever I update any data in the data partition, it is updated for either OS this way.

Since I have a laptop I am testing Win 8 on this dual boot scenario was the best solution for me to set up and leave my Win 7 OS alone. I still update and Image Win 7 but work from Win 8 CP. When I Image I include both OS's.

**Drew1903** · 2012-05-11 05:23

FWIW here's a screen shot showing Applications folder that sits on the Taskbar (instead of (default) Libraries folder) & Quick Launch. Note Desktop toolbar being used & Power button on the System Tray.

Screenshot.JPG

Cheers,
Drew

**lobo1111** · 2012-05-11 23:25

After trying classic shell and others I am just going to stay with windows 7, MSHAFT is in the metro stuff and for only there profit. What about the Windows base people who don't agree with MSHAFT. They could have made a classic desktop and a metro one and gave us a option of which one we wanted to use, but no, Forceware. No $ from me.

**Drew1903** · 2012-05-11 23:48

'lobo',

It does get tough to understand why you & others get so wound up over the Win8 Start & bash it so. I run Win8 Beta all day everyday and hardly ever see, visit, use or need that screen for anything Just briefly @ start-up as it goes through it to the Desktop or for an occasional Search)... just spend my time on the good ole Desktop. The CHOICE is already there, mate. There are many things that put Win8 above Win7, good as Win7 is but, the whole negative attitude against MS & Win8 based, solely, on what you (& others) have said about the Win8 Start screen, I'm sorry, just doesn't hold water, as the saying goes. AND this is w/out adding Classic Shell, btw.

Regards,
Drew

**Medico** · 2012-05-12 04:07

Drew, At least lobo has tried Win 8 CP and has decided it's not for him. He has that right. Win 7 is one fine OS. I might ultimately make the same decision. In another thread the bashers have not even tried testing this fine OS and are bashing it and MS badly.

If someone has installed Win 8 CP in the proper method, has customized it to their liking, has tested the various apps available and kept an open mind during those tests, then they have the right to form an opinion that this OS is not for them.

Lobo, remember however, Win 8 CP is not the final version of Win 8. I would still recommend clean installing Win 8 RP and testing it. There may be something in it that will surprise you. Who knows at this point.

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