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How to disable the start screen on Windows 8 Release Preview?

The company I work for primarily runs Windows XP machine. These machines are getting old and need to be replaced. I wanted to wait until Windows 8 was released since it is right around the corner. So, I have downloaded Windows 8 to test run and figure out the problems I am going to have with my users, programs, goup policy, and etc.

After installing I noticed pretty much everything has changed and I was a bit lost for awhile. In my opinion the Metro interface sucks and is definitely going to frustrate my users. If they are not comfortable using it they are going to be bugging me frequently. Not to mention it is going to cause numerous amendments to our group policy.

Overall I think it could be time consuming to support. So, I was wondering if there was a way to disable the Metro interface and show a traditional start button on the desktop. I would like to do this without a hack if at all possible.

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marked as duplicate by Moab, nhinkle Jun 6 '12 at 5:09


I found your answer at this StackOverflow question. Not sure as to why it was asked and answer there but I think it more of SuperUser question than SO. –  SgtOJ Jun 5 '12 at 23:03
Yeah, just looking for a different perspective. –  Linger Jun 5 '12 at 23:13

1 Answer 1

up vote 9 down vote accepted

I apologize if this is blunt, but what you are suggesting is a terrible idea. Please consider the following points.

  1. Brand new operating systems are not really a good idea, especially ones that don't appear to be built for business.

  2. Going from XP directly to 8 is going to confuse all of your users just as it made you a little lost.

  3. No, so far as I know, there is no way to do a classic feel. There is no more start menu in the traditional sense.

  4. If you are moving from XP to any windows system, please make it Windows 7. Do your users, and yourself a favor and avoid Windows 8 until it is proven.

Newer is not always better.

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In time all of your users will come to know Microsoft's new approach. I would suggest waiting until that time before making the harsh upgrade. Windows 7 is a much better OS than windows XP. If you are itching for an upgrade, I'd agree that this is the way to start. –  farina Jun 5 '12 at 23:10
I agree with you newer is not always better that is why I was trying it out for myself before I throw it at my users. We run a lot of specialized programs and many of them won't even run on Windows 7 without being in XP Mode. Even then some of the functionality is lost. I will have to upgrade eventually though since Windows XP EOL is right around the corner. –  Linger Jun 5 '12 at 23:11
Ideally I would like to through them all on Ubuntu. But they would definitely rebel. –  Linger Jun 5 '12 at 23:17
@Linger - XP EOL is around the corner, but it'll still be usable if need be. Please dont subject your users to Windows 8 yet. And man oh man, if they arent linux people, definitely do not subject them to linux. Everyone will be completely lost. –  francisswest Jun 5 '12 at 23:21
You might be better off waiting until Windows 8 is released, purchasing Windows 8 licenses, then exercising your windows downgrade rights to install Windows 7. Let the users get accustomed to Windows 7, and then once Windows 8 matures a bit more, eventually work on transitioning to 8. –  nhinkle Jun 6 '12 at 5:10
