How to: Change Windows 8 to look and feel more like Windows 7 whilst you are getting used to the new Modern UI
First up a little background to this article and why it’s needed:
Microsoft (MS) have always had a way of knowing what the PC market, and the IT industry in general, is going to do, where it’s going, and how they can make best use of the trends.
In fact, MS have started most of those trends themselves after careful analysis of the people that would be affected by the changes.
The change from Windows 3.11 for DOS to Windows 95 was thoroughly researched and tested, with appropriate amount of ‘leaks’ to the public in order to whet our appetite for the change.
The subtle but distinct changes from the 95 platform all the way up to Windows 7 were tested and seen as logical steps in the direction of being more and more user friendly.
Then something strange happened. The mobile market of smart phones and tablets exploded with almost unprecedented growth, spearheaded by the ‘old enemy’, Apple, with its iPhones and iPads.
MS reacted slowly and were thus a little late to the mobile market, stated by Mr Gates himself here http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/18/bill_gates_microsoft_phone_mistake/
The main answer to this new threat seems to have been a standardisation of the MS OS to the new Modern UI (formally known as Metro).
MUI is a paradigm shift in how you are supposed to use your PC, the only problem is that it is designed for touch screen users (the mobile and tablet markets) in preference to the aged keyboard and mouse setup that the majority of us use.
If you read any given article on the pros and cons of Windows 8 you will see that most of the issues arise from people trying to get used to the Modern UI and Windows ‘Apps’.
When I personally upgraded I struggled with the absence of a Start button and so took a long look around at the available options, if any, for getting my trusty little Start button back.
I found many answers to this question (which can be found with a simple search of these very same forums) but I am going to focus on the one that I found to be the most useful for what I wanted, and also, I have since found, for everyone I have introduced Windows 8 to.
My remit was thus:
1. I want my Start button back
2. I want to boot into Desktop mode
3. I want to be able to customise how my Start Menu looks
4. The tool has to be free
Enter Classic Shell http://www.classicshell.net/
This great little tool actually answered all 4 of my desires, but it also does a lot more too….
1. Downloading is a synch as you simply go to the link above and click on the green download button on the first page. This will take you to a Source Forge page where the download will auto start.
2. Once you have the download simply run it, agree to the license (as long as you do agree that is!) and then you will be presented with some options.
At this point your personal choice will take over. I only use the Classic Start Menu and the Classic Shell Update (You need the Classic Shell Update for some of the functions of the start menu).
The other two options change the way in which Windows Explorer and IE10 look, but personally I do not think you need to worry about those.
3. Click next and then Install, once the install program is done click Finish and you are done!
At this point you are shown a text file with some very good help and guidance in that will help you understand what you have installed and how to customise it, but I’ll take you through the setup I use and that I find has the least impact on the system, but with the most return in functionality.
4. You will have a new Start button in your taskbar now and clicking it will load the initial settings screen where you can select the style of the Start menu that suits your tastes. I chose Windows Vista/Windows 7 mode by clicking on that section of the options screen. You will be prompted with a screen asking if you want to continue. Select Yes, then Ok.
At this point you are actually done if you simply want to have a start menu that boots you directly to Desktop mode instead of the Modern UI Start Screen, as that is the default setting in Classic Shell.
You still have the option to go to the normal Modern UI Start screen by moving your mouse to the upper or lower corner of your screen and then selecting the Windows Squares icon, or simply carry on running in Desktop mode.
First up a little background to this article and why it’s needed:
Microsoft (MS) have always had a way of knowing what the PC market, and the IT industry in general, is going to do, where it’s going, and how they can make best use of the trends.
In fact, MS have started most of those trends themselves after careful analysis of the people that would be affected by the changes.
The change from Windows 3.11 for DOS to Windows 95 was thoroughly researched and tested, with appropriate amount of ‘leaks’ to the public in order to whet our appetite for the change.
The subtle but distinct changes from the 95 platform all the way up to Windows 7 were tested and seen as logical steps in the direction of being more and more user friendly.
Then something strange happened. The mobile market of smart phones and tablets exploded with almost unprecedented growth, spearheaded by the ‘old enemy’, Apple, with its iPhones and iPads.
MS reacted slowly and were thus a little late to the mobile market, stated by Mr Gates himself here http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/18/bill_gates_microsoft_phone_mistake/
The main answer to this new threat seems to have been a standardisation of the MS OS to the new Modern UI (formally known as Metro).
MUI is a paradigm shift in how you are supposed to use your PC, the only problem is that it is designed for touch screen users (the mobile and tablet markets) in preference to the aged keyboard and mouse setup that the majority of us use.
If you read any given article on the pros and cons of Windows 8 you will see that most of the issues arise from people trying to get used to the Modern UI and Windows ‘Apps’.
When I personally upgraded I struggled with the absence of a Start button and so took a long look around at the available options, if any, for getting my trusty little Start button back.
I found many answers to this question (which can be found with a simple search of these very same forums) but I am going to focus on the one that I found to be the most useful for what I wanted, and also, I have since found, for everyone I have introduced Windows 8 to.
My remit was thus:
1. I want my Start button back
2. I want to boot into Desktop mode
3. I want to be able to customise how my Start Menu looks
4. The tool has to be free
Enter Classic Shell http://www.classicshell.net/
This great little tool actually answered all 4 of my desires, but it also does a lot more too….
1. Downloading is a synch as you simply go to the link above and click on the green download button on the first page. This will take you to a Source Forge page where the download will auto start.
2. Once you have the download simply run it, agree to the license (as long as you do agree that is!) and then you will be presented with some options.
At this point your personal choice will take over. I only use the Classic Start Menu and the Classic Shell Update (You need the Classic Shell Update for some of the functions of the start menu).
The other two options change the way in which Windows Explorer and IE10 look, but personally I do not think you need to worry about those.
3. Click next and then Install, once the install program is done click Finish and you are done!
At this point you are shown a text file with some very good help and guidance in that will help you understand what you have installed and how to customise it, but I’ll take you through the setup I use and that I find has the least impact on the system, but with the most return in functionality.
4. You will have a new Start button in your taskbar now and clicking it will load the initial settings screen where you can select the style of the Start menu that suits your tastes. I chose Windows Vista/Windows 7 mode by clicking on that section of the options screen. You will be prompted with a screen asking if you want to continue. Select Yes, then Ok.
At this point you are actually done if you simply want to have a start menu that boots you directly to Desktop mode instead of the Modern UI Start Screen, as that is the default setting in Classic Shell.
You still have the option to go to the normal Modern UI Start screen by moving your mouse to the upper or lower corner of your screen and then selecting the Windows Squares icon, or simply carry on running in Desktop mode.