Microsoft Blocking Third Parties from Reviving Start Button
Removing hack that would bring back the Start button.
Microsoft is busy preparing for the launch of a brand new version of Windows, but the company is also said to be 'working furiously' to remove code that would allow developers to make Windows 8 more like an older version of the Windows operating system. According to Paul Thurrott over at WinSuperSite, Microsoft has been "furiously ripping out" legacy code in Windows 8 in order to prevent people from reintroducing the start button or other nifty little features that would make the OS feel a bit more like Windows 7.
The remark was made in a recent article about Microsoft ignoring businesses with Windows 8 and creating a UI that catered more to the consumer. Thurrott said he had heard Microsoft was removing code to prevent well-known UI hacks that worked with Consumer Preview from working with the Release Preview of Windows 8. But that's not all. Apparently Microsoft is also removing the ability for businesses to boot to the desktop.
"And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment," he added. "That feature not only isn't happening, it's being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8's stable mate) as well."
Microsoft has faced an increasing amount of criticism over Windows 8's Metro UI and its place on the desktop PC. While most seem to agree Metro is perfect for tablet devices running Windows 8, many can't make peace with the idea of touchscreen desktop computers.
Follow @JaneMcEntegart on Twitter.
Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware Newsletter
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
-
eddieroolz This is potentially very bad. It's one thing to remove legacy code from consumer versions, but businesses are resistant to change...heck, I was still using XP 32bit until just 2 days ago. Removing the ability to boot to desktop, as well as stripping start menu could be devastating for a production environment.Reply
I can see Microsoft branching the business/enterprise versions of Windows into its own line in the future if this is the trend. -
bourgeoisdude Okay, this does not make sense to me. I get that MS wants to do everything they can to emphasize metro UI--the app store being the primary reason. But why prevent others from making this possible? Do they realize that at this point in the development cycle it can't do anything but turn more people off to Windows 8? Horrific timing on their part. If this was the plan all along they should have done this way back at the developer preview version.Reply -
wolfram23 While I can't see the point in all this, I guess I have to give MS credit for taking a risk and really rolling with it.Reply -
fightingslu So Windows Server 12 will use Metro? As if being a low tier network admin didn't already suckReply