PhilBinner Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 My wife and I have both just got new ultra books. The PC's are great but they came with Windows 8, which we both find cumbersome and unwieldy. Talking to my friends who have Windows 8, they universally dislike it. My question is, can I turn off the new features and run it as Windows 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 You can install the free Classic shell from here.http://download.cnet.com/Classic-Shell/3000-2072_4-75553853.html Or for a small fee install Stardock Start8, from here.http://download.cnet.com/Start8/3000-2072_4-75732532.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 I personally recommend using the free ViStart application. I have installed it on almost 25 people's new/upgraded Windows 8 machines to give them back the Windows 7 usability that they much preferred. They have given 100% positive feedback :) See http://lee-soft.com/vistart/ Click on the BLACK (3rd one down) "Download" button to obtain it - NOT the 2 GREEN "Download" ones above it. !!! Beside giving you a choice of previous Start Button/Menu options, you can also configure it to automatically boot direct to the desktop, going automatically past the Metro interface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 6, 2014 Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 After using Win 8 then upgrading to 8.1, which gives you the option to boot straight to the desktop and avoid the awful metro interface, I can not see why people would want to make it look like 7.The only thing I hate is the Charms bar popping up when you do not want it, but that can be disabled as the new Start button on 8.1 when right clicked gives you the Charms bar options and a few more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilBinner Posted February 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2014 Thanks to all. The third option seems to be what I want, though option 2 is worth a look if that fails. I'd rather not put a shell on the operating system, however. I have upgraded to 8.1 already. How do I get the option to boot straight to the desktop, and how do I turn off the charms menu. Actually, the thing I would most like is to get control of programs like Skype again, rather than having them turned into apps and having my personal data pilfered by Microsoft. Since upgrading to 8.1 I have been unable to prevent Windows changing my Local User Account into a Microsoft Account user every time I go into Skype, or anything from the App Store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilBinner Posted February 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Actually, looking into this a bit further I'm not sure that booting straight into the desktop will help. It doesn't bother me to have to click on the bottom left panel of the start menu to get to the desktop. It does bother me, however, that: 8.1 converted my Local User Account into a Microsoft User Account - where I have to conform to their rules on password structure, etc.,the familiar Skype "program", I can still use in Windows 7 has been turned into an "app" with all the intelectual prowess of a dung beetle.even if I go through all the effort of setting up a local account again,the first time I need to use something which Microsoft has now deemed to be an app, rather than a program, it will force me to enter my Microsoft Account details and change it back again. Sorry, this is starting to sound like a rant. My biggest problem seems to be that even though 8.1 says I can continue to communicate directly with programs like Skype directly, I have not succeeded in doing it. Perhaps there is a way. If so I would appreciate help in setting it up. What I would really like to do would be to get rid of Windows 8 altogether, and reload Windows 7, which I liked very much. Unfortunately I'm not sure what that would do to the warranty on our 2 new ultra-books, however, and since one of them is touch screen I'm not sure how 7 would cope. Whoever invented the concept of an App as a mentally challenged Program should be condemned to spend the rest of eternity fiddling with his phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belatucadrus Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 Whoever invented the concept of an App as a mentally challenged Program should be condemned to spend the rest of eternity fiddling with his phone. Probably the sort of person who would see that as a reward. Sorry I can't offer more constructive help but in common with many members of this forum I took one look at W8 and ran for the hills screaming. I'm currently trying out Linux distros and may well invest in a W7 disk just in case. As to the warranty I suspect that unless the Ultra book manufacturers carried out the installation they'd void any warranty that wasn't hardware specific, best to get in touch direct and ask them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted February 7, 2014 Report Share Posted February 7, 2014 This may help with Skype. http://www.techofy.org/2013/12/Use-Skype-in-Desktop-mode-in-Windows-8.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 When installing Windows 8.1 you can ignore the page which asks for your Microsoft account details. You then get asked if you wish to retain your existing accounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilBinner Posted February 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2014 I have been trying out Linux for several years now and have never fully taken the plunge. Linux is leaner and fitter than Windows, and because of this it runs well on less powerful machines. I've never had it on a front line machine, but I suspect that within own streangths it would be awsome. The problem you may find with Linux distros is that the help you will probably be offered will concentrate on working from the terminal. The terminal is very powerful, but if you would rather use the GUI, like 99.99% of the rest of us, it will make your life difficult. Also, because of this it frightens off almost everyone and the user base is too small to tempt manufacturers to invest in the best software. Hardware drivers are often unavailable, and most software is less developed than it's windows counterpart. They do boast hundreds of thousands of programmes, but the majority of them are hobby developments which you will probably not want. But it is not so bad. My favourite distro is Linux Mint on a KDE desktop. Having installed this go to the software manager and install Cairo Dock. What you get is something that runs way faster and smoother than Windows and looks a bit like a MAC. Also, when you go on the Linux Mint forum and ask for help you can specifically ask for GUI support, with a reasonable chance of getting it. The most popular Linux distro is Ubuntu, which is what I have used most, but I would recommend against it. I have mostly left it because it's Unity desktop is sort of moving in the same direction as Windows 8, but conversely all the support you will be offered (and to be fair there will be lots of it) will concentrate on the terminal. If you mention anything inappropriate about the holy terminal the reaction will be swift and terrible. But best of luck. I am longing for the day when sufficient people will use systems other than Windows so that Microsoft will need to take more care when inflicting things like Windows 8 on us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilBinner Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 One last post, and then I'll mark this as solved. I followed advice from Boris and Alan 2273 above, and loaded ViStart and the program version of Skype, and I think I will now be able to log on to a private account and avoid even looking at the revolting Metro interface, except while I'm witing for ViStart to load. One further problem I think I may have is with Adobe functions such as viewing .pdf's, but I expect I'll be able to find a similar solution to Skype, i.e. uninstall the app and install a suitable program. If I have a problem I'll come back here. Thanks to all, particularly Boris and Alan. Long live the revolution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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