RetroUI boots to desktop in Windows 8 – blocks Metro

06 Sep 12 12:22 by in category Software

If you have been following the news on Windows 8 then you’ve probably also read about the criticism a about directly booting into the Metro GUI. This is different from previous Windows versions, where you booted into the desktop with its start menu.

The loss of the start menu has been an issue for many, but many alternatives (like the open-source application Power8) have appeared on the internet. An application that gives you the ability to directly boot to the desktop automatically wasn’t around yet, but now the developers of Thinix have created RetroUI, which lets you do just that.

It is possible to go manually directly to the classic desktop. Instructions appeared on the internet, by putting the desktop tile on the upper left of the Metro screen and holding enter during login the user went directly to the desktop.RetroUI now makes his an automated process.

If you also want to disable more Windows 8 functionality, then the application is able to eliminate/lock-out all Metro UI features such as the Charms Bar, Hot Corners, and Metro Switcher. The software is $4.95 and a fully working 7 day trial  can be downloaded here.

11 Comments on RetroUI boots to desktop in Windows 8 – blocks Metro

blegs38552
Posts: 104
Posted on: 06 Sep 12 14:28
To me, anyone who will do this should stay with Windows 7.
Zzyzxroad
Posts: 269
Posted on: 07 Sep 12 13:08
Quote:
Originally Posted by blegs38552 View Post
To me, anyone who will do this should stay with Windows 7.
Actually that would be the opposite. Anyone who will do this would want to STAY with windows 8.
blegs38552
Posts: 104
Posted on: 07 Sep 12 14:59
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zzyzxroad View Post
Actually that would be the opposite. Anyone who will do this would want to STAY with windows 8.
Why bother in that case?
MJPollard
Posts: 51
Posted on: 07 Sep 12 16:00
Quote:
Originally Posted by blegs38552 View Post
To me, anyone who will do this should stay with Windows 7.
Good idea, because unlike some people, we're not in a masturbatory frenzy over Windows 8. Excellent suggestion!
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 07 Sep 12 16:57
I thought all the uproar with Windows 8 was the lack of a start menu on the desktop. This doesn't appear to have a start menu either, so the only thing it does is eliminate one mouse click to get from the Windows-Start-Screen-Formerly-Known-As-Metro to the desktop. Just hold the enter key down when logging on to Windows 8, to accomplish the same thing. Or use a 3rd-party solution like Classic Shell (there are many others, but this is the one I use and have become familiar with), which not only can boot directly to the desktop, but it has a very nice, customizable start menu.
Zzyzxroad
Posts: 269
Posted on: 07 Sep 12 23:05
I agree with BradWright. Classic shell works great. Also the fact that it takes one click to get to the desktop. The Metro ui is basically he start menu and as soon as you click any program, this interface goes to the background for good.

I don't understand the complaining about the metro ui and the guys, not only replying to this topic, but many others. Have none of you EVER used a tweak program to make your XP or win7 run differently?? Would you really not install this OS just because you have to click once to get your desktop? Are you people really that lazy?

Funny that the same people bitching about the situation are the same ones checking out these topics daily. If Microsoft products suck so bad, buy a mac and join a mac-only forum.

The metroui/start menu was the least of my problems. I actually cant get many drivers to work, and some of my programs don't work in windows 8. Oh well.
BradWright
Posts: 225
Posted on: 08 Sep 12 00:29
Thanks, Zzyzxroad. I haven't had any driver problems with Windows 8, and only had one program that I absolutely couldn't get to work (a partition manager). When programs wouldn't install due to compatability problems, I'd right click on the install/setup executable, select check compatibility, and then in the new window that opens, click on test program. In every case (except one), the program installed and ran fine in either Windows XP SP3 mode (mostly) or Windows 7 mode. I'm using Windows 8 RTM about 75% of the time now, and the only part that I just haven't been able to get my arms around is the Metro version of Internet Explorer 10.
debro
Posts: 13326
Posted on: 08 Sep 12 14:17
Quote:
Originally Posted by blegs38552 View Post
Why bother in that case?
Because the windows 8 OS is good (enough?), and just the crappy metro interface enforcement is bad.

Windows 8 has a boatload of tweaked improvements over windows 7. Especially if you own a recent AMD cpu.

The other problem with windows 8 is the uefi bios locking. This won't bother most people anyway, as dual-os people are in the minority. The number of people I personally know that know linux exists, let alone have ever installed an alternate OS, to windows@mac, could be counted on a blind butchers fingers.
Zzyzxroad
Posts: 269
Posted on: 08 Sep 12 15:14
[QUOTE=BradWright;2653740]When programs wouldn't install due to compatability problems, I'd right click on the install/setup executable, select check compatibility, and then in the new window that opens, click on test program. In every case (except one [QUOTE]


Did that, but my dang Corel PSP wont work.

Drivers for my printer are installed by default, but I have basic settings. I cannot install the Epson software to print photos.

Any of my Mobo software tells me its the wrong version of windows.
Dee
Posts: 12804
Posted on: 08 Sep 12 15:32
I have Corel PSP running here. In addition to Brad's method, I had to install with admin privileges
Zzyzxroad
Posts: 269
Posted on: 09 Sep 12 18:59
it's still a no-go for me. I have a problem with mfc90u.dll

Guess its time to use MS Paint...hahahaha
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RetroUI boots to desktop in Windows 8 – blocks Metro

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