So you have bought a new PC with Windows 8, upgraded an existing computer to Microsoft's new operating system, or are already playing around with the Windows 8 RTM on a test system. First time users definitely need some time getting used to the new interface and menus that Microsoft has implemented into the operating system. From the oh-so obvious startpage the operating system boots to, to the missing start menu and the new Charms Bar.
First question that may come up after playing around on the startpage for a bit is how you can switch from it to the traditional desktop of the operating system. There are several options how you can achieve that, and this guide looks at several of them. Lets get started..
That's all the - manual - options that I know about. You can naturally install a program like Start8 or Classic Shell to automatically bypass the startpage on system start to be taken directly to the desktop of the Windows 8 operating system.
Is there another option that I have missed? Feel free to post it in the comments so that I can add it to the list of available options to switch from the startpage to the desktop in Windows 8.
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Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.
Don’t forget Win-D, which takes you directly to the desktop. You could also do Win-E to open Explorer.
Ah you are right, how could I forget those shortcuts ;)
Great and thanks for posting. I will add those to the article right away.
How to make your newly bought autistic OS usable.
Personally, I would recommend Classic Shell. It does everything you want and is regularly updated. It’s been around since the Windows 7 days and free, open source.
I found that i don’t need to go to the desktop this way ,windows+E is enough; and what i really love , press windows key and then type the first letters of the needed app,enter,done. ( instead of win+C ,click search and so on)
What about users who don’t have a Windows key on the keyboard (Like my Thinkpad) ?
ctrl+esc ( …and i am an officially mactard)
btw,your thinkpad is way better than my elitebook pro mega hyper super luxury edition:)
Can’t wait for Windows 8.
Windows 7 was a huge improvement over the previous versions. I can’t see how Microsoft can pull off the same level of wow as we saw with XP -> 7
Or do like Vista: upgrade to a prior version.
Thank you for jogging my memory on one point; I couldn’t toggle using the Windows key upon startup, and I thought there was a problem. I just put a desktop tile on my start page. I hear 8.1 has resolved it all. Has anyone downloaded it yet?