Win8 StartButton - Yet another way to restore the Start button in Windows 8

[DKT27]

Windows 7, I presume? No, Windows 8 running Win8 StartButton.

I'm trying to like Windows 8, really I am, but two aspects feel like a slap in the face: Forcing me to boot into the Start screen when Desktop mode is what I'd prefer, and the lack of a Start button in said mode.

Win8 StartButton is the latest utility that aims to right what's wrong with the new OS. Not only does it provide a "classic" Start button, it also gives you the option of making the desktop your default boot destination. Huzzah!

Right from the get-go, Win8 StartButton displays a Windows 7-style Start button and Start menu. You can venture into the settings to tweak everything from the look (Windows XP, anyone?) to the layout, but I suspect most users will be quite happy with the defaults.

During installation, make sure to choose the Custom option, otherwise you could end up with unwanted junkware: Torch Browser 2.0 and Media Player Classic.

It's worth noting that Win8 StartButton looks to be a slightly tweaked version of Classic Shell, the open-source Start solution I mentioned last week.

If you want something that's little more in keeping with Windows 8's app-centric philosophy, check out Pokki. It supplies a Start, er, acorn, plus a pretty robust app store.

Have you found a Start-button alternative you like better? Tell me about it in the comments!

View: Original Article

[0veR]

Crap :P

[DKT27]

Crap :P

Still a better Start Menu than Metro? :P

[0veR]

Crap :P

Still a better Start Menu than Metro? :P

No, in some way i like Metro Start but that shit just looks tereble!

:D

[digimon]

points to what it calls itself in control panal under uninstall

[Miroglu]

Thanks for the share

[calguyhunk]

I'm in love with win8 (without the ridiculous bandwidth usurping live tiles, duh! :spank: ) :wub: Love the speed, love the improved search, love the improved copying speeds (without any 3rd party copiers), more functional explorer (always knew that I'll love the Office like ribbon with myriad functionality) and apparently (according to some reports) it also doesn't need de-fragmenting as often as previous versions of Windows. :D And this may be sacrilege, but IE10 on Win8 must be the fastest browser ever! Even FF is noticeably faster even with a whole bunch of add-ons installed :dance:

If Win7was what Vista should have been, this is what Win7 should have been in the first place. :yes: The way I've configured it, non-techies wouldn't even notice that it ain't W7 unless you look at the whole boot screen (Oh! and did I mention the insanely fast boot-up takes 'bout 20-25 seconds? Granted not many programs installed as yet, but still don't remember W7 ever been that fast :nono:

Disabled hot corners, kept the charm bar enabled, and just boot into desktop with the Win7 explorer (with start-is-back). Got Aero etc. back. There's not much not to like. Just feels like a "New & Improved" (read - faster and more efficient) version of Win7 :thumbsup: Just wish we had Aero Glass though (transparency). :(

Just the one gripe though - for some silly reason I dunno why, the boot files keep getting erased every time I put my PC into sleep on Win8 :o and every time I restart (cold boot), it boots back directly into W8 without giving me the option of booting into my Win7 installation (Triple booting with W7 and Quental Quatzal) :(

I have to keep re-setting the options with EasyBCD, but works only intermittently. Even tried repairing the boot files, but apart from getting the intended job done, as a bonus, it also got my W7 (Daz's work :P ) de-activated, and had to be re-activated. Really annoying :mad2:

[DKT27]

Just the one gripe though - for some silly reason I dunno why, the boot files keep getting erased every time I put my PC into sleep on Win8 :o and every time I restart (cold boot), it boots back directly into W8 without giving me the option of booting into my Win7 installation (Triple booting with W7 and Quental Quatzal) :(

No thumbs for metro? :)

Either way, I think it's a known problem. I believe there's a single tut posted all over the internet to do multiboot with Windows 8 easily.

[calguyhunk]

No thumbs for metro? :)

Ha! Full screen apps that doesn't even allow me to manipulate the installation files etc. is a strict no-go for me. The first thing I did was disable the live tiles and change file associations for photos, music, videos etc. :)

Either way, I think it's a known problem. I believe there's a single tut posted all over the internet to do multiboot with Windows 8 easily.

Gonna check on that. Also as to whether one can re-install the 'Modern UI' apps once uninstalled. If so, I'll get rid of them right now. Don't wanna do anything permanent even though I know that I'll prolly never miss any of those God forsaken things :chair:

TBH, I've kinda' had my hands full over the weekend researching firstly about activation methods of Win8 and Office 2013. Then about backups and WMC upgrades (not so much for the bloated over-hyped media player, but for the permanent activation that comes with it :clap: )

Then of course so much of my energy was spent researching about DTH subscriptions because of the impending switch-over and that has taken up a lot of time and I'm not done yet :angry:

[DKT27]

I see. Is there still an desktop software called Windows Photo Viewer?

So that's why WMC is getting so much attention.

As for DHT, the Bombay HC refused to extend the deadline. I have two TVs in my 1BHK home, both of them being used regularly. But the cable operator refuses to give the second STB due to shortage. So I'm living with just one TV for 5 days now, that, STB installed on my tyrant sister's TV. The good thing is, we are yet to get plan based channels. If you come to know, please let me know how much the HD channels will cost per channel.

[mara-]

I had to laugh DKT. My connection can barely handle one STB and my internet connection, and you can't live with just one. :lol:

Cheers ;)

[DKT27]

I had to laugh DKT. My connection can barely handle one STB and my internet connection, and you can't live with just one. :lol:

Cheers ;)

Well, I use ADSL internet connection. But that's news to me, I didn't think that having internet on cable might saturate the bandwidth. Thanks for the info, due to my bad internet stability, I was considering switching to cable internet, but looks like I'll have to reconsider. Also, no second set top box for me unless I get a proper cable splitter installed.

[mara-]

I can't tell about cable, probably it's the same case. I also have ADSL, and digital TV uses same phone line, so yes, it's saturated.

Cheers ;)

[DKT27]

I can't tell about cable, probably it's the same case. I also have ADSL, and digital TV uses same phone line, so yes, it's saturated.

Cheers ;)

Ah, so that's the reason. My TV is on coaxial cable, not related or connected to ADSL/phone line.

Excluding the internet, it seems coaxial cables can handle a lot of connections, considering how one single line is splitted through out the building here (as far as I know).

[calguyhunk]

I see. Is there still an desktop software called Windows Photo Viewer?

LOL! Yes. And that has always been my default photo viewer all these years :)

So that's why WMC is getting so much attention.

:yes: Legit WMC license from microsoft.com

Legit key from MS activates Win 8 Pro permanently from their own servers LOL! A way for MS to sell more W8 lappys etc. most of which come with just the W8 Pro license and not the WMC one ;)

Of course, you'll have to get a 180 day activation first :D

Server List - Site: http://paste2.org

Sharecode: /p/2410726 ^[?]

Note: Some have reported success with the 'Upgrade key' even with a fresh/new activation. Cannot confirm the veracity of those claims. Seems a tad incredulous to me :o

As for DHT, the Bombay HC refused to extend the deadline.

Thanks to Miss Mamata Bannerjee, we're still on analogue :P

If you come to know, please let me know how much the HD channels will cost per channel.

To start off, prices will be pretty high I assume. DTH operators charge Rs. 50 plus apparently. It's still mostly ambiguous. And most of the 'HD' channels are actually only 720p/i or 1080i. Maybe I've missed it, but nobody explicitly mentions 1080p. You'd think if they were carrying those, they'll have mentioned it in big bold fonts rather than hiding behind brain-dead marketing catch phrases like 'asli HD'! :wtf:

To the best of my knowledge, they don't have enough transponders on the satellites. Each satellite only carries a few transponders and each transponder can only carry 'bout 12 SD channels. The number reduces drastically with 720p channels for obvious reasons and even more so with 1080p ones :( We just don't send enough satellites up in the orbit unlike the US, Japan or even China. Blame ISRO :P

As for the cable operators, they are not even offering HD boxes in our area. So I've no idea what their plans are and/or as to how that's gonna go :dunno: They're Charging anything between the mandated 799/- to 15/1600 bucks for a regular SD box without recording. You get better value with DTH IMO especially with multiple connections ;)

We're planning a joint connection with my uncle - the second connection costs only 160/- (including taxes). So the total will come to around ~550-600 for the highest priced pack with all premium sports and movie channels like ESPN, Start Sports, Star Movies, HBO etc. :D

I had to laugh DKT. My connection can barely handle one STB and my internet connection, and you can't live with just one. :lol:

Cheers ;)

Well, I use ADSL internet connection. But that's news to me, I didn't think that having internet on cable might saturate the bandwidth. Thanks for the info, due to my bad internet stability, I was considering switching to cable internet, but looks like I'll have to reconsider. Also, no second set top box for me unless I get a proper cable splitter installed.

That tends to happen for a lot of HD channels on Cu. Especially the further away you go from the place of origin. Boosters/amplifiers etc. can only do so much. The lossage is huge on Cu. There's no bandwidth throttling on Fiber. Unless you get a Verizon FiOS or Google Fiber like service in your area, it's better to stick to DSL Broadband (with Phone) and Cable TV separately unless you're OK with analogue cable and 256 kbps broadband ;)