BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

Thanks! I was not aware that this was all here. My bad.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

Scotch tape?

Caysnowman Loc: MN & SC

Thanks for sharing your knowledge so freely and making it so readily available.

Bill

Caysnowman Loc: MN & SC

Thanks for sharing your knowledge so freely and making it so readily available.

Bill

jepisa

great work searcher, it will help me and i need all the help i can get

Kuzano

Searcher...

It's so easy to make your new laptop look and run just like windows 7 but faster and more stable.

Set up properly, you won't even know it's Windows 8.

I teach computer classes and everyone I have provided this solution to has been quite happy with Windows 8.1. In fact, Windows 8.1 is a better operating system than we have had before, including XP. Bold statement?

Prove It?

Download and install the free aftermarket program Classic Shell.

This is the parent/proper link for the download. safe.

http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/

This is the publisher site for Classic Shell. With all the trouble with free downloading these days, always download from the actual publisher sites... never from the mass of sites who only do downloading of other's software.

Install by double clicking on the downloaded file version 4.1.0 English (if not changed by the time you do this).

Then go into the setup of the Classic Shell and tell the system to bypass the Windows Start screen and go directly to the Desktop. In this process you will pick a style of the old start menu, in classic, XP, or Win7.

Once you do this, you never have to see Windows 8, the App Store, or the cloud storage again.

I have four computers for my business of computer consulting. Two are Windows 7 and two are Windows 8. In operation, I cannot tell the difference. I avoid Windows 8 operations and will likely do the same with Windows 9 next year.

There are a half dozen of these third party addons to replace the Desktop Start Menu. I prefer Classic Shell as it is free, and works flawlessly once it is set up right.

I have a class handout for the setup of Classic Shell and would email it to you if you PM me. It is step by step from the download.

Learn to love Windows 8. Only see 8 features if you choose to go there.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I have PM'd Kuzano with my thanks, this may bring peace and harmony once again to my household.

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

This is a fabulous resource Searcher. Thank you and all of those who contributed, and continue to add value. Very much appreciated.

Bkh42 Loc: N.I. UK

I have windows 8 and it is a "pain"

Brenda :-( :?:

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Think of Windows 8 like when you graduated from a P&S to a SLR....It seemed foreign and daunting. However, once you got past the learning curve, you discovered the value. Regardless of all the hype you hear, WIN 8 is a very robust and useful OS. Most of its detractors are people who have not taken the time to learn how to navigate and have just dismissed it out of hand after the first time they got lost. Give it a chance and you will find that it has all the features of WIN7 and a lot more...

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

No it is not daunting, it is but a poor imitation of another company's interface. The Win 8 engine may be fine, screens are designed for touch, using a keyboard is a compromise. I was at my local computer store a few days ago, they specialise in kitting out companies with computer systems. Their largest ever order, about a month ago, was only placed when Win7 was guaranteed as the operating system.

A friend at PC World has told me that PC sales are down, Mac sales are above average. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft sales are on target this year. Do they publish undoctored figures?