Startisback

[John Connor]

I was looking into Startisback for Windows 8 and was wondering if it removes Metro? I mean do you get regular Windows again? I plan on installing 8 in a VM to mess around with.

 

[Ketchup]

Restored Desktop to its place With StartIsBack, computer starts to desktop. Always. Unlike other tools, which 'skip' Metro by sending keypresses, StartIsBack loads Metro alternative way and keeps it in its place.

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/158666-start-is-back-21-release/

 

[John Connor]

I was reading the comments and one user said, "finally a metro killer." That's all I need to know.

 

[Berryracer]

StartIsBack is my favorite Start Menu alternative as it doesn't have a limit on how many times you will re-activate it on the same PC. It checks your Computer Name / Specs and allows you to reinstall/activate it as many times as you want until with Start8 which black lists your key after a few activations. Not good for someone like me who reinstalls his OS a lot for testing new apps/drivers

Also, it doesn't have any issues such as explorer.exe freezing when you sometimes right click on a file like Start8 does

It has the best interface and very easy to use

Pretty cheap if you ask me for $2 USD or $3 USD for a 5 PC license

 

[MontyAC]

I use Start8 on one system and Classic Shell on the other two.

 

[Matt1970]

I use windows 7 on mine

 

[Berryracer]

I use windows 7 on mine

Ditto! nothing comes close to the real deal~~~ Windows 7 FTW ~~ A REAL OS not some touch screen toy being enforced to use with laptops and desktops

 

[Mem]

Ditto! nothing comes close to the real deal~~~ Windows 7 FTW ~~ A REAL OS not some touch screen toy being enforced to use with laptops and desktops

Real men use Linux ,Windows has nothing on Linux apart from gaming.


I should point out on Win8.1 you can boot straight to the old desktop UI.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was reading the comments and one user said, "finally a metro killer." That's all I need to know.

It doesn't "kill" metro. If for some reason (which I can't think of) you want to go into the metro screen it's still there. You don't have to though, and it does a good job of hiding it and everything else win8 (removes charms bar, adds start button and classic start menu, etc).

 

[Bonesdad]

Real men use Linux ,Windows has nothing on Linux apart from gaming.


I should point out on Win8.1 you can boot straight to the old desktop UI.

wow, only 8 posts to get to the answer....

 

[John Connor]

So Windows 8.1 has the regular GUI that I'm use to? I need to know this because my uncle got a brand new laptop and has sucky Win 8 and he can't use it.

 

[WelshBloke]

So Windows 8.1 has the regular GUI that I'm use to? I need to know this because my uncle got a brand new laptop and has sucky Win 8 and he can't use it.

Nope.

No start menu and no start button.

 

[John Connor]

So Mem was wrong.

 

[Mem]

So Mem was wrong.

I said or meant Win8.1 allows you to boot to the old desktop UI that is very similar to what Win8 has,it does not have the same Win7 UI desktop wise if that is what you are asking.


More info here http://www.extremetech.com/computin...-finally-safe-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-folks (slow website loading wise).


You have options like this on Win8.1,

The Win7 start button menu is not coming back even on Win8.1,the button on Win8.1 in left corner takes you to Metro.

 

[WelshBloke]

So Mem was wrong.

I said or meant Win8.1 allows you to boot to the old desktop UI that is very similar to what Win8 has,it does not have the same Win7 UI desktop wise if that is what you are asking.


More info here http://www.extremetech.com/computin...-finally-safe-to-upgrade-from-windows-7-folks (slow website loading wise).

Yeah Win 8.1 boots to the desktop but it doesn't have the classic start menu that Win7 users (and befor) are used to. Its a really minor change and isnt going to satisfy users that were unhappy with metro in the first place.

 

[CRCSUX]

Yeah Win 8.1 boots to the desktop but it doesn't have the classic start menu that Win7 users (and befor) are used to. Its a really minor change and isnt going to satisfy users that were unhappy with metro in the first place.

If it bypasses metro how will users unhappy with metro still be unhappy?

 

[ControlD]

If it bypasses metro how will users unhappy with metro still be unhappy?

Because Metro will still be your start menu replacement. People firmly in the "I hate Windows 8" camp are going to be unhappy until MS simply puts the Windows 7 interface back and removes Metro completely.

 

[Ketchup]

,,,, People firmly in the "I hate Windows 8" camp are going to be unhappy until MS simply puts the Windows 7 interface back and removes Metro completely.

Or offers both? GASP! what a concept!

 

[ControlD]

Or offers both? GASP! what a concept!

I don't disagree with you. Despite me not really having any major issues with Win8, in all honesty I would just as soon see MS abandon the modern interface. Hell they can just blame it all on Ballmer if they want an easy exit strategy. It seems like a huge waste of resources however to actively develop two distinctly different interfaces for one operating system so for now I can see why MS is focusing mainly on one. Whether they are focusing on the right one is the $64,000 question.

 

[WelshBloke]

If it bypasses metro how will users unhappy with metro still be unhappy?

Theres still the issue of the missing start menu and the rest.

I don't disagree with you. Despite me not really having any major issues with Win8, in all honesty I would just as soon see MS abandon the modern interface. Hell they can just blame it all on Ballmer if they want an easy exit strategy. It seems like a huge waste of resources however to actively develop two distinctly different interfaces for one operating system so for now I can see why MS is focusing mainly on one. Whether they are focusing on the right one is the $64,000 question.

They have always had two UIs, the desktop one and the metro one. The problem (for microsoft) is that they work horribly together. No one is going to want a PC without a traditional desktop so they have to keep that, Microsoft want to keep the metro UI so they have to keep that. What they need to do is either make them play nicely together or make them both work fully on their own.

 

[jhansman]

Amazing how addicted to to the Start menu we've become. I rented a 1013 Nissan Altima last week and (gasp!) it didn't use a key to start the car (I had to push a button while my foot was on the brake pedal!). Took me a few days to adjust, but I managed it. I also managed to figure out how to join my phone to the BT system, work the lights and wipers, and adjust the interior lighting. Going back to my 2001 Accord seemed, well, archaic.

 

[WelshBloke]

Amazing how addicted to to the Start menu we've become...

Its not so much addicted, its just a neat, efficient way of doing things that suits a lot of people.

 

[Mem]

Its not so much addicted, its just a neat, efficient way of doing things that suits a lot of people.

It's in a way addiction,you have to remember doing something same way for like nearly two decades then ask them to change to something new is not easy for a lot of people,personally took me only two weeks to change and that's without a start button mod and probably four weeks to learn Win8 and all its little secrets,Metro I use like any tool in the OS ie use it when I need too.

Also for some users to change they must accept Metro and as you know that's the problem for some ,it's like trying to handicap yourself on using the OS in front of you,personally I use all tools on the OS regardless of love or hate because why make things hard for yourself,in the end it pays off.

I do like some things better in Metro then the old start button(which does have some short comings) from Win95 to Win7.

I hope the old start button menu stays buried,rather have Microsoft come up with something new,fact is the old start button menu(Win95 to Win7) is poor choice for tablets and touch devices hence Metro,hybrid OS will always have to make a balance between desktop and new hardware like touch devices etc and that's the direction Microsoft want to go.

 

[ElFenix]

Amazing how addicted to to the Start menu we've become. I rented a 1013 Nissan Altima last week and (gasp!) it didn't use a key to start the car (I had to push a button while my foot was on the brake pedal!). Took me a few days to adjust, but I managed it. I also managed to figure out how to join my phone to the BT system, work the lights and wipers, and adjust the interior lighting. Going back to my 2001 Accord seemed, well, archaic.

it's not just that we're used to the start menu, it's that MS made these radical changes in the UI without any explanation as to how to work it. "hey were going to change how you've done everything for the last 20 years and not even give you a first time boot walkthrough as to how this stuff works, just a hint to put your mouse on the edge somewhere"

i'd imagine it's about the same level of jarring change as going from a model T to a cadillac 53. sure, there's still a steering wheel and some pedals and levers, but everything other than the steering wheel works differently.

that said, my pensioner father learned windows 8 and was fine with it within 2 or 3 days.

 

[Mem]

it's not just that we're used to the start menu, it's that MS made these radical changes in the UI without any explanation as to how to work it. "hey were going to change how you've done everything for the last 20 years and not even give you a first time boot walkthrough as to how this stuff works, just a hint to put your mouse on the edge somewhere"

i'd imagine it's about the same level of jarring change as going from a model T to a cadillac 53. sure, there's still a steering wheel and some pedals and levers, but everything other than the steering wheel works differently.

that said, my pensioner father learned windows 8 and was fine with it within 2 or 3 days.

That's the point anybody can learn Win8 or any Windows down the road and use it well if they are willing,but some people can be stubborn for example refuse to use Metro or change some habbits.