- Joined
- Nov 1, 1998
-
Welcome to Overclockers Forums! Join us to reply in threads, receive reduced ads, and to customize your site experience!
FRONTPAGE Windows 8 Interface Problem Solved: Make Windows 8 Look Like Windows 7
- Thread starter Overclockers.com
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
The following buttons have been posted on the Classic Shell forum:
http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=18
http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=18
Attachments
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
Wow, nice, this could've been part of my paper on Windows 8 lol
I have to admit with all of the griping ive done, ClassicShell does, in practice, eliminate many of the concerns. Yet the philosophy behind it is what angers me the most, things like SkyDrive (and the Cloud in general) and having apps on a fully featured desktop system where they really aren't necessary (as apps are generally gutted programs so they can run on less powerful hardware)
Go Go Classic Shell! Should a game ever come out exclusive to Windows 8 that isn't immediately ported by a third party to Windows 7 (like Halo 2 Vista) I will grab for Classic Shell immediately =P
Nice buttons too, what is the green Windows 7 start button from? Someone made that? It looks like it would be on Home Premium or something lol.
I have to admit with all of the griping ive done, ClassicShell does, in practice, eliminate many of the concerns. Yet the philosophy behind it is what angers me the most, things like SkyDrive (and the Cloud in general) and having apps on a fully featured desktop system where they really aren't necessary (as apps are generally gutted programs so they can run on less powerful hardware)
Go Go Classic Shell! Should a game ever come out exclusive to Windows 8 that isn't immediately ported by a third party to Windows 7 (like Halo 2 Vista) I will grab for Classic Shell immediately =P
Nice buttons too, what is the green Windows 7 start button from? Someone made that? It looks like it would be on Home Premium or something lol.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
If you mean the green fifth one, that's Windows Media Center.
If you mean the green third one, that's Windows XP I made myself from scratch just for the heck of it, when I first heard Microsoft said we couldn't have a Start Button and Start Menu any more.
Because Classic Shell essentially gives you the Windows 7 experience, that means you have the option of never seeing any of the things you outlined that bother you - there is no reason not to go with Windows 8 + Classic Shell. I wouldn't jump to upgrade a working Windows 7 system but given an equal choice on a new install, everything you'll see from the moment you boot in until shut down will be the same as on Windows 7... with the added option, just an option, to access everything you dislike with a single click.
If you mean the green third one, that's Windows XP I made myself from scratch just for the heck of it, when I first heard Microsoft said we couldn't have a Start Button and Start Menu any more.
Because Classic Shell essentially gives you the Windows 7 experience, that means you have the option of never seeing any of the things you outlined that bother you - there is no reason not to go with Windows 8 + Classic Shell. I wouldn't jump to upgrade a working Windows 7 system but given an equal choice on a new install, everything you'll see from the moment you boot in until shut down will be the same as on Windows 7... with the added option, just an option, to access everything you dislike with a single click.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
Yeah the fifth one from the left, never had an HTPC, the more you know =P
Your XP start button looks great too, lol...
But yeah, I completely agree with your point about how 8.1 isn't bringing back the start menu, but the button, Microsoft is trying to appear as if it did indeed capitulate to consumer pressures the same way it did with Xbox One DRM, and like the DRM, it is an illusion, for the new start button takes you to the Metro screen...
Who? Few tech savvy users like Windows 8, lol, it slows down productivity, heavily.
Honestly if Microsoft left the Start Menu from the beginning on the desktop, with a link to the new screen (called it something else though) I wouldn't have had nearly as much as a problem with it, but the fact they removed something so central and so utilized as the start menu just shows that they care less about usability and customer feedback and usage data, (most use the Start Menu...) and just want to jam it down our throats.
EDIT: Got to hand it to HP though, they actually listen to customer complaints (probably because they realize they're losing money based on something another company does...)
they made their own start menu replacement
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c03557078
Aditionally, while the ClassicShell hides away some of Windows 8's more obvious flaws (Metro) there is still spying built in, SmartScreen, you might say "But you can turn it off!" the very same thing said about UAC, but now we need a registry hack in Windows 8 to *fully* turn it off, how long before we need a registry hack to turn off spying?
Your XP start button looks great too, lol...
But yeah, I completely agree with your point about how 8.1 isn't bringing back the start menu, but the button, Microsoft is trying to appear as if it did indeed capitulate to consumer pressures the same way it did with Xbox One DRM, and like the DRM, it is an illusion, for the new start button takes you to the Metro screen...
Who? Few tech savvy users like Windows 8, lol, it slows down productivity, heavily.
Honestly if Microsoft left the Start Menu from the beginning on the desktop, with a link to the new screen (called it something else though) I wouldn't have had nearly as much as a problem with it, but the fact they removed something so central and so utilized as the start menu just shows that they care less about usability and customer feedback and usage data, (most use the Start Menu...) and just want to jam it down our throats.
EDIT: Got to hand it to HP though, they actually listen to customer complaints (probably because they realize they're losing money based on something another company does...)
they made their own start menu replacement
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c03557078
Aditionally, while the ClassicShell hides away some of Windows 8's more obvious flaws (Metro) there is still spying built in, SmartScreen, you might say "But you can turn it off!" the very same thing said about UAC, but now we need a registry hack in Windows 8 to *fully* turn it off, how long before we need a registry hack to turn off spying?
Last edited:
packer4life
New Member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2013
Windows 8 to look like windows 7
I just signed up and a newbie to this forum. But what a great pleasure to install something and have it work just like that!!!
This step was so easy and show my Uncle and now he can have the look and feel of Windows 7 back. Thanks for the post
I just signed up and a newbie to this forum. But what a great pleasure to install something and have it work just like that!!!
This step was so easy and show my Uncle and now he can have the look and feel of Windows 7 back. Thanks for the post
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
Yes, welcome to the forums.
It's been a year since Windows 8 was officially released to manufacturing, and I can't tell you how many people I've seen here and elsewhere, refusing to spend 30 seconds to resolve this problem like you did and instead choosing to go back to Windows 7, for no other reason than just to get their Windows 7 Start Button / Start Menu back, which they could have gotten on their Windows 8 quickly and for free.
It's been a year since Windows 8 was officially released to manufacturing, and I can't tell you how many people I've seen here and elsewhere, refusing to spend 30 seconds to resolve this problem like you did and instead choosing to go back to Windows 7, for no other reason than just to get their Windows 7 Start Button / Start Menu back, which they could have gotten on their Windows 8 quickly and for free.
Windows 8 Start Button
Microsoft is notorious for forcing difficult user interfaces on its customers...RE: Office 2007 where they hid most of the usable controls on tabs in the ribbon. I have been using 2007 at work for about 10 years and still cuss at M$ every time I use Office for the trouble that I have finding hidden buttons.
I bought a Win 8 media computer for my home theater and have determined that the only good thing about win 8 is the fast boot time. But...argh!!!, it is not really a fast boot, but restoration from sleep. Funny, I can do that in XP and Win 7.
M$ obviously does not employ any human factors engineers. If my employer created a stupid interface like that, we would go out of business in days.
Microsoft is notorious for forcing difficult user interfaces on its customers...RE: Office 2007 where they hid most of the usable controls on tabs in the ribbon. I have been using 2007 at work for about 10 years and still cuss at M$ every time I use Office for the trouble that I have finding hidden buttons.
I bought a Win 8 media computer for my home theater and have determined that the only good thing about win 8 is the fast boot time. But...argh!!!, it is not really a fast boot, but restoration from sleep. Funny, I can do that in XP and Win 7.
M$ obviously does not employ any human factors engineers. If my employer created a stupid interface like that, we would go out of business in days.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
I agree. Since we have no alternative, the only thing we can do is try to modify it to look the way most ordinary folks want it to look like.
To address your Office 2007 problem, I tried to modify the new Ribbon system as well, it was not as easy as resolving the Windows 8 problem, but I got my custom Excel/Word setup in there and am using it today even on my MS Office 2013.
They accuse us of resisting change, but if we manage to get most often used custom Excel icons set up right in front of us, instead of Ribbons, we can get business done a lot faster than using non-customizable multiple Ribbons. So the reasons are practical, not emotional.
To address your Office 2007 problem, I tried to modify the new Ribbon system as well, it was not as easy as resolving the Windows 8 problem, but I got my custom Excel/Word setup in there and am using it today even on my MS Office 2013.
They accuse us of resisting change, but if we manage to get most often used custom Excel icons set up right in front of us, instead of Ribbons, we can get business done a lot faster than using non-customizable multiple Ribbons. So the reasons are practical, not emotional.
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
Ribbons are incredibly useless, especially on programs that have very few menu options to begin with, like Windows Explorer (File Explorer on W8)
A Ribbon on that makes absolutely zero sense.
While on things with many options, like Word, it makes more sense, because it might make options more obvious that are otherwise hidden, but at what cost?
A Ribbon on that makes absolutely zero sense.
While on things with many options, like Word, it makes more sense, because it might make options more obvious that are otherwise hidden, but at what cost?
OS upgrades
Man I sure do hate it when OS's upgrade. I hate to learn new things. Who cares if a bunch of new features are added and great improvements are made for ease of use, I don't have time to educate myself. I wish they would come out with a shell to bring back MS-DOS. Man those were the days...... Give me a break. Take some time to read the users manuals like you should for anything new you get and stop blaming your stupidity on Microsoft and any developer for that matter for making new changes. I challenge anybody to do anything in previous versions of Windows that I can do in Windows 8 any quicker or easier. Nobody jumps into a car at for the first time in your teens and blaming Chevy for not making it intuitive to drive without research and direction. How about trying to learn a little about the products that you are using and maybe life will be a bit better for you.
Man I sure do hate it when OS's upgrade. I hate to learn new things. Who cares if a bunch of new features are added and great improvements are made for ease of use, I don't have time to educate myself. I wish they would come out with a shell to bring back MS-DOS. Man those were the days...... Give me a break. Take some time to read the users manuals like you should for anything new you get and stop blaming your stupidity on Microsoft and any developer for that matter for making new changes. I challenge anybody to do anything in previous versions of Windows that I can do in Windows 8 any quicker or easier. Nobody jumps into a car at for the first time in your teens and blaming Chevy for not making it intuitive to drive without research and direction. How about trying to learn a little about the products that you are using and maybe life will be a bit better for you.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
If you make Windows 8 look like Windows 7, why not just install 7?
Unless of course, you only have a Windows 8 key.. But that's the only reason I see to keep 8 and make it look like 7.
Unless of course, you only have a Windows 8 key.. But that's the only reason I see to keep 8 and make it look like 7.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
The question is valid. At the time the article was written, Windows 8 had no native option to boot into Desktop. The fact that Microsoft itself now makes it an option in Update 1 for Windows 8.1 - validates Classic Shell as always having been necessary for super fast computer users.
The fact that Start Menu is coming back in Windows 9, further validates what Classic Shell has given us all along.
Personal opinion: Perhaps you should not spend any money on upgrading to Windows 8.
You should choose Windows 8 IF you are installing from scratch and can choose between what to install, all things being equal.
1. Classic Shell makes Metro available with a single click - not forced on you by default - there goes the only reason I know of for most people NOT TO GO with Windows 8.
2. Whoever inherits your system gets extra three years of Windows updates. Win8 end of life will be longer than Win7. 2023 vs 2020.
3. Mostly small stuff such as ability to pause/continue copy-paste operations. Somewhat snappier performance. If we can demonstrate that Windows 8 does boot faster (even if it is only a couple of seconds faster than Windows 7), and we can demonstrate that on a completely equal dual-boot system, if people then say "well what's a few seconds, I don't care." Well then install Windows 7 from scratch and wait an extra second or two for your system to load and be happy like that. The rational question should be "what do I loose by installing Windows 8?"
That gets us into what RAM and CPU usage advantages are, multi-monitor advantages, future touch screen application advantages, lost of other stuff people say they "don't really need' but why would I go and install Windows 7 from scratch when maybe in the future I may want to check out a Metro App? Classic Shell makes Windows 8 look like Windows 7 and with a simple SHIFT+CLICK on the Start Menu, I get the OPTION (just the option) of Metro. Why give that up, why not have the option if there is no downside?
The downside would be if you abandoned a perfectly-working Windows 7 to UPGRADE, do not do that, but from scratch? Go with Windows 8 and if not, then why not?
So some things you probably don't need but get anyway are:
Better Task Manager
Improved Task Bar management
Better file transfer management
Better multi-monitor and projector support (recognizes multiple configurations automatically)
Starts/shuts down faster
Recovers from sleep faster
Recovers from hibernation faster
Better battery life
Better biometrics integration
Better touch integration
Installs faster
HYPER-V
Better printer recognition during installation
People on the forums mostly agree that it seems more stable overall
The fact that Start Menu is coming back in Windows 9, further validates what Classic Shell has given us all along.
Personal opinion: Perhaps you should not spend any money on upgrading to Windows 8.
You should choose Windows 8 IF you are installing from scratch and can choose between what to install, all things being equal.
1. Classic Shell makes Metro available with a single click - not forced on you by default - there goes the only reason I know of for most people NOT TO GO with Windows 8.
2. Whoever inherits your system gets extra three years of Windows updates. Win8 end of life will be longer than Win7. 2023 vs 2020.
3. Mostly small stuff such as ability to pause/continue copy-paste operations. Somewhat snappier performance. If we can demonstrate that Windows 8 does boot faster (even if it is only a couple of seconds faster than Windows 7), and we can demonstrate that on a completely equal dual-boot system, if people then say "well what's a few seconds, I don't care." Well then install Windows 7 from scratch and wait an extra second or two for your system to load and be happy like that. The rational question should be "what do I loose by installing Windows 8?"
That gets us into what RAM and CPU usage advantages are, multi-monitor advantages, future touch screen application advantages, lost of other stuff people say they "don't really need' but why would I go and install Windows 7 from scratch when maybe in the future I may want to check out a Metro App? Classic Shell makes Windows 8 look like Windows 7 and with a simple SHIFT+CLICK on the Start Menu, I get the OPTION (just the option) of Metro. Why give that up, why not have the option if there is no downside?
The downside would be if you abandoned a perfectly-working Windows 7 to UPGRADE, do not do that, but from scratch? Go with Windows 8 and if not, then why not?
So some things you probably don't need but get anyway are:
Better Task Manager
Improved Task Bar management
Better file transfer management
Better multi-monitor and projector support (recognizes multiple configurations automatically)
Starts/shuts down faster
Recovers from sleep faster
Recovers from hibernation faster
Better battery life
Better biometrics integration
Better touch integration
Installs faster
HYPER-V
Better printer recognition during installation
People on the forums mostly agree that it seems more stable overall
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2003
I put this on a win8.1 (got the machine monday 31st....
when i start the windows explorer [??or what ever it is called{file explorer??}]
and close it(stupid me - need it all the time) the second time I open it id does not work and causes the screen to clear then disperses my desktop I cons....
I need help with security and file sharing too...
when i start the windows explorer [??or what ever it is called{file explorer??}]
and close it(stupid me - need it all the time) the second time I open it id does not work and causes the screen to clear then disperses my desktop I cons....
I need help with security and file sharing too...
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
Sounds like a larger issue... Might be wise to make a new thread for this one.
We'll help as much as we can
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2002
Yes, you can start a new thread here in the Microsoft Operating Systems forum here and people will help you.
You should post what kind of help with security you need. As for file sharing, you can read something like this:
http://www.addictivetips.com/window...haring-share-users-system-folders-on-network/
Or if you want us to help you step by step, we can do that too:
Right click on Folder you want to share > Properties > Sharing TAB > Share... >
From drop down Menu select: Everyone >
Add > Everyone > [Next to Everyone] > Read/Write > Share > Done > Close
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings > [scroll down] All Networks [scroll down] >
SELECT: Turn off password protected sharing > Save changes
If asked for a Network password even though one was not setup,
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings > All Networks > Turn off password protected sharing > Save changes > Reboot
The fist part of your post unclear:
"the second time I open it id does not work" What does not work? When you say "disperses your desktop icons" - right click on Desktop > Sort by.
If you want to save Desktop icon placement, use this program:
http://www.midiox.com/index.htm?http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm
It will help you save your icon positions on Desktop and Restore them with a simple right click.
You should post what kind of help with security you need. As for file sharing, you can read something like this:
http://www.addictivetips.com/window...haring-share-users-system-folders-on-network/
Or if you want us to help you step by step, we can do that too:
Right click on Folder you want to share > Properties > Sharing TAB > Share... >
From drop down Menu select: Everyone >
Add > Everyone > [Next to Everyone] > Read/Write > Share > Done > Close
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings > [scroll down] All Networks [scroll down] >
SELECT: Turn off password protected sharing > Save changes
If asked for a Network password even though one was not setup,
Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings > All Networks > Turn off password protected sharing > Save changes > Reboot
The fist part of your post unclear:
"the second time I open it id does not work" What does not work? When you say "disperses your desktop icons" - right click on Desktop > Sort by.
If you want to save Desktop icon placement, use this program:
http://www.midiox.com/index.htm?http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm
It will help you save your icon positions on Desktop and Restore them with a simple right click.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
Similar threads
