Windows Classic Shell now skips Metro screen

[SafeHarbor]

Windows Classic Shell from Sourceforge now by default (!) bypasses the Windows 8 Metro startup screen. Actually, it does display the screen briefly, but it has the same effect as if you have the desktop pane at top-left and press Enter as soon as the Metro screen appears.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell/

To get to the setting, right-click the Start orb and select the "General Behavior" tab.

Stardock also said on June 3rd that they'll release a version of their "Start8" utility that boots directly to the desktop close to the actual release date of Windows 8. Hopefully it'll bypass the Metro screen entirely. I found the interview interesting.

http://www.neowin.net/news/interview-st ... -on-start8

I've tried both, but I far prefer the classic shell to Stardock's hybrid approach.

[jdhurst]

I will have to try those applications. I have Windows 8 Release Preview running as a Virtual Machine. It runs fine, but on a real computer (not a phone or would-be phone (tablet)) it is helpless.

I am not behind the times in any way, but the lack of a start button on a normal, real computer is a major handicap. So either I find a start button with one of the two apps above, or I will call Microsoft and exchange Windows 8 for Windows 7.

I have done side-by-side tests and it takes twice as long to do real work in Windows 8 (even after practice) as it does in Windows 7 (or Vista or XP). ... JDH