If you have been closely following Windows 8 news or played with Windows 8 for a while, you probably know about the new Metro Start screen. For starters, the Start screen is one of the core features of Windows 8 and works as a replacement for the old Start menu.
The tiles on the Start screen update in real-time and provide all the information you care about. Unfortunately, the Start screen, which is the main attraction of Windows 8, is getting negative reviews from desktop users.
Many users who have updated to Windows 8 have been trying to disable or hide the Start screen. But it’s not possible to completely turn off or hide the Start screen in Windows 8 client OS. An option is available in the Group Policy to skip or bypass the Start screen while logging in. However, the catch is that the policy applies only to Windows Server 8 with Desktop Experience Pack installed.
So, how to bypass the Start screen while logging in? Classic Starter is the answer. Classic Starter is a small tool that helps you bypass or skip the Start screen during logon and directly opens the classic Windows desktop. That is, once the Classic Start is installed, rather than opening the Start screen, Windows will automatically take you to the traditional desktop.
How to use Classic Starter:
Step 1: Download Classic Starter from here. Please note this program isn’t developed by us. JoeX@MDL forum is the developer of this program. Since one can’t download the application directly from MDL without the membership, we have uploaded the program to a file-sharing site. Full credit goes to JoeX for the program. It works on both x86 and x64 versions of Windows 8.
Step 2: Extract the RAR file contents onto the desktop. You will get two files named ClassicStart.exe and TaskScheduler.dll. Before you proceed to the next step, we advise you to create a system restore point.
Step 3: Run ClassicStart with admin rights. To do this, right-click on the ClassicStart file and then select Run as administrator. Once launched, click Logon to the Classic Desktop button and exit the program.
Step 4: That’s it! Next time when you login, you will see the classic desktop instead of the Metro Start screen. To revert to the original settings, launch the program again and then click Logon to the Metro Desktop button.
Update: A new version of the tool ClassicStarter is now available from the same download page.
Ovidiu says
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Step 4: That’s it! Next time when you login, you will see the classic desktop instead of Metro Start screen. To revert to the original settings, launch the program again and then click Logon to Metro Desktop button.
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But when shutdown computer, has no effect!
Only when login seems that is work.
I don’t believe that someone has discovery a way to start W8 CP without ugly Metro UI and start with common interface (to be able to be satisfied at a desktop system without touch screen).
I try to find out on a lot of forums to bypass at restart Metro UI.
That’s it ! Wait till June to download release version of W8. May be then Microsoft put an option in this sense.
But I don’t think so.