How To Make Windows 7 Like Windows 8

Windows 8 is provoking a Marmite-similar reaction amongst users, simply that doesn't mean yous'll fall directly into the love or hate camps. It's more probable y'all'll observe certain new features useful and others unnecessary. If you're pining for features no longer present, this article is for y'all.

In this how-to guide, I'll reveal how to water downward or ignore some of Windows 8'due south more controversial features and restore functionality you idea had gone forever. While these tips aren't strictly almost making Windows eight like Windows seven, they accost a few annoying niggles.

Featherbed the Beginning screen and disable hotspots

When Windows eight start loads, you'll observe how it defaults to the new Get-go screen. If you'd rather go straight to the traditional desktop we all know and love, download a free tool called Skip Metro Suite. Once installed, launch the program and verify 'Skip Start Screen' is ticked.

While you're here, you'll find that y'all can likewise disable some or all of Windows 8's hotspots, allowing you to safely curlicue your mouse into the corners of the screen, without worrying about triggering the charms bar, apps switcher or Start push button. They're all enabled past default, and then simply untick those features y'all wish to continue before clicking Relieve Settings.

Restore the classic Kickoff card

The lack of a Offset button (never mind Start carte) on the Windows 8 desktop is annoying, but there are enough of options for getting it back. Stardock's Start8 costs $4.99 (nearly £3) for a Windows 8-friendly design. But if yous desire something more traditional (and costless), install the Classic Start Carte portion of Archetype Shell instead.

Once installed, you'll see the Start button appear -- click this to open the Settings card and option your Starting time menu design ('classic', XP and Vista/7 are all supported). Click OK and your new First carte is ready to go.

Access Metro apps from the classic desktop

It's possible, by installing Classic Start Card and Skip Metro Suite, to avert the Starting time screen entirely, but how exercise yous access modern apps without it? Simple, add a new shortcut folder on your archetype desktop. Right-click a blank area of the desktop and choose New > Shortcut. Now advisedly type the following (or re-create and paste it) into the location box:

• %windir%\explorer.exe vanquish:::{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}

Click Side by side, requite your shortcut a suitably descriptive name -- like Modern Apps -- and click Finish.

Customise the Win+Ten menu

In lieu of the missing Start menu, Windows 8 provides a handy selection of shortcuts when you lot printing Win+X. Customising this listing can be done by paw by browsing to a subconscious binder -- press Win+R, type 'appdata' and press Enter. At present browse to Local\Microsoft\Windows\WinX, where yous'll find 3 sub-folders -- Group1, Group2 and Group3. Inside these are your various shortcuts.

You tin add, movement and delete shortcuts from these folders, plus add more groups. If all of this sounds like hard work, try WinAero's gratuitous Win+10 Menu Editor instead.

Dump the File Explorer ribbon

I quite like the new ribbon-similar user interface added to the File Explorer in Windows 8, but if you prefer how things were in Windows vii, you can disable the ribbon quickly and hands using WinAero'southward Ribbon Disabler tool.

Just launch the tool after unzipping it (choose the x64 version if yous're running Windows eight 64-flake), and click Disable Ribbon Explorer, logging off and back on once again when prompted to issue the modify.

Terminate opening files in modernistic apps

Double-click a media file in the classic desktop and it'll open up it in the corresponding modernistic user interface app. To revert to traditional desktop apps for your music, photos and videos, open up the Control Panel and choose Programs, followed by Default Programs. Select Set Default Programs, option your chosen app -- such as Windows Picture Viewer for photos, or Windows Media Histrion for music and video -- and click 'Set this program as default'.

Restore the Windows briefcase

Microsoft thinks anybody wants to utilise cloud services like SkyDrive to keep their files synced beyond multiple computers. If y'all're a fan of the one-time Windows briefcase, however, you'll be glad to learn it's possible to get it back in Windows eight with a rather convoluted Registry tweak. Click here to download a pair of Registry files that simplify the procedure of switching the briefcase feature on and off once again.

Admission POP e-mail in Mail

The Mail app doesn't like POP email accounts, simply you can gain access to them. The secret is to configure your spider web mail account to access your Pop post, which in plough tin be read in Mail. Why not apply your Hotmail business relationship -- log on at post.live.com and head over to Settings > 'More mail settings' to add accounts by choosing 'Sending/receiving email from other accounts'.

Restore gadgets

If you're unhappy that the traditional desktop no longer supports desktop gadgets in Windows 8 (Microsoft would adopt it if you used Mod apps instead), y'all'll be pleased to learn you can restore the functionality with the assistance of a gratis tool chosen 8GadgetPack.

Just download and install the tool -- when the SmartScreen Filter appears, click Details followed by Run Anyhow to ignore it. Once installed -- it'south quite a wearisome process -- your new sidebar will appear, which works in exactly the same style as information technology does in previous versions of Windows. If you'd rather your gadgets were individually floating on your desktop rather than pinned to the sidebar, just correct-click the sidebar and cull Shut Sidebar.

Pin whatsoever file or folder to the Start screen

The Windows 8 Start Screen lets you pin programs and apps with no problems, just if you want to go farther and pin shortcuts to files, folders or certain special shortcuts like the Control Console, you'll need help in the grade of Start Screen Pinner. Download, extract and launch this portable app, then simply add whichever shortcuts you need, which will after appear on the Start screen for easy access.

And some other thing...

If you're the only user of your PC, then having to swipe the lock screen and so enter your password might seem similar a waste of time each morning. Removing these annoyances is a two-part procedure. Dumping the lock screen requires a trip to the Registry Editor -- press Win+R, type 'regedit' and printing Enter. Now browse to the following Registry key:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Expect for a Personalization central -- if information technology'due south not present, right-click the Windows key in the left-hand pane and choose New > Cardinal and phone call it Personalization. With Personalization selected, choose Edit > New > DWORD (32-chip) Value. Change its name to NoLockScreen, double-click it and prepare its value to 1. Click OK, shut Registry Editor and reboot to effect the change.

Logging in automatically from here is mercifully much simpler. Press Win+R again, simply this time type 'netplwiz' and press Enter. Select your username, then untick 'Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer'. Click OK, enter your user password twice and click OK over again. Job done.

And finally...

Windows 8 volition no longer back up the playback of DVD movies, but yous won't take to beat out for the privilege of using a third-party tool if you install VLC Media Role player. Only install the app with the default settings -- over again, ignore the SmartScreen Filter warning -- and you lot'll find your DVDs at present play perfectly in VLC.

Source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-make-windows-8-look-like-windows-7/

Posted by: walkerlisher1957.blogspot.com

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