The new Windows 8 Start menu is an interactive tiled interface that replaces the traditional desktop. However, the desktop has not been removed, it is simply no longer the main Windows screen and can be viewed by pressing the relative button.
Personally I find this new interface very powerful, beautiful and fast so I do not contest the choice of Microsoft, but it is important to know that you can also disable and use Windows 8 as if it were an improved Windows 7, starting the PC with the desktop, without Start Screen or Metro UI.
Microsoft does not allow you to disable the new Start screen, so you need to install a small free tool called Classic Shell .
In addition to providing a Start button to launch programs in the same way that you could with XP, Classic Shell can be configured to start Windows 8 directly by viewing the desktop, turning off the new Start screen.
Download Classic Shell and install it on Windows 8 or Windows 10
The installation also allows you to add two other plugins such as File Explorer, to navigate folders like on Windows 7 and Classic Explorer which adds Internet Explorer functionality.
These options can be disabled by leaving only the Start menu which is the most useful function.
After installing Classic Shell, the classic Start button will be displayed, the one with the list of programs and basic settings, including Control Panel.
You may notice that a classic Windows graphic style similar to that of Windows 2000 is used, but it can also be changed in the settings displayed in the XP or Windows 7 style boot menu.
In the new Start menu there is a search box to find installed programs by writing their name.
To disable the Start or Modern screen (I have not yet understood what it is officially called) of Windows 8 you have to enter the Classic Shell settings and open the Windows 8 Settings tab.
You can then disable the functionality of the Windows 8 hot corners (where you can open special menus by moving the mouse to the corners of the screen) and you can say to jump (Skip) Metro.
The App Switcher functions (by pressing Alt-Tab) and the Charms Bar (by pressing the Windows-C keys) remain active.
Classic Shell is, perhaps, the best program to customize and customize the Windows 8 interface, full of other options regarding the configuration of the Start menu and graphic views or, at least, it is the lightest solution.
If you wanted something better and nicer to look at, you can put Pokki's Start button on Windows 8 .
For example, you can select a different Metro style on the Skins tab.
Whoever objected that in this way it is worth staying with Windows 7, has not perhaps read the article on the best new features of Windows 8
