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Working in IT support I get asked a lot of questions but none more than about Windows 8. It still seems that even this long after its release people are still having issues with it. Now before I continue I think Windows 8 and more recently 8.1 is a pretty solid operating system but find it's functionality can only be harnessed on a touchscreen device. In terms of using it on a laptop without touch or on a desktop with a keyboard and mouse it still seems a bit of a mishmash and even if you try to use the desktop mode primarily some of the 'Metro' elements of Windows 8 creep in which some users find frustrating and I'm asked how to un-Windows 8 their non-touch devices. So with this and the fact that I've done a few over the last few days I thought I'd document the process if you'd like to do the same or know others who are having issues.

The first thing that you need to do is to install Classic Shell. This reintroduces the Start Menu and the functionality of the Windows key. It also automatically allows your PC to boot straight to the desktop and avoid 'Metro' altogether but it does give you an option to go back to it should you so wish.

So now you have the standard desktop mode back and front and centre you'd think you can just get on with your life but as you use the desktop some of the features of Windows 8 such as corner gestures and the charms menu creep in producing an inconsistent experience. Well you can get rid of these too. To achieve this please do the following.

1. Right click on the taskbar in desktop mode and select properties.
2. Click on the Navigation tab
3. Then in the section labelled Corner Navigation uncheck 'When I point to the upper-right corner, show the charms’ option and hit OK.

Once you've done this the desktop mode of Windows 8 is such an improvement over Windows 7 so if this is the way you like to work most of the time it's worth giving it a go.

Author

Paul Wright

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