Make Windows 8.1 more like Windows 7


Windows 8.1 dilogue box - boot to desktop

 

Haven’t got quite used to Windows 8? Update to 8.1 (it’s free!). This is usually straight forward, but if you struggle, please contact us.

Make sure you run Windows update several times to install the most up-to-date stuff for Windows.

If you haven’t already got Windows 8.1, download and install it from the Microsoft store (via the Start screen). This may take several hours.

After you update to Windows 8.1, you can then set up an option to go straight to the desktop when you log in (like your earlier version of Windows).

This has been added because many people have little or no use for the new Start screen (’tile’ or ‘Metro’ screen).

On the desktop right-click the taskbar and select ‘Properties‘, then click the ‘Navigation‘ tab. In the Start screen section, make sure the box next to “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” is ticked.

A similar ‘Start’ menu, as found in previous versions of Windows, is accessed by right clicking the Windows icon where the Start button used to be, on the very left hand side of the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

From now on, when you log into Windows, you’ll go straight to the desktop. Happier?