Date: 2013jan22
Update: 2016mar4
OS: Windows8, Windows8.1
Q. How can I make Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 usable?
A.
Replace Internet Explorer:
http://getfirefox.com
Learn these keyboard short cuts:
Windows-D go to the Desktop
Windows-C open the Charms bar (Metro menu on the right)
Windows-X open a menu of several handy things.
Windows-R open Run - so you can enter an program name to run
Ctrl-N open a new window in explorer
Add the missing start button:
Install Classic Shell
http://classicshell.net
Metro interface keeps butting into desktop:
Right-click on Classic Shell start button for its settings >
Select Advanced settings > Windows 8 Settings > Disable active corners > All
Tweak the registry:
Windows-R > regedit
In HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell
make a key called EdgeUI
in there make:
DisableCharmsHint:DWORD = 1
DisableTLcorner:DWORD = 1
Disable Charms bar (Only available in Windows8.1+)
Right click on task bar > Properties > Navigation > Corner navigation
Unclick all items in there.
Stop edge swipes:
To avoid the charms bar appearing "randomly" when using my trackpad
I had to go into the Control Panel > Mouse > Elan
And disable edge swipes.
Change file associations to avoid Metro apps starting.
In Powershell:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage
Get-AppXProvisionedPackage -online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage –online
Install a desktop PDF reader and associate the .pdf extension to it:
http://www.davekb.com/search.php?target=PDF-XChange
Stop windows from maximizing when you drag them (why would they do this?)
Turn off snap on
http://www.davekb.com/search.php?target=turn+off+snap+on
Keep Desktop programs off Metro start screen:
Sorry, I don't know how to do that.
If you every want to go back to Metro:
Move mouse around bottom-right corner until charms bar shows
Click on Start
Optionally, turn on delete confirmations
http://davekb.com/search.php?target=windows+delete+confirm
If you ever want to get the Metro start menu
http://davekb.com/search.php?target=metro+start+menu