How to disable Metro UI?

[JorgeA]

Right. Not yet... It will be ported to an exe for better Errorhandling.

I guess a release will be available this or next week. - I will keep the neowin post and youtube description up to date.

KNARZ,

We are maintaining a list of applications to restore/create the Start Button and Start Menu in Windows 8. An application or technique to bypass the Start Screen would also qualify under the rules (as the OP, I make the rules for that thread ). May I add Bypass Modern UI to our list?

I ask because at the bottom of your post, you specify that...

Youre not allowed to change this application or post it anywhere else.

...so I'm playing it safe by asking for permission.

Thanks, and good luck.

--JorgeA

Edited October 20, 2012 by JorgeA

[Servelius]

KNARZ has published this method to boot natively to desktop like Server 2012 by modifying the System Policy: http://www.wesnext.com/login-directly-to-desktop-bypass-metro-ui/ . Evil has been defeated!!

Bypassing metro that way in Windows Server 2012 (and perhaps in 8 too) has a small issue - you loose access to "Change PC settings", with boot to desktop enabled this setting is gone:

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I'd prefer Ex7forW8 to get rid of metro.

[xpclient]

^ Nothing is broken for me. PC Settings works. Maybe something else you did broke it.

[KNARZ]

KNARZ has published this method to boot natively to desktop like Server 2012 by modifying the System Policy: http://www.wesnext.com/login-directly-to-desktop-bypass-metro-ui/ . Evil has been defeated!!

Bypassing metro that way in Windows Server 2012 (and perhaps in 8 too) has a small issue - you loose access to "Change PC settings", with boot to desktop enabled this setting is gone:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd prefer Ex7forW8 to get rid of metro.

I also can't confirm this. And please don't use this for Server 2012. You can easily disable Modern/Metro with a registry key!

The policy for Server 2012 is default to load straigt into desktop.

[Servelius]

The policy for Server 2012 is default to load straigt into desktop.

No, the default policy for Server 2012 is to load metro first. Quite a surprise for many people because it implies you wanna equip your server with a touch screen as in tablets and cell phones.

I installed Server 2012 recently and can confirm it doesn't boot to desktop by default:

http://www.win2008workstation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=2215

http://www.win2012workstation.com/boot-to-classic-desktop/

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/networking/how-to-navigate-start-in-windows-server-2012/5850

Great if boot straight to desktop works without issues in Windows 8.

[KNARZ]

But this can be easily disabled with a registry entry. I thought this Desktop Experience Pack thing is not installed by default?!

[MagicAndre1981]

correct. DE is not installed by default and in this case it boots directly to the Desktop.

[Servelius]

But this can be easily disabled with a registry entry. I thought this Desktop Experience Pack thing is not installed by default?!

Indeed, Desktop Experience feature is not there by default, neither are a few other features that are installed in Windows 8 by default (such as backup, bit-locker, etc). There's no new Aero theme, no WMP, no sound, no snipping tool, no widndows defender, no disk cleanup, no .net framework, nothing that makes your desktop comfortable and fully functional. So if you really interact with your server, be it 2003/2008/2012, Desktop Experience is a must, not an option. Without various features, windows server is not ready to use.

With Desktop Experience on, Server does not boot straight to desktop. You can enable it, but then you loose "Change PC Settings" in your metro-style control panel, and currently there is no fix,

http://www.win2008workstation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=2215

Instead, I use Classic Shell with StartIsBack to bypass Metro. But it's pretty weird still that Metro is available in Server OS, it would have been way more rational to keep the start menu in Server 2012.

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http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772567.aspx

[tomasz86]

Indeed, Desktop Experience feature is not there by default, neither are a few other features that are installed in Windows 8 by default (such as backup, bit-locker, etc). There's no new Aero theme, no WMP, no sound, no snipping tool, no widndows defender, no disk cleanup, no .net framework, nothing that makes your desktop comfortable and fully functional. So if you really interact with your server, be it 2003/2008/2012, Desktop Experience is a must, not an option. Without various features, windows server is not ready to use.

I think that it's all about personal preferences. For you these features may be a "must" but I'm sure that there are others who consider most of them bloatware

Among those I myself would only only need two (sound & .NET Framework) to have a "fully functional" desktop experience.

[KNARZ]

Sure. Most of us (power-users) prefer the classis startmenu. But when I change the system from W7 to W8 I guess I will use my methode in combination with classic shell.

Edited October 23, 2012 by KNARZ

[Servelius]

Among those I myself would only only need two (sound & .NET Framework) to have a "fully functional" desktop experience.

Right, desktop feauture is a must for me, and .net framework is a must for you, and other features is a must for others. Without those certain features installed, windows server installation is actually incomplete.

Of course a big "advantage" of Windows Server without DE is the ability to boot straight to desktop, but the drawback of such approach is the lack of many essential components that are present in Windows 8 (by default).

As a matter of personal preference, I'm not ready to boot straight to desktop by loosing desktop essentials. The way out of metro for me is via 3rd party tools I mentioned. = Classic Shell+StartIsBack.

Sure. Most of us (power-users) prefer the classis startmenu. But when I change the system from W7 to W8 I guess I will use my methode in combination with classic shell.

I'm with you on that. I've never understood why would MS deprive their power users of the handy classic start, forcing them to use the client 7-like menu instead. Now they've taken step further and gave us no menu at all.