how can I make the Windows 8 desktop look more like Windows 7 desktop?
Hello and Good Morning Everyone,
I recently purchased a new Acer laptop with Windows 8 preinstalled. To my surprise, the desktop of this operating system is entirely different from what I am accustomed too from its predecessor operating system, Windows 7. With that point in mind, could someone provide some instructions, a document link, or a multi-media link which outlines the steps of returning it more to a classic look?
At this point, I have been blindly navigating with it this morning just to realize that there is going to be a huge learning curve here. I am currently at a screen labeled PC Settings which appears to have some menus for customizing the look of Windows 8. I was able to change the time zone to match that of my own, but, I was unable to change the actual time. And, I do not know how to exit from this screen either to go back to the desktop that loaded at startup. As everyone can tell, I need help with just the basics or getting started with Windows 8. I do believe if I can change the look of it to match as closely to what I am accustomed to with Windows 7, it will be a nice start.
Thanks in advance for any help given to this concern. I will look forward to hearing from everyone.
George
I recently purchased a new Acer laptop with Windows 8 preinstalled. To my surprise, the desktop of this operating system is entirely different from what I am accustomed too from its predecessor operating system, Windows 7. With that point in mind, could someone provide some instructions, a document link, or a multi-media link which outlines the steps of returning it more to a classic look?
At this point, I have been blindly navigating with it this morning just to realize that there is going to be a huge learning curve here. I am currently at a screen labeled PC Settings which appears to have some menus for customizing the look of Windows 8. I was able to change the time zone to match that of my own, but, I was unable to change the actual time. And, I do not know how to exit from this screen either to go back to the desktop that loaded at startup. As everyone can tell, I need help with just the basics or getting started with Windows 8. I do believe if I can change the look of it to match as closely to what I am accustomed to with Windows 7, it will be a nice start.
Thanks in advance for any help given to this concern. I will look forward to hearing from everyone.
George
Tony Giangreco
Install SP1 for Windows 8 and make sure all updates are applied.
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Hello Everyone,
Thanks so much for the followups. I hate to be of a bother but how can I exit from the PC setting screen? I have tried the Esc button and also the right click on the touchpad which never did open a menu to possibly allow me to close or exit from it. The screen which existed prior to this one was the metro screen which I can not get back to for some reason.
George
Thanks so much for the followups. I hate to be of a bother but how can I exit from the PC setting screen? I have tried the Esc button and also the right click on the touchpad which never did open a menu to possibly allow me to close or exit from it. The screen which existed prior to this one was the metro screen which I can not get back to for some reason.
George
Hit Windows button.
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Hello Everyone,
Thanks so much for the followups. After reviewing everything, I do have a couple of followup questions. First, what are the steps for installing Classic Shell? And, secondly, once it is installed, how do I configure it to make the Windows 8 desktop look more like Windows 7?
George
Thanks so much for the followups. After reviewing everything, I do have a couple of followup questions. First, what are the steps for installing Classic Shell? And, secondly, once it is installed, how do I configure it to make the Windows 8 desktop look more like Windows 7?
George
I use (in Themes) Classic Desktop for all of XP, Vista, Seven and Eight. This works fine and keeps the desktop simple.
If you do that, Classic shell will just be a start menu. I use a toolbar instead.
If you do that, Classic shell will just be a start menu. I use a toolbar instead.
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Hello and Good Afternoon Everyone,
Thanks so much for the feedback given to this post. I especially appreciate the link for downloading Classic Shell. To be perfectly frank, I was amazed and certainly pleased with the ease of use of this program. Within a matter of 2 or 3 seconds, I was able to transform the Windows 8 Metro screen to the more classic, Windows 7 desktop interface. Thanks to everyone's input here, I no longer feel so overwhelmed by Windows 8. Everything worked out perfectly.
George
Thanks so much for the feedback given to this post. I especially appreciate the link for downloading Classic Shell. To be perfectly frank, I was amazed and certainly pleased with the ease of use of this program. Within a matter of 2 or 3 seconds, I was able to transform the Windows 8 Metro screen to the more classic, Windows 7 desktop interface. Thanks to everyone's input here, I no longer feel so overwhelmed by Windows 8. Everything worked out perfectly.
George
Hi George,
Glad it worked for you! Happy to help. Regards, Joe
Glad it worked for you! Happy to help. Regards, Joe