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how can I alternate between the classic and metro desktop environment within Windows 8 and vise versa?

Hello and Good Morning Everyone,

I am wondering how I can alternate from the classic to metro desktop environment within Windows 8 and vice versa.

Thank you

George

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

John

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Joe Winograd

Hi George,

I'm guessing that this is also for your "elderly" friend. You can, of course, keep attacking the horrible W8 UI issues one at a time, like this, but I really think that you would be doing your elderly friend a real service by installing Classic Shell, as I explain in this five-minute EE video Micro Tutorial:
Make Windows 8 Look Like Earlier Versions of Windows with Classic Shell

And if you move your friend to W10, Classic Shell works on that, too, as I explain in another five-minute EE video Micro Tutorial:
Make Windows 10 Look Like Earlier Versions of Windows with Classic Shell

Although the website says that it "is no longer in active development", I have the current version installed on dozens of W7, W8, and W10 machines, and it is working perfectly. If it ever stops working, I'll simply uninstall it and deal with the situation at that time.

Btw, the reason that I have it on W7 machines is that I prefer the W2k UI (which Classic Shell calls "Classic style") to the XP or W7 UI. Of course, you should install the UI that your "elderly" friend is familiar with...I'm guessing either XP (which Classic Shell calls "Classic with two columns") or W7 (which Classic Shell calls "Windows 7 style").

I think that you'll be doing your "elderly" friend a good deed by giving him the Windows look-and-feel with which he is comfortable rather than the W8 interface. Regards, Joe

John

I suggested in one of George's other posts that Windows 10 be considered.

I have a good article on setting it up with just Windows 10 capabilities

https://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/33324/Setting-up-Windows-10-for-the-first-time.html

GMartin

ASKER

Thank you, John and Joe, for your excellent feedback. While I could not get the Windows Key to toggle between the Metro and Classic desktops within Windows 8, I was, however, able to get it to work as desired at the conclusion of the update to Windows 8.1.

George

John

Thank you for the update. I was referring to Windows 8.1 for my suggestion for you.

Joe Winograd

> I was, however, able to get it to work as desired at the conclusion of the update to Windows 8.1.

Great news! Yes, W8.1 is the way to go! Regards, Joe