Discussion on:

Make Windows 8 boot straight to the desktop

shazzzzam

The more I use Windows 8, the more I am enjoying working from the Start screen.
I am visiting the desktop less and less (unless taken there by a program I am opening). I now have the great majority of programs and folders that I use regularly pinned to the Start screen. It's just flick of the scroll wheel to locate the item I want and a click and I am where I want to be.
I find I am using the Start screen quite dynamically, pinning what I am working on to Start for ready access and unpinning it when the project is done.
No, I have no desire to go direct to the desktop.

I too typically start Windows 8 in desktop mode, but I did it through the little app you mentioned from Stardock called Start8 (more details at http://stardock.com/products/start8/). For only $4.99, I can avoid all the the task scheduling issues and go right to the desktop. I've also been using their Fences (for many versions) and have recently started also using their Decor8, which lets me customize the lock screen, Start screen, as well as desktop. Cheap, and it does the trick...;-)

Thanks,
Richard

Get Linux. With Linux you can have any GUI you want with a couple of clicks.

there to start with.

Worked like a charm with Windows Server 2012 and made me feel more at home

Cheers Greg!

Br. Janne

Any way to suppress the launching of the explorer process like that?

Greg,

You are wonderful! I do a lot of computer consulting and repair for members of various organizations like the Moose Lodge, American Legion, etc. This being said, most of my work is for older people, who had FINALLY learned windows XP/Vista/7 and were comfortable with it. Microsoft's drastic change to Windows 8 has left many people (including me) scratching their heads and wondering how to use it. The Desktop mode isn't easy to find, and there's no real documentation unless you go online and search for tutorials or blogs such as yours.

Thanks again for your wonderful insight and tips! Would you mind if I re-post this article on my blog (with proper attribution, of course)? This is DEFINITELY information I feel that needs sharing.

Sincerely,
Christian

I tried the tip because I am not a big Metro fan (but I am a Windows 8 fan just for the increased security defenses alone).

It seemed to boot rather slowly compared to without the Task is one concern and even more of deal killer for me is the open Libraries window. Any way to avoid that?

Thanks,

Texruss

Thanks for the solution. Instead of setting the task to start explorer.exe, could I substitute any program such as firefox? My mother just bought a new laptop w/ Win 8, and it's too confusing for her. She primarily just uses Firefox to check e-mail, etc. So, if I can set her machine to boot to the desktop and start Firefox automatically, I've killed two birds w/ one task! Thanks.

This is my first experience with Windows 8. Glad you shared some of your tips. Thanks so much for the tips to Boot Directly to the Desktop and Shutdown Menu. I would like to bypass the Library pop up in the Boot Directly. Is there a way to accomplish this within the task? I found a program "RoboForm" that is really good for automated log ins and bookmarks.

I found that article very useful. Just one question - the final step in the procedure says that when Windows 8 restarts, the Desktop with a File Explorer window targeted on Libraries appears. Will this happen every time I log on or only the once following the successful procedure. If it happens every time then its just as bad as at present. I'd like to know before making any changes.

I just purchased the SONY VAIO w/Windows 8, as that was the only operating system on all of the brand new PCs on the shelf??? Anyway, after playing around with this for a day, it seems to me that the Windows 8 interface was created with the view that people have nothing better to do than 'play' and 'socialize' all day -- I really don't get it. Your instructions allow me to auto-bypass all the Windows 8 non-sense, and go right to my desktop for my work on WORD, OUTLOOK, etc. Hopefully, Microsoft will not sneak in some sort of update to cripple this wonderful fix of yours. Great work and thanks!

you can put the same short cut right in the start up menu.
however, windows 8 has made this harder than it's ever been and harder than it has to be.
even tho we can easily find the start menu in task manager now, it's impossible to place anything there.
you must find the start menu and add a new shortcut there.

Nice Article... Learning a lot here..

This looks like a way to boot to a "clean" desktop (no Explorer window visible)
Sourced from http://superuser.com/a/433444

Create an ahk text file with the two lines below, compile it with Autohotkey and add the compiled application as a scheduled task using the method above.

WinWaitActive Start menu ahk_class ImmersiveLauncher
WinMinimizeAll

I don't have access to Win8 right now, so any AHK users please test to let us know if this works!

make a bat file with the exit command in it and launch that with the task scheduler, it does the same thing but leaves nothing behind like launching explorer does. Also if you have things you want to do with automation at startup then you could do it with that batch.

I'm sure this would work with power shell as well....but I'm old fashioned.

but again, why use scheduler instead of simply put anything of this nature in the start up folder...?

I asked earlier about the Startup folder

http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-397843-3723776

It isn't obvious; you have to jump through a hoop to get to it.

The whole classic Start menu structure and functionality is present in Win8.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp

The tiles on the Metro start screen are drawn from the classic folders, and programs like Classic Shell make easily accessible that which Microsoft has stupidly chosen to hide.

For those who want to open a specific file upon log on, ( I was one of those people) you can use the same technique.

Create a task following the steps above but in Step/Figure H - in the program/script box you direct it to the executable file of the program that need to run the file you want to be open on your desktop. ie: "C:\Programs Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15\EXCEL.EXE" Then, in the box below that is labeled Add Arguments you enter the path to the file you want opened. ie: "C:\users\John Doe\my documents\schedule.xlsx" Then to test it log off and back on, when you click on the desktop it will have loaded the program and opened that file.

Just thought I would throw that out there for those who are like me and have a spreadsheet that is always in need of being opened on the desktop. (and for me, keeps me on track and I don't forget to look at it because it's not in front of me and opened) LOL

Now if you could just invent a scheduled task that would create a "Start Button" I would actually think about keeping Windows 8. But as it is, I just purchased a new copy of Windows 7 and I'm headed back "Where Everybody Knows My Name". I've tried hard, but I just can't get comfortable with Windows 8.

And I've been a Microsoft guy since MS-DOS came on 5.25 in floppies (still have my original MS-DOS disks and my IBM PC-XT). I've weathered all of the iterations of Windows, Windows 3,0, Windows for WorkGroups, Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, VISTA, and Windows 7. I never thought I'd ever be thinking of buying an Apple, but If I have to start all over and learn something new, it is darn sure going to be something proven. Windows 8 looks to me like it won't be with us long. Unfortunately for many of those of us who get out of bed every morning and then log on while the coffee is brewing, it appears that Microsoft may not be a part of our future either. And, did I mention, I am a stockholder.

The complete steps to make Windows 8 go directly to the desktop (disable the smart screen when loggin) can be found here
http://mauriciogracia.com/win8desktop/

How utterly ridiculous that you have to go through all this just to boot to the desktop. Why does Microsoft makes things so difficult? Inexperienced users have enough difficulty with the simpler things. Experienced users have to get a road map. How much did they pay the idiot that came up with this?