MS blocks Windows 8 Start button and boot-to-desktop hacks in latest RTM

[garyopa]

Forcing you to boot into the new UI.



It looks like the leaked builds of Microsoft's Windows 8 blocked the workaround to boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop...

Last week we informed you that the final copy of Windows 8 was leaked Online.

Well, according to some reports, seems that Microsoft blocked the ability to boot straight to the new OS desktop, meaning that you are forced to boot into the new UI (formerly known as Metro).

This gives us a clue of what kinds of user behaviors will and won't be permitted in Windows 8.

"Microsoft made some changes to Windows that prevent the .scf hack from working correctly," said Rafael Rivera in an email reply to questions. Rivera blogs at WithinWindows.com and along with Paul Thurrott, is the co-author of Windows 8 Secrets, a book slated for release next month.

The ".scf hack" Rivera referred to was first disclosed in April, and allowed users of Windows 8 Consumer Preview to circumvent the tile-based Start screen and automatically shift to the familiar desktop after logging on.

Well-known ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley first reported Rivera's conclusions earlier Monday. She also said other hacks, including some that restore the Start button to Windows 8, have been blocked.

That's right, previews versions of Windows 8 could be modified to insert a homemade Start button and bypass the Start screen at log on, but Microsoft has invalidated those work-arounds in the RTM build.

Of course, many business users are fearful of the time and money they are going to need to spend to retrain Windows users with W8...

The lack of the familiar Start button and the inability to sidestep the new Start screen -- two separate, but intertwined issues -- have been sore spots among long-time Windows users, and among the reasons why some research firms have predicted businesses will be slow to adopt the new OS.

However, Rivera also hinted that other tweaks may be able to skirt Microsoft's lock-down. "There's always a thousand more ways to skin a cat," he said.

For example, Start8, a free tool released in March by Stardock, still works in Windows 8 RTM. "Start8 adds a Start button to the Windows desktop and optionally allows users to skip the Start screen at log on".

NEWS SOURCE #1: Microsoft blocks Windows 8 Start button boot to desktop hacks (via) ComputerWorld
NEWS SOURCE #2: Microsoft said to block ability to boot straight to desktop in Windows 8 (via) ZDNet

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[DEDDOA]

Well it all works fine for me, install ClassicShellSetup_3_5_1.exe and then run FxxkMetro while on the desktop and bang, no metro and a start menu, infact a more flexible one than the standard windows 7 one, that said I have not been intrested in using desktop or start menu when trying windows8 so I didn't bother figuring out how to revert the Fxxkmetro hack before wiping it (I only tried them both as a last test before I was done with it). I only put it on my sisters old Dell 1750 to play around with it before wiping it and putting windows 7 on it for one of the neighbours to use. Took 10 minutes by the way, from laptop boot up before installing to finnished and at the metro menu, all on a 2Ghz pentium dual core laptop with standard 250GB hdd and 2GB DDR2, tho I did install off USB which helped, so I'm betting desktop installs, especially onto SSD off of USB3 flash drives, will go like a bat out of hell.

I have to say it's looking better and better for me, I would rather wipe a PC than arse about cleaing it up, so with the cloud features and my keeping most of my folders liek desktop, documents, downloads, favourites etc on a seperate drive, i could get a clean OS in the time it takes to make and drink a cup of coffee, just log back in and change the folder paths and bang everything is back and the OS is clean and speedy (I do tend to make install disks with all the latest updates, so minimal patching and at most the likes of a GFX driver install seeing as how my Wifi is now recognised by default in W8 and I couldn't care less for Soundblaster drivers, the windows surround sound centering is all I need and the MS web cam can do that easy enough).

[DEDDOA]

Just got bored and installed it on my gaming PC, no worries tho as I am defiantly buying it now at launch even with the 2 niggles I have with it (shut down menu and closing out of apps, esc seems the instinctive button to press to close the apps but luckily both niggles have the same key combo, alt+F4 closes apps so they don't linger in the background and it brings up the shut down menu). Seems ClassicShell not only gives you the start menu but hides the Metro menu as well, tho you can still get it from the side menu, so best of both worlds for everyone with all the speedy improvements, tho you can keep the metro menu select in the corner if you move the bar so the Start button is no longer in the same place. Just need to do a restart and see if it does in fact boot straight into desktop.

Yep it does, loads up as the "Metro" menu, but then goes straight to desktop automatically, so all in all a very easy fix for those who don't like metro or would just prefer the desktop of old or just don't care either way and so no need for Fxxkmetro. ClassicShell is the all in one fix.