Windows 8 Preview – How to Disable the Start Screen

windows 8windows-8-previewwindows-registry

The old advice to set the REG_DWORD value named RPEnabled (some sources claim it's RPEnable) under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer to 0 doesn't work anymore since the Consumer Preview (i.e. now also for the Release Preview). Yes, I tried both RPEnabled and RPEnable.

How can I log into the system and be presented the desktop instead of the metro start screen? I got rid of the lock screen already, so this is the missing piece in the puzzle of making Windows 8 Release Preview usable.

Best Answer

  1. Create an Explorer script file that launches the desktop. Open Notepad and paste or type in the following text:

    [Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=Explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

    Save the file as showmydestkop.scf and put it in a location you’ll easily remember.

  2. Launch Windows Task Scheduler. You can find Task Scheduler by using Windows 8's built-in search or by navigating to the Administrative Tools section of Control Panel.

    1. Select Task Scheduler Library in the left window pane.

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    2. Right click in the task area and select Create New Task.

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    3. Enter a name (ex: ShowDesktop) on the General tab.

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    4. Set the task to trigger at log on by clicking new on the trigger tab, and selecting "At log on" from the Begin Task list.

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    5. Make your script an action by clicking New on the Action tab, selecting "Start a program" from the Action menu, and entering the full path of showmydesktop.scf (ex: C:\myscripts\showmydesktop.scf) in the Program/script field.

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    6. Toggle off "Stop if the computer switches to battery power" on the conditions tab. You want to log in to the desktop whether your notebook is plugged in or not.

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    7. Click Ok and close the Task Manager.

The next time you log in, whether at boot up or after log out, the desktop will launch shortly after the Metro screen loads.

Source of Information

EDIT: If you also want the classic XP start menu on the Desktop, install Classic Shell

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