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RazzyW8
@rr.com

RazzyW8 to JohnInSJ

Anon

to JohnInSJ

Re: [WIN8] Some Observations about Windows 8

I am sorry but the Start screen IS for the desktop also. Why is it when you install desktop applications it'll put icons on the start screen? Even Microsoft said this.

DarkLogix
Texan and Proud
Premium Member
join:2008-10-23
Baytown, TX

DarkLogix to JohnInSJ

Premium Member

to JohnInSJ
said by JohnInSJ:

said by plencnerb:

I enabled the built-in administrator account as that is where I install all my applications.

Why not just create a user account with admin privileges, and use that to do any admin work? You don't ever need to use the built in Administrator account. Why do people still treat windows like it was windowsXP?

Who ever used XP like that?

JohnInSJ
Premium Member
join:2003-09-22
Aptos, CA

JohnInSJ

Premium Member

said by DarkLogix:

said by JohnInSJ:

said by plencnerb:

I enabled the built-in administrator account as that is where I install all my applications.

Why not just create a user account with admin privileges, and use that to do any admin work? You don't ever need to use the built in Administrator account. Why do people still treat windows like it was windowsXP?

Who ever used XP like that?

Running as the built-in Admin account? ~ 95%
JohnInSJ

JohnInSJ to RazzyW8

Premium Member

to RazzyW8
said by RazzyW8 :

I am sorry but the Start screen IS for the desktop also. Why is it when you install desktop applications it'll put icons on the start screen? Even Microsoft said this.

yes, but the Metro behavior is the default behavior for everything you put there. You want it to act like the desktop, you keep it on the desktop.

Freddy
Premium Member
join:2005-05-17
Arlington, VA

Freddy to RazzyW8

Premium Member

to RazzyW8
RazzyW8,

I don't know why Microsoft made Win8 to include icons on the Start screen for installed desktop programs.

Maybe it's done to help people who don't know how to get to their desktop, or don't want to take the time to get to their desktop (get to work fast).

Maybe it's for people who don't know that their programs have icons on the desktop. Maybe it's for cases where installed programs don't put icons on the desktop. Maybe Microsoft is just covering all its bases. Maybe someone can think of other reasons for putting desktop icons on the Start screen.

When I first set up my Win8 system, I thought I'd use the Start screen for all my desktop programs. I thought the Start screen looked nice and was a great change from the traditional desktop.

However, I soon learned that when I launched a desktop program from the Start screen, Windows kicked me to the desktop anyway. Soon, I decided to remove all my desktop program "tiles" from the Start screen and establish them as icons, as usual, on the traditional desktop. That's the way I'm configured now.

I've put traditional icons on the desktop for any and all programs I normally use, or use occasionally. Most installed programs put icons on the desktop anyway. If not, I can always find the installed program or utility or whatever on the hard drive, right click the executable, and select "Send to desktop as an icon," or similar wording. By this approach, I almost never need the Start menu. I don't miss it at all.

I'm leaving the so called Metro tiles on the Start screen and using the Start screen only for those apps. This works for me.

Freddy
SipSizzurp
Fo' Shizzle
Premium Member
join:2005-12-28
Houston, TX

SipSizzurp

Premium Member

said by Freddy:

However, I soon learned that when I launched a desktop program from the Start screen, Windows kicked me to the desktop anyway.

That freaked me out too. If I'm using Metro there is a reason for it, and I would like to stay there. Why couldn't they just run the program and leave you in the environment you found it in ?

plencnerb
Premium Member
join:2000-09-25
53403-1242

plencnerb to RazzyW8

Premium Member

to RazzyW8
said by RazzyW8 :

I am sorry but the Start screen IS for the desktop also. Why is it when you install desktop applications it'll put icons on the start screen? Even Microsoft said this.

My thoughts exactly. "Metro" is Microsoft's new version of the Start Button. Or, better words would be "Start Screen".

If it was not, there would still be a "start button" in Windows 8, and all the arguments and debates that we have all had for the past 9 months would have been moot!

--Brian
plencnerb

plencnerb to DarkLogix

Premium Member

to DarkLogix
said by DarkLogix:

said by JohnInSJ:

said by plencnerb:

I enabled the built-in administrator account as that is where I install all my applications.

Why not just create a user account with admin privileges, and use that to do any admin work? You don't ever need to use the built in Administrator account. Why do people still treat windows like it was windowsXP?

Who ever used XP like that?

At the company I used to work for, we did just that. Our install process for the corporate image involved using the local administrator account to do the following

• Install Drivers
• Install initial set of Hotfixes and any service packs
• Join Machine to the company domain
• Configure OS (set time zone, power options, Internet options, DNS, DHCP, and so on)
• Install Applications

When we moved to Windows 7, we did the same thing, after we enabled the administrator account.

I do it that way at home, as I was the one at my company who worked on the image builds. I liked how well it worked that I just continue to do it that way. Could I have just installed Windows XP (or Vista, or Windows 7, or Windows 8) at home, use the one account that I setup on install, and go from there? Of course I could. I did not really need to go though all the extra steps that I did when I was building a desktop or laptop image for a company. I just do, because I liked how well it worked, I had the process down, so why change?

--Brian

JohnInSJ
Premium Member
join:2003-09-22
Aptos, CA

JohnInSJ to plencnerb

Premium Member

to plencnerb
said by plencnerb:

said by RazzyW8 :

I am sorry but the Start screen IS for the desktop also. Why is it when you install desktop applications it'll put icons on the start screen? Even Microsoft said this.

My thoughts exactly. "Metro" is Microsoft's new version of the Start Button. Or, better words would be "Start Screen".

If it was not, there would still be a "start button" in Windows 8, and all the arguments and debates that we have all had for the past 9 months would have been moot!

--Brian

who knows the strategy. On RT, there is a desktop but it only works for office (and powershell... which is funny) so everything is in the windows 8 market UI (or whatever its called) - on the non-RT windows 8, you have a mishmash of environments. So sometimes you're in a more RTish world, sometimes not. There is no start button in W8 because Microsoft would like you to get used to metro apps. But there is a lot of legacy apps out there, and a lot of people who really would freak out if the desktop went away. So you have the Frankenstein monster for now. Eventually it will all get sorted out and we will love it. Surely.

plencnerb
Premium Member
join:2000-09-25
53403-1242

plencnerb to JohnInSJ

Premium Member

to JohnInSJ
said by JohnInSJ:

said by RazzyW8 :

I am sorry but the Start screen IS for the desktop also. Why is it when you install desktop applications it'll put icons on the start screen? Even Microsoft said this.

yes, but the Metro behavior is the default behavior for everything you put there. You want it to act like the desktop, you keep it on the desktop.

That really is what I think we are all trying to figure out here.

We know that there is no longer a "start menu" in Windows 8 that is comparable to the "start menu" in Windows 7, Vista, or XP. Instead we have "Metro / Start Screen".

The way I see that interface, you have two different types of things you can do in there. You can have "Apps" like "Weather, Sports, Stocks, Music, Bing" and so on. All of those came out of the "App Store". The ones that come pre-installed in Windows 8 are probably free from the App Store. Others you have to pay for.

These "Apps" function as "Live Tiles", meaning (at least to me), their icons are not static. They update, showing new information (updated weather forecast, changing sports scores, breaking news items, etc), and they do that without you clicking on them. That is what makes them new and unique. When you do click on them, you get a full screen view of that application. From what I have seen, if you are in the News app, and want to share what you are reading with friends, you can either tie it to the people app, or the e-mail app with a few simple clicks. Its all very cool and the way computing is going (at least from the mobile side of things). I actually like that a lot from a usability standpoint.

THEN you have in this new interface a section that says "All Apps". Clicking on it you get a 2nd screen of "Icons". They are not "live tiles" like on the first screen, as they are all the same square size, and none of them update. You also have things like "Windows Accessories", "Windows Tools", and so on. Basically, any folder and its associated set of Icons from the following two directory locations shows up on this screen

• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
• C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

(xxx = a specific user account).

This is exactly how the "Start Menu" worked in Windows 7. When you clicked on "All Programs" you got a similar list.

There is nothing stopping you from "Pinning" any item from the 2nd "All Apps" screen to the main screen. This makes getting at your most used applications or items very easy.

Microsoft did not limit what could be displayed inside the new Metro / Start Screen GUI. There is no rule that says "Only Applications downloaded and installed from the Microsoft Store are the only ones that can be displayed and run from inside of this interface". As I said above, if there is a folder or icon in one of those two directory locations, it will show up on the 2nd "All Apps" screen in the new Metro / Start Screen UI.

Because of that, Microsoft SHOULD have been able to figure out what is a "Metro App" and what is not, and code the launching of said app to match it. If not, then maybe they should not have allowed "Non Metro Apps" in there to begin with.

--Brian
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20 to Freddy

Premium Member

to Freddy
The problem with the icons on the desktop on Win 8 is that they are GIGANTIC and will quickly cover the desktop area. They cannot be made smaller, that I can find...just as I can't make the systray icons tiny or closer together and they sprawl completely across the taskbar... because there is no Item list anymore in Advanced Display Properties. Plus, my little free DeskSweeper program that has worked on all versions of Windows since Windows 95 installs on Win 8 but won't sweep the desktop icons to hide them when I click the desksweeper icon in the systray. That is so sad.

I don't want to look at the icons ...especially not gigantic ones. I only want to see them on the desktop if I need to click on one. Desksweeper also will not shut the computer down for me anymore or reboot it, etc. I am a traditionalist and I don't believe in throwing the baby away with the dirty bathwater which is what Win 8 does and it is completely a NO-NO on a desktop computer. I have no quarrel with Metro on mobile devices but Microsoft should be shot for putting that on desktop computers.

I am already requesting return authorization on the new computer.
Mele20

Mele20 to JohnInSJ

Premium Member

to JohnInSJ
Don't tell me that anyone who values their privacy will "love" getting applications from the Microsoft store! I won't ever get any from there. I set up a LOCAL user account (over Microsoft's protests) when I first turned on the new Win 8 Pro machine. I have NO intention of ever setting up a Microsoft account.

I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

said by Mele20:

I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

I'd say that you would be better off switching to Linux.

BTW, excellent Video that explains why Windows 8 is like no other.
»[Info] The Story of the Design of Windows 8 by Jensen Harris

plencnerb
Premium Member
join:2000-09-25
53403-1242

plencnerb

Premium Member

I was debating about posting this, but I think it is something that I should do.

First, I'm going to list my hardware that I'm using. This way, people can see what I have, and how it compares to their system.

  • Apevia Iceberg 680-Watt Power Supply
  • Apevia X-Cruiser2 Metal Mid-Tower Case - Black, Side Window
  • ASUS Motherboard - AMD 880GX, Socket AM3
  • AMD Athlon II X4 635 Processor - Quad Core, 2.90GHz, Socket AM3
  • Corsair 4GB, PC10666, DDR3-1333MHz
  • Corsair 4GB, PC10666, DDR3-1333MHz
  • Corsair 4GB, PC10666, DDR3-1333MHz
  • Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler
  • EVGA GeForce GT 220 Video Card - 1024MB DDR3, PCI-Express 2.0
  • Logitech Optical Mouse
  • LG Optical Internal DVDRW Drive - 24x Serial ATA Technology
  • OEM 3.5" Internal Memory Card Reader
  • Viewsonic LED 22" Widescreen LED Monitor

    All items were purchased from TigerDirect.

    As far as the Hard Drive, since this is my test system, I'm using an 80 GB ATA / 133 Maxtor. It is EIDE, so its performance is not as fast as the SATA Drives are. However, since I did not want to nuke my existing system, but use my hardware, this was the best option for me.

    Below is EVERY step that I did when I built my "test" Windows 8 system. I will say it is very long, and very detailed. So, you all have been warned!

  • Install Windows 8 Pro
    Below are the options that I changed during the install. I choose the "Customize" option, and not the "Express setup"

    Turn on Sharing and Connect to Devices (selected)

    Windows Update
    Don't Setup Windows Update

    Automatically get device drivers, apps, and info for new devices
    Off

    Used a local account, and not a Microsoft Account

    Once the OS was installed, I then went ahead and began to setup and configure my Windows 8 System.

  • Enable Admin Account

  • Login to Admin account

  • Modify the Time Zone to be (UTC-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

  • Unpin all items from the taskbar

  • Modify the Taskbar Properties
    Taskbar Tab
    Taskbar buttons: Never Combine
    Notification Area: Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar
    Jump Lists Tab
    Uncheck both privacy checkboxes

  • Modify Windows Explorer (View / Options / Change folder and search options)
    View Tab
    Display the full path in the title bar (check)
    Show hidden files, folder, and drives (check)
    Hide empty drives in the Computer folder (uncheck)
    Hide extensions for known types (uncheck)
    Use Sharing Wizard (uncheck)

  • Disable Hibernation by going to a command prompt, and typing powercfg.exe /hibernate off

  • Change the Recycle Bin Properties so that the option "Display delete confirmation dialog" box is checked.

  • Configure locations for each of the libraries (documents, music, pictures, videos)
    From Windows Explorer, click on the library
    Click Manage
    Click Manage Library
    Remove the reference to the public save location.

  • Uninstall the following apps from the Metro Screen
    Weather
    Bing
    Maps
    Sports
    Finance
    Photos
    SkyDrive
    Music
    Video
    Games
    Camera
    Reader (this is on the all apps screen)
    Messenging, Calendar, People, Mail (Uninstall one, and it will uninstall the rest)

  • If there are any other Tiles left on the main metro screen (outside of apps that I am keeping and the desktop tile), unpin them.

  • Clean up the "All Apps" part of metro
    Create a folder on the desktop called "Default Start Menu Items"

    Browse to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

    Move all the folders and shortcuts to the "Default Start Menu Items" folder except those listed below
    Administrative Tools folder
    Startup Folder
    Desktop shortcut

    Browse to C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

    Move all the folders and shortcuts to the "Default Start Menu Items" folder except those listed below
    Administrative Tools
    Startup

    Cleanup the items in the "Default Start Menu Items" folder so that there is only a root level of folders (no sub-folders). The logic here is that once we are done, and we move these back, the folders will become the headings in the "All Apps" area of Metro.

  • Copy the Control Panel shortcut from inside the "Default Start Menu Items" folder on the desktop to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
    We do this so we can get at it during the build process

  • Turn off the firewall (Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Firewall)
    Turn Windows Firewall on or off (settings below are for both Private network settings, and Public network settings)
    Notify me when Windows Firewall blocks a new app (uncheck)
    Turn off Windows Firewall (checked)

  • Install updated or missing drivers inside of Device Manager
    Unknown Device #1 (ATK0110 ACPI on the motherboard)
    Unknown Device #2 (Logitech Quick Cam)
    Updated Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller Network Adapter
    Updated NVIDIA GT220 Display Adapter

  • Prior to the reboot after the video card has been installed do the following
    Uninstall the Nvidia update application.
    Delete the String value AppInit_DLLs from this registy key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

  • Go to Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers
    Right-click and select "Remove Device" for any printers listed.

  • Click the message "Windows can display enhanced device icons and information from the Internet. Click to change..." and then click "Get device information from the Internet"

  • Take the computer out of the default homegroup. (Control Panel\Network and Internet\HomeGroup, then click on "Leave the homegroup")

  • Uncheck Internet Protocol Versioon 6 (TCP/IPv6) (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections, then properties of the Wired NIC)

  • Disable the following services, and stop them if they are running.
    HomeGroup Listener
    HomeGroup Provider
    Windows Firewall

  • Set the short date format to be mm/dd/yyyy (Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region, then "Change date, time, or number formats")

  • Modify the internet time server to be 192.168.0.100 (I do this as this IP is my smoothwall express linux box, which has a built-in time server)

  • Set Power Options (Control Panel\System and Security\Power Options)
    Turn off the display: Never
    Put the computer to sleep: Never
    Turn off hard disk after Setting (Minutes): 0

  • Launch IE (desktop version) and configure it
    General Tab Changes
    Change Home page to be about:blank

    Tabs Button
    Enable Tab Groups (uncheck)
    Delete browsing history on exit (checked)

    Delete Button
    Preserve Favorites website data (uncheck)
    Download History (checked)
    Form Data (checked)
    Passwords (checked)
    ActiveX Filtering and Tracking Protection data (checked)

    Settings Button
    Temporary Internet Files Tab
    Disk space to use: 50 MB

    History Tab
    Days to keep pages in history: 0
    Content Tab Changes
    AutoComplete Settings
    Ask me before saving passwords (uncheck)
    User names and passwords on forms (uncheck)
    Suggesting URLs (uncheck)
    Use Windows Search for better results (uncheck)
    Favorites (uncheck)
    Browsing History (uncheck)
    Address bar (uncheck)

    Advanced Tab Changes
    Notify when downloads complete (uncheck)
    Resume windows for launching shortcuts (uncheck)
    Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder when browser is closed (checked)

    Manage Add-On Changes
    Search Providers
    Search in the address bar (uncheck)
    Prevent programs from suggesting changes to my default search provider (checked)
    Search suggestions: Disabled

    Accelerators
    Remove any that are listed (E-mail with Windows Live, Map with Bing, Translate with Bing)

  • Modify Virtual Memory to be a custom and fixed size, based on the Recommened values given by Windows (put more detail here)
    Automatically manage paging file size for all drives (uncheck)
    Custom Size:
    For the two values below, use whatever windows reports as the "Recommended size" on the same screen.
    Initial Size (MB)
    Maximum Size (MB)

  • Run the tests to compute the Windows Experience Score
    My scores are below
    Processor: 7.2
    Memory (RAM): 7.3
    Graphics: 6.4
    Gaming Graphics: 6.4
    Primary Hard Disk: 4.9

  • Install Silverlight

  • Install Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center

  • Install .NET Framework 3.5 (do this by going into Turn Windows Features on or off, and select it from the list)

  • Get any and all items from Windows Update that apply.

  • Register Windows 8

  • Install the following software
    ISO Recorder
    Burrn
    UltraEdit
    Skype
    Winzip
    Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
    Winamp
    Trillian
    Rainmeter
    TeamViewer
    PDF Creator
    Thunderbird
    DosBox
    Sherlock
    Quicktime
    Microsoft Pinball Arcade
    Waterfox
    Adobe Reader
    Adobe Flash (Note: Only need to install the version for non-IE browsers)
    Java (x86 then x64)
    Frostwire
    Quicken (Once install is done, remove the PDF Printer it creates)
    Microsoft Office 2010 x64 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) Once complete, Launch Word and register the software
    McAfee Enterprise

  • Unpin any new items that were created during step #34 from the first screen of Metro

  • Move any folders / shortcuts that were created during step #34 from the locations below to the desktop
    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
    C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
    C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
    C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
    C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

  • Verify the below registry keys do not contain any items.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (exception here are two items. One for iPoint and one for iType which are needed for my keyboard)
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

  • Organize the items on the desktop and remove duplicates, extra icons, etc. When complete, place the folders into the "Default Start Menu Items" folder.

  • Check Windows Update, and install any security or other updates from Office

  • Move the shortcuts Desktop and Control Panel from the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to the
    folder "Windows System" inside of the "Default Start Menu Items" folder.

  • Move the contents of the "Default Start Menu Items" folder to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

  • Delete the "Default Start Menu Items" folder

  • Set Password on Administrator Account

  • Reboot

  • Login as the local administrator

  • Unpin all icons from the first screen in Metro, except for the shortcut for Sherlock. For some reason, when you unpin this one, Windows
    will remove the shortcut stored in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games, which is where I had it. Not sure why it does this.

  • Log out

  • Login as my user

  • Unpin all items from the taskbar

  • Modify the Taskbar Properties
    Taskbar Tab
    Taskbar buttons: Never Combine
    Notification Area: Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar
    Jump Lists Tab
    Uncheck both privacy checkboxes

  • Modify Windows Explorer (View / Options / Change Folder and search options)
    View Tab
    Display the full path in the title bar (check)
    Show hidden files, folder, and drives (check)
    Hide empty drives in the Computer folder (uncheck)
    Hide extensions for known types (uncheck)
    Use Sharing Wizard (uncheck)

  • Change the Recycle Bin Properties so that the option "Display delete confirmation dialog" box is checked.

  • Configure locations for each of the libraries (documents, music, pictures, videos)
    From Windows Explorer, click on the library
    Click Manage
    CLick Manage Library
    Remove the reference to the public save location. If there are files in the public library, delete them.

  • Uninstall the following apps from the Metro Screen
    Weather
    Bing
    Maps
    Sports
    Finance
    Photos
    SkyDrive
    Music
    Video
    Games
    Camera
    Reader (this is on the all apps screen)
    Messenging, Calendar, People, Mail (Uninstall one, and it will uninstall the rest)

  • If there are any other Tiles left on the main metro screen (outside of Metro Apps that I am keeping and the desktop tile), unpin them.

  • Delete all but the following from C:\Users\Brian A. Plencner\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
    Administrative Tools Folder
    Startup Folder

  • Set the short date format to be mm/dd/yyyy (Control Panel\Clock, Language, and Region, then "Change date, time, or number formats")

  • Launch IE (desktop version) and configure it
    General Tab Changes
    Change Home page to be about:blank
    Delete browsing history on exit (checked)
    Tabs Button
    Enable Tab Groups (uncheck)
    Delete Button
    Preserve Favorites website data (uncheck)
    Download History (checked)
    Form Data (checked)
    Passwords (checked)
    ActiveX Filtering and Tracking Protection data (checked)
    Settings Button
    Temporary INternet Files Tab
    Disk space to use: 50
    History Tab
    Days to keep pages in history: 0
    Content Tab Changes
    AutoComplete Settings
    Ask me before saving passwords (uncheck)
    User names and passwords on forms (uncheck)
    Suggesting URLs (uncheck)
    Use Windows Search for better results (uncheck)
    Favorites (uncheck)
    Browsing History (uncheck)
    Address bar (uncheck)

    Advanced Tab Changes
    Notify when downloads complete (uncheck)
    Resume windows for launching shortcuts (uncheck)
    Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder when browser is closed (checked)

    Manage Add-On Changes
    Search Providers
    Search in the address bar (uncheck)
    Prevent programs from suggesting changes to my default search provider (checked)
    Search suggestions: Disabled
    Toolsbars and Extensions
    Disable All listed Add-ons and Extensions
    Accelerators
    Remove any that are listed (E-mail with Windows Live, Map with Bing, Translate with Bing)

  • Launch the following Software, and configure it
    Windows Media Player

  • Restore User Data

  • Configure Desktop background to be all the pictures from the "Desktop Wallpaper"
    folder. Verify that the picture position is set to "Fill" and the Change Picture
    every is set to "1 day", with shuffle enabled

  • Configure RainMeter, by using just the Weather app. The data will be in my Documents folder, and should load
    once I reboot after the data has been restored.
    Also, add the follwoing in the registry at this location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    Name = RainMeter
    Type = String Value
    Data = C:\Program Files\Rainmeter\Rainmeter.exe
    Make sure there is no shortcut in the start menu folders

  • Install Bonic
    Note: Before the reboot takes place, restore the data for BONIC to C:\ProgramData\Bonic

  • Launch and configure the following software
    Burrn
    UltraEdit
    Skype
    Winzip
    Winamp
    FrostWire
    Trillian
    TeamViewer
    Thunderbird
    Sherlock
    Quicktime
    Microsoft Pinball Arcade
    Waterfox
    Adobe Reader
    Quicken
    Logitec Webcam
    PDF Creator
    Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
    Microsoft Word
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft PowerPoint

    Special Note about Waterfox
    To verify that my backup script to save all my data runs correctly, I have to change one default setting in the browser
    that will export the bookmarks to an html file every time the browser is closed.
    To do this, do the following steps
    1) Open the browser
    2) Type "about:config" in the address bar
    3) If you get a warning, click yes as we know what we are doing
    4) Search for the Preference Name "browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML"
    5) Change the value from false to true

  • Pin the following to the first Metro Screen
    Control Panel
    Paint
    Windows Media Center
    Burrn
    FrostWire
    Quicken
    TeamViewer
    Trillian
    UltraEdit
    Winamp
    Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
    Microsoft Pinball Arcade
    Sherlock
    Microsoft Excel
    Microsoft Word

  • Setup scheduled task that runs daily at 1 AM to back up my data

  • Set Password on my user account

    So, there you have it. As I had mentioned in a few threads, this is what I was working on. It is of course a work in progress, and I'm open for suggestions, comments, or questions about any of the above steps.

    Why did I post this? I think its important for everyone to see how I build my system, in regards to the questions I am asking, and how I will use my system in the end.

    Again, sorry about the length, but I think it is important to see what modifications I'm making, and how I'm installing Windows 8 as far as how it relates to the questions and observations I made at the start of this thread.

    --Brian

  • JohnInSJ
    Premium Member
    join:2003-09-22
    Aptos, CA

    JohnInSJ to Mele20

    Premium Member

    to Mele20
    said by Mele20:

    The problem with the icons on the desktop on Win 8 is that they are GIGANTIC and will quickly cover the desktop area.

    So organize them into folders. Hell, call the one on the desktop "Start". Go crazy and pin that one folder to the taskbar. Gee, look, it's like a Start menu.
    JohnInSJ

    1 recommendation

    JohnInSJ to mozerd

    Premium Member

    to mozerd
    said by mozerd:

    said by Mele20:

    I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

    I'd say that you would be better off switching to Linux.

    Or going off the grid completely.

    RazzyW8
    @rr.com

    RazzyW8 to Mele20

    Anon

    to Mele20
    said by Mele20:

    Don't tell me that anyone who values their privacy will "love" getting applications from the Microsoft store! I won't ever get any from there. I set up a LOCAL user account (over Microsoft's protests) when I first turned on the new Win 8 Pro machine. I have NO intention of ever setting up a Microsoft account.

    I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

    You disabled Secure Boot? Why? It's a lot more secure that way. If I have an OEM PC I'd leave secure boot enabled. I recommend every customers to have secure boot if the option is available. Only reason why you should disable Secure Boot if you want to install Windows XP/7 or Linux.

    Microsoft gave you a choice for Local account, let it be. Most of us wants the use Microsoft accounts for ease of use. I really like the sync part.
    67845017 (banned)
    join:2000-12-17
    Naperville, IL

    67845017 (banned) to Mele20

    Member

    to Mele20
    said by Mele20:

    Don't tell me that anyone who values their privacy will "love" getting applications from the Microsoft store! I won't ever get any from there. I set up a LOCAL user account (over Microsoft's protests) when I first turned on the new Win 8 Pro machine. I have NO intention of ever setting up a Microsoft account.

    I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

    Isn't that a little over-dramatic? MS doesn't protest to using a local account. They simply give you a couple of options and let you choose which one you want.
    Glen T
    join:2003-11-03
    BC

    Glen T

    Member

    said by 67845017:

    said by Mele20:

    Don't tell me that anyone who values their privacy will "love" getting applications from the Microsoft store! I won't ever get any from there. I set up a LOCAL user account (over Microsoft's protests) when I first turned on the new Win 8 Pro machine. I have NO intention of ever setting up a Microsoft account.

    I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

    Isn't that a little over-dramatic? MS doesn't protest to using a local account. They simply give you a couple of options and let you choose which one you want.

    Except that if you choose to have only a local account, you can't access the MS App Store and most of the included MS apps don't work, making the whole Start window concept superfluous.
    67845017 (banned)
    join:2000-12-17
    Naperville, IL

    1 edit

    67845017 (banned)

    Member

    I understand, but that wasn't my point.

    Edit: You can access the App Store to browse. You just can't download.

    RazzyW8
    @rr.com

    RazzyW8 to Glen T

    Anon

    to Glen T
    said by Glen T:

    said by 67845017:

    said by Mele20:

    Don't tell me that anyone who values their privacy will "love" getting applications from the Microsoft store! I won't ever get any from there. I set up a LOCAL user account (over Microsoft's protests) when I first turned on the new Win 8 Pro machine. I have NO intention of ever setting up a Microsoft account.

    I have enough problems with disabling secure boot. I don't need anymore booby traps from Microsoft.

    Isn't that a little over-dramatic? MS doesn't protest to using a local account. They simply give you a couple of options and let you choose which one you want.

    Except that if you choose to have only a local account, you can't access the MS App Store and most of the included MS apps don't work, making the whole Start window concept superfluous.

    You can just add a Microsoft account to store only. While being on local account. It's that simple.
    SipSizzurp
    Fo' Shizzle
    Premium Member
    join:2005-12-28
    Houston, TX

    SipSizzurp to Mele20

    Premium Member

    to Mele20
    said by Mele20:

    The problem with the icons on the desktop on Win 8 is that they are GIGANTIC and will quickly cover the desktop area. They cannot be made smaller, ...I don't want to look at the icons ...especially not gigantic ones.

    Start watching at the 6 minute marker ;

    »www.youtube.com/watch?v= ··· DwWeP9MI
    67845017 (banned)
    join:2000-12-17
    Naperville, IL

    67845017 (banned) to RazzyW8

    Member

    to RazzyW8
    Yeah, it's really a non-issue. Unless it's made into one.

    plencnerb
    Premium Member
    join:2000-09-25
    53403-1242

    plencnerb to Glen T

    Premium Member

    to Glen T
    said by Glen T:

    Except that if you choose to have only a local account, you can't access the MS App Store and most of the included MS apps don't work, making the whole Start window concept superfluous.

    Really? My test system that I setup, with the instructions that I posted above, had no problem clicking on the "Store" Application, and browsing all of the apps currently available.

    Not to mention, I was running the Weather, News, and Bing Apps without any problems. I was able to go into them, view different items, and so on. I changed the Weather app to show the weather for at least 3 different locations.

    All that done from a LOCAL account on the system.

    --Brian
    Glen T
    join:2003-11-03
    BC

    Glen T

    Member

    Cool. Someday, when I get a couple of hours, I'll read through your setup instructions and give it a try. In the meantime, out the box, with a typical user setup, it doesn't work.

    RazzyW8
    @rr.com

    RazzyW8

    Anon

    said by Glen T:

    Cool. Someday, when I get a couple of hours, I'll read through your setup instructions and give it a try. In the meantime, out the box, with a typical user setup, it doesn't work.

    It does work.

    Kramer
    Mod
    join:2000-08-03
    Richmond, VA

    Kramer to Mele20

    Mod

    to Mele20
    said by Mele20:

    The problem with the icons on the desktop on Win 8 is that they are GIGANTIC and will quickly cover the desktop area. and They cannot be made smaller, that I can find...just as I can't make the systray icons tiny or closer together they sprawl completely across the taskbar...

    Are you talking about the Desktop or the Metro Tiles? To change the icon sizes on the desktop simply click one and roll the mouse wheel while holding the control key. You pretty much have an infinite size range there. As far as the Systray icons, why not just hide the ones you don't need?

    plencnerb
    Premium Member
    join:2000-09-25
    53403-1242

    plencnerb to Glen T

    Premium Member

    to Glen T
    said by Glen T:

    Cool. Someday, when I get a couple of hours, I'll read through your setup instructions and give it a try. In the meantime, out the box, with a typical user setup, it doesn't work.

    As I said, my setup instructions are quite long, and still a work in progress for me. But by all means, feel free to use whatever part of them you want for your own build process. That's why I'm sharing them!

    One thing I am trying to figure out if I need is in regards to the IE setting modifications. I primary use Waterfox for my web browser. Since I rarely use IE, why go through the steps to modify an application that I would never use. So, I may take that part out.

    --Brian

    Freddy
    Premium Member
    join:2005-05-17
    Arlington, VA

    Freddy to Mele20

    Premium Member

    to Mele20
    Click for full size
    Mele20,

    You said, "The problem with the icons on the desktop on Win 8 is that they are GIGANTIC and will quickly cover the desktop area."

    Are you referring to the "desktop" or to the "Start" screen? Above is a picture of my "desktop." The icons are the same size as those on prior Windows systems. The "Tiles" on the "Start" screen are larger.

    Freddy

    plencnerb
    Premium Member
    join:2000-09-25
    53403-1242

    plencnerb

    Premium Member

    Freddy,

    Since Mele20 lives in Hawaii, they won't answer for quite a number of hours. But, I did want to make a comment about screen size that I believe applies to them.

    In all of the threads that I have read, I seem to recall that the user runs a very low end resolution (like 1024 x 768, or 800 x 600). I know in my case on Windows 7, my resolution is 1680 x 1050, and when I was testing Windows 8 (on the same hardware), I was running at 1920 x 1080 without any problems.

    So, that may be why the icons look "Gigantic" on the desktop, as they are running a very low resolution.

    This would also put some reasoning behind the very tiny icons on the taskbar. At that low of a resolution, and with that many icons, they would probably be two or three rows across the bottom of the entire screen if modifications were not made to the icons themselves. To fix that problem in previous versions of the OS, the user modified the icon size and spacing.

    This brings me to a question, that of course only Mele20 can answer. Maybe its time to run at "native" resolution (or one closer up then they are now), and see how things look. If things are good, then problem solved. If not, figure out what changes need to be made. I know things have changed as far as what one can change (text size, icon size, spacing, etc) over the course of the versions of Windows, but I wonder if it would be easier to approach it from that way.

    --Brian