No Booting Straight to Desktop in Windows 8

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Sorry, you'll just have to tolerate the blocky new tiled interface in Windows 8 until after the boot process is done.

CNET reports that users of the recently-leaked RTM builds of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 have discovered that one of the tweaks Microsoft has made since the launch of the last public test build, Windows 8 Release Preview, centers on the boot process. Microsoft is reportedly now blocking users from bypassing the boxy Start screen, preventing them from booting straight into Desktop mode.

Previous test builds allowed Windows 8 users to create a shortcut that switches to the Windows 8 desktop. If the user didn't want to boot their machine into the tiled desktop UI (formerly known as Metro), they could simply schedule this shortcut to be activated immediately after logging into the user's account.

Rafael Rivera, coauthor of the forthcoming Windows 8 Secrets, has reportedly verified with RTM downloaders that Microsoft's block of the boot bypass is indeed in place. He also believes that Microsoft has blocked the ability for administrators to use Group Policy to allow users to bypass the tiled startup screen. That said, it seems that Microsoft is trying to keep the desktop of old out of sight, hoping users will simply grow accustomed to the new blocky era of Windows.

As CNET points out, there are a number of shortcuts in Windows 8 that are designed to help users that are resistant to change, allowing them to slip in and out of Desktop mode more quickly and easily. These include Windows + D, Windows + B, and Windows + M. But as we reported last week, Microsoft is getting ready to launch Windows 8-specific peripherals that will make the tiled touch aspect a bit easier to navigate for those without actual touchscreens.

Reports of Microsoft's block of the Start screen bypass may not be good news for business owners looking to upgrade their desktops. The big issue is time and money that will be spent retraining employees on how to use the new Windows interface, and how to deal with life without a Start button. Like id Software's John Carmack, they may be quite content with Windows 7 and see no need to rush into disrupting the office with a new tiled, touch-based UI.

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Kevin Parrish
183 Comments Comment from the forums
  • EDVINASM
    Best of luck and good bye Windows 8. Hopefully Windows 9 will be a "smarter" OS.
    Reply
  • Reveyah
    Well I will be sticking with Windows 7, so far everything I see about Windows 8 Makes me hate it.
    Reply
  • oneblackened
    Well, this just looks terrible. Why would any user of a PC in their right mind "upgrade" to this?
    Reply
  • TheDane
    Fail MS!
    Reply
  • ricdiculus
    And there you have it. Enjoy!
    Reply
  • captainblacko
    Im interested to see what Novell's stance on Windows 8 is.
    Reply
  • EzioAs
    Screw win 8, it just keeps getting worse. What's next? Maybe it will have no support for keyboard and mouse?
    Reply
  • extremepcs
    "Microsoft is getting ready to launch Windows 8-specific peripherals that will make the tiled touch aspect a bit easier to navigate for those without actual touchscreens."

    So we have to get rid of our mouse now, too?
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    I don't understand why MS is so insistent on forcing people to the Start screen. If people use mostly desktop applications and interfaces, then we should be allowed to go straight to that if we want to. I also do not understand why Metro needs to be a 'full screen experience' on desktop computers. Why not make and option to have it as a 1024x768 pop-up in the corner which can be toggled to full screen via the good 'ol alt+enter command? Or if we must insist on a full screen, then can we have metro take advantage of my 1200p screen? having nearly 1/2 the screen as dead space makes for a lot of unnecessary scrolling that could be otherwise avoided. Search and other features make good use of the full screen, so why not the main start page?

    At the same time I don't get the whole hate for the 'not metro' interface. After moving things around a bit and pinning contacts to the start screen I actually find it quite useful for my own use and workflow. It is still no replacement for the desktop (and desktop is where I spend most of my time), but as a replacement for the start menu the new start screen and charms menu are awesome.
    Reply
  • hotroderx
    I wonder who has the bigger smile right now Apple or major Linux Distro's. Its painfully obvious Microsoft no longer wants to stay in business. A 10 year old could tell you trying to force something on people cause you like it is a bad idea. I wonder what Microsoft was thinking when it comes to business users. I could see metro maybe being useful on a POS but thats it. With this latest change not even sure if it would be then.
    Reply