stupid question about Windows 8

[gregbradley]

I have gotten a new laptop and I have a silly question.

Where do you find your programs in Windows 8?

There's no start button anymore and I can't find the programs listed anywhere.

Greg.

[pluto (Hugh)]

If you hit the Windows key or start button you'll get taken to the "Modern" start screen. On that screen, in the bottom left corner, there's an arrow pointing down. If you click it you'll see a list of all your installed applications, kind of like the old start menu. This layout is pretty annoying to use with a mouse/touchpad/stylus but is actually pretty good on a touch screen.

You can also press <windows key> + "F" and in the search thing (make sure the pulldown is set to "everywhere") start typing the name of the app you want and it should show up.

If you don't like the new start menu then get "Start8" to get a classic start menu. Or wait a couple more weeks and install windows 10 which has a start menu with a lot of the old features.

[gregbradley]

Thanks a million Hugh. So programs got renamed to Apps at some point in time? I must have missed that memo.



Greg.

[glend (Glen)]

Make sure you turn off all the helper functions, and do a registry clean on it, it will speed it up. Win 8 can be a dog unless you strip out the background tasks. There are a number of Win 8 speed up tutorials online.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

Once you find your faves, you can put them onto a classic start screen as icons.

[gregbradley]

All good tips, thanks.

I must say Wins 8 seems to be targeting those who want to use their computer as an internet access only.

Greg.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Yup, it's the pits for business or computer nerd users. Tries to manage you instead of doing as it is told.
Try a Right mouse click down bottom left of screen in the modern screen mode.
All the 'old apps' Ctl Panel and CMD etc are available..
Pretty picture on top, same stuff underneath ...

[acropolite (Phil)]

At the risk of upsetting the few who like the W8.x GUI, I'd suggest downloading classic shell start menu. It's an open source start button interface and fixes most of what's wrong with win 8.

www.classicshell.net

[pixelsaurus (Mike)]

Are there any stupid questions regarding Win 8? Can 8.1 be tamed? I recently bought an Acer Aspire E5 and it was full of junkware. I paid a techie to remove it all, including McAfee, but it still runs like a bag of pus. It has limited internet connection but just about everything I run wants to call home. The other issue I have had with it is the Win 8.1 thinks the lappy has a touch screen installed. Took me half a day to find out how to turn the icons off. Roll on Win 10.

[leon]

Yep Win 8 was and is dreadful, I move to 8.1 an all is well.

Leon

[Kal (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

I have gotten a new laptop and I have a silly question.

Where do you find your programs in Windows 8?

There's no start button anymore and I can't find the programs listed anywhere.

Greg.

Thank god windows 10 is just around the corner, free upgrade if you want it & start button makes a comeback

[Garbz (Chris)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

At the risk of upsetting the few who like the W8.x GUI, I'd suggest downloading classic shell start menu. It's an open source start button interface and fixes most of what's wrong with win 8.

www.classicshell.net

You're not upsetting anyone. It's not that people don't like it, some do (I don't know why), but it's hard to upset people when you're proposing installing software that augments a system rather than replacing it.

I actually use Windows 8.1 on a touchscreen device and I also have Classic Shell installed.


That said Windows 10 is due out in 14 days. I would just wait as the startmenu is making a full comeback.

[Octane (Humayun)]

If you want a laugh, watch Windows 8 review videos on YouTube.

Then, read the comments.

H