How to Optimize Windows 8.1 for Laptops (to Be Like Windows 7)

This is a quick tip on how to optimize the latest Windows 8.1 (Preview) version for use on a laptop without touchscreen capability and make it look like and feel like Windows 7 as close as possible.

Windows 8 OS, as well as its latest Windows 8.1 (Preview) version, are oriented toward and optimized for touch input. It’s good for tablets, touchscreen laptops, and touch-enabled all-in-one PCs, but the wast majority of computers out there use only keyboards and trackpads or mice for input. The Metro user interface and its Tiles do look attractive and modern, but those still relying on mouse pointers and physical keyboards will probably have a better experience and productivity on the classic Windows desktop with icons and the Taskbar.

Boot Windows 8.1 Directly to Desktop

Luckily for them, in Windows 8.1 Microsoft has enabled users to optionally select the good old Desktop environment as a default option, bypassing the Metro Start screen at system boot. When you turn on your laptop, you will be taken directly to Desktop, if you previously select that option in the Taskbar and Navigation properties. Previously, to achieve this you had to use third-party Start8 software, but now this can be done very easily within Windows itself.

• After you start your computer, go to the Desktop mode. There are various ways to do that but the easiest is to just click on Windows logo in the bottom left corner.
• Now, when you see Desktop, right-click on empty space on the Taskbar and go to the Properties.
• On the Navigation tab, in the Start Screen section, there’s an option which says “Go to the Desktop instead of Start when I sign in”. Check it and press Apply and OK.

The next time you restart your computer, you’ll be taken directly to the Desktop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL46JDjUCx4

Add Desktop Shortcuts in Windows 8.1

But, you’ll have only the Recycle Bin icon on it and adding new icons isn’t as easy as in Windows 7 where you can browse to a program via the Start Menu and send it to the Desktop as a shortcut.

Here’s a procedure to do that in Windows 8.1. Again, there are multiple ways to achieve the same thing, but the simplest (without leaving the Desktop and going to Metro Start screen) so far is this:

• Hover with mouse pointer over the Windows logo in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click Search and the Search tab will show up on the right side of the screen.
• Start typing in its search field name of the application you want to add as a shortcut icon on your Desktop. For instance, if you want to add Notepad, type “Note” and its icon will show up under the search field. Right click on that icon and click “Open file location”.
• It will open the location of the shortcut in a Windows Explorer window. Right-click on it and go to Send to > “Desktop (create shortcut)”.

You can do the same thing for other applications such as Calculator, Wordpad, etc. Just repeat the procedure and in the Search field instead of “Note” type “Calc”, “Wordpad” or whatever Windows app you choose.

The good thing is that when you download and install a new program such as Google Chrome browser, Windows will create a Desktop icon for it automatically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6zcP7BP9D0

Disable Charms Menu

In addition to these two steps, you can disable Metro’s Charms menu which shows up when you go with the pointer to the right edge of the screen.

• Right-click on the Taskbar, go to Navigation, an in the Corner navigation section uncheck “When I point to the upper-right corner, show the charms” and do Apply and OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kfcJouuTQs

That’s it. You now have a mouse pointer-friendly Windows 7-like experience on your laptop when the Windows 8.1 boots.