Windows 8.1 could let you skip the Metro Start screen and go straight to desktop

By Gloria Sin April 15, 2013

twitter windows 8 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unless you have a touchscreen on your Windows 8 device, the colorful tiles on the home screen is not the most intuitive to navigate with just your touchpad or mouse, especially if you just want to jump right into Desktop Mode to use your computer beyond the latest social media updates. But with the Windows 8 Start screen as it is currently designed, you have to take that extra step of tapping on the Desktop tile to access the rest of your device.

If the beta code found in a recent build of Windows 8.1 is any indication, the upcoming update to Windows 8 will allow users to boot right to the desktop, while keeping the tiled interface as an alternative home screen for touch devices. (In case you’re confused, Windows 8.1 is expected to be the official name for the next iteration of Windows 8; you might be more familiar with its code name Blue.)

leaked win8.1 code_microsoft portal — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to the Russian tech site Microsoft Portal, there is apparently a line of beta code in a build of Windows 8.1’s “twinui.dll” file that is “responsible for disabling the Start Screen,” and after disabling or modifying the code, it makes the system “go to the desktop automatically,” as reported by WinBeta. We tried visiting its source but it seems the page no longer exists. That said, the above photo of the code seems to back up what the Russian site initially published.

Who knows if this code will make it to the final release of Windows 8.1, but at least you know Microsoft is certainly aware of your gripes and it is working on ways to better cater to how you actually use the operating system, rather than force you to make extra clicks to get to your desktop. Besides letting you boot directly to desktop mode, what other navigation improvements would you like to see in Windows 8.1?

[Image originally posted Microsoft Portal, via WinBeta]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…

Computing

Get $1,100 off this Alienware gaming PC with RTX 4090, 64GB of RAM

Alienware Aurora R15 placed at an angle on a table.

Dell is always a good place to check for awesome gaming PC deals, with one such highlight being able to save a huge $1,100 off the Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop, which is packing some of the best hardware around. Usually priced at $3,900, it’s down to $2,800 for a limited time. An ideal investment for gamers who want to enjoy high-end gaming for a long time to come, here’s all you need to know before you commit to the buy button.

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop
Dell is responsible for some of the best gaming PCs around so you’re in fantastic hands with the Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop. It has an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor with a massive 64GB of memory. We’re still pleased to see gaming rigs with 32GB of memory so seeing double that amount is a true delight. It’s the kind of forward thinking which means this is a gaming rig that is built to last for a long time before you have to tweak settings.

Computing

Best printer deals: 10+ cheap printers on sale as low as $79

An HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e all-in-one printer rests on a white table with plants and a thumb drive beside it.

Even though going digital has become easier than ever, there is still a need to print, especially if you're a small or medium business. Luckily, the world of printers hasn't slowed down at all in the past few years, so whether you need to print character sheets for your D&D campaign or receipts for your business, there are a lot of printers to pick from. In fact, some of the best printer brands on the market have a lot of solid options, including in the budget range for those who don't need a ton of printing. And while it may be hard to find a good deal on the best printers, we're pretty sure our collection of deals will get you pretty close.
Canon Pixma TR4722 -- $79, was $99

While it isn’t one of the best all-in-one printers, it’s certainly one of the most affordable. There’s something to be said about a printer that can come in at such a low price yet still offer quality printing. This printer will work well in any home, apartment, or dorm room setting. It even goes beyond printing and is capable of making copies, scanning, and faxing. It connects easily to your devices with built-in wireless connectivity, and it can print at a rate of about nine pages per minute monochrome and four pages per minute color.

Computing

Save $450 on this 17-inch HP gaming laptop with an RTX 4060

An HP Omen 17 laptop on a desk.

Over at HP, there are some excellent gaming laptop deals with $450 off the HP Omen 17t gaming laptop. Usually it costs $1,700, but right now you can buy the gaming laptop for $1,250 so you save $450 off the regular price. A great deal for anyone who wants a mid-range gaming laptop for less, let’s take a look at what it offers before you tap the buy button below.

Why you should buy the HP Omen 17t
HP isn’t listed on our look at the best gaming laptop brands but it’s still well worth considering thanks to the Omen range being pretty good for gaming. This particular model has a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13700Hx processor paired up with 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage.