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

This HP laptop is discounted from $519 to $279

HP 14 laptop with intel Celeron on desk.

There are laptop deals for top-of-the-line machines, but if you only need a basic device for your day-to-day needs, don't spend more than you should by taking advantage of Walmart's offer for the HP 14-inch Laptop. Instead of $519, you'll only have to pay $279 for savings of $240. That's an extremely affordable price for a brand new laptop, but we don't think it will last long. To make sure that you don't miss out on the discount, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the transaction as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the HP 14-inch Laptop
The HP 14-inch Laptop will never be able to match up to the speed of the best laptops, which is expected because of its price. However, if you're thinking about using the device for simple tasks like browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and typing documents, then its 13th-generation Intel Core i3-N305 processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics, and 8GB of RAM will be enough. The laptop also ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed in its 256GB SSD, for an operating system that will be familiar for most people.

Computing

How to connect a keyboard and mouse to the Steam Deck

Steam Deck with Keyboard.

One of the best features of the Steam Deck is its varied controls, from face buttons, to joysticks, to touch controls. But there's never a substitute for a full size keyboard and mouse, and fortunately, you can connect them straight to the Steam Deck. It supports wired and wireless connections, although you'll need a USB hub if you want to use a USB connection.

Computing

This ultra-portable Lenovo 2-in-1 laptop is discounted from $649 to $199

lenovo 500w 2 in 1 laptop deal april 2024 classroom

For super cheap laptop deals, take a look at Lenovo right now. You can pay just $199 and get a Lenovo 500w 2-in-1 laptop. According to Lenovo’s estimated value system, the laptop normally costs $649 which is potentially a little overly optimistic but what we do know is that $199 for a 2-in-1 laptop is incredibly cheap. If you simply want an inexpensive laptop for basic typing of documents or web browsing, you’ll be happy with the Lenovo 500w 2-in-1 laptop. Here’s all we know about it.

Why you should buy the Lenovo 500w 2-in-1 Laptop
The Lenovo 500w 2-in-1 laptop keeps things simple with its hardware but you know you’re in safe hands as Lenovo is one of the best laptop brands. Here, you get an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor along with 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD M.2 storage. At this price, we’re delighted to see 8GB of memory rather than 4GB and also the use of an SSD instead of eMMC. Such additions means the Lenovo 500w 2-in-1 laptop will be a little speedier than other laptops in this price range.