Windows 8 Questions

[LIZS]

Just bought a Windows 8 pc. Can you configure it with a traditional drop down Start menu to include Shut Down etc ? Otherwise what "App" does it appear under or how can you shut it down easily. May have more questions as we go along !

You can add a non-proprietary start menu, I believe, but not an official windows one.

To shut down, go to any corner to bring up the side bar, then click 'settings'. The power icon is at the bottom, in the middle.

Clt+alt+del I think. On iPad so can't look.

OH bought Windows 8 and loaded it onto his laptop. We both hated it (after persevering for a few weeks) so he took it off again.

I think Microsoft has updated the look to appeal to teenagers with Windows smart phones, but oldies like OH and me find the changes too radical and can't be bothered with the faffing around with apps to try and do anything. I don't find it intuitive at all.

If you Internet search, you can find instructions to make a shutdown tile. Would link but am on phone!

Apps are just programs, but apart from that, you're completely right...it's a massive shift, even from windows 8.

Hi LIZS,

Windows 8.1 has a Start button in the bottom left corner to toggle between desktop and the Start Screen. If you right-click that, there is an option in the menu to shut down!

Hope this helps!
-HRaphael490

In Windows 8.1 the power options are at the top right of the Start screen.

Does windows 8.1 have a desktop? I have an option to get windows 7 or windows 8.1, and wondering which one to get ...

Assuming you have Windows 8.1, rather than 8.0, you never need to see the 'metro' side of windows at all, you can set it to start up in classic desktop mode. (Go to the desktop, then right click a blank bit of the toolbar and select properties. On the navigation tab, tick When I sign in..... Go to the desktop instead of Start, then click OK. Restart your pc and it will give you the desktop straight away.

8.1 doesn't have a start button exactly like win7 but you can easily put a shortcut on the desktop which will give you a list of all your programs - right click on the desktop, select New- Shortcut and type C:\Windows\explorer.exe Shell:AppsFolder in the 'type a location' box, type a name, such as All programs and click finish. You can change the view in this folder so it gives you a list or icons and it effectively gives you a start menu on your desktop.

You can also put a shutdown button on your task bar - use the steps above, but type shutdown /s /t 0 in the location box. Once the shortcut is on your desktop, right click and choose Properties-Change icon. Say OK to the warning about no icons in the folder and choose the icon you want from the box that appears - the usual power button one is there, but you can have any one you want.
Then right click again on the shortcut and select pin to Taskbar and the power button will stay on the bar at the bottom of the screen.