Make Windows 8 Go Straight to Desktop After Log On

Here's another valuable tip for the confused windows 8 user who doesn't like the lock metro interface. Majority of users prefer the desktop as the destination after logging in and not the metro lock interface. If you are one of the annoyed ones and wanting to get rid of it, here's the solution for you.

What I'm going to show you is to skip the lock screen after logging in. This means you go straight to the desktop after typing your user name and password. This tutorial has two parts. One is making a script or program to show the desktop, and the second part is to tell windows when to show the desktop.

Make a show desktop script.

Show desktop is available in all windows variant but I have a hard time finding it. So I goggled a script on how to show desktop. And the script is

[Shell]

 Command=2

 IconFile=Explorer.exe,3

[Taskbar]

 Command=ToggleDesktop

How to save the script?

Highlight and copy the script above then open notepad (this is under windows accessories, or on the lock screen (press the windows button on your keyboard just type in Notepad) and paste the script (2). Then click file (1) and save as (3) Desktop.scf. Make sure you substitute Desktop to the *(asterisk) and substitute .scf  to .txt. (4) Make note of the location of the script as you will need it later. I myself organised it under my documents. The text file is now converted into an icon with the usual show desktop sign from previous windows version(6).

How to tell Windows to show desktop after logging in.

This is just programming your computer on what to do to an event. Now, I want to tell windows to go directly to the desktop after I log in to my profile.

I open up task scheduler (control panel, Administrative Tools, Task Scheduler) click, action(7) and create a new location(folder)(8) to the task. I name it as show desktop(9).

Click to open show desktop location folder, then went back to action(10) and click Create Task. Under General, I named it showdesktop(12), and typed something (13) to describe what the task can do. I also want to run it when a specific user(that's me) is logged on(14).

Next is to set the trigger(15). Click new(16) and choose to begin the task at log on (17). Then specify which user log on will trigger the event (this time I choose my own(18)), then do not forget to click OK.

Now you are ready to set an action(19), click new(20) and choose start a program(21). Look for the show desktop script you've done before by clicking browse (22). I know that the script Desktop(23) is under my document so it was easy for me to find it. Then click OK.

Restart your computer and log on! See the magic with the video below, showing the configured user to log straight into the desktop while other accounts go to the usual Start Screen.

Simplify Windows 8

The windows 8 metro interface is fresh looking, like that of the new windows phones, but lacks appeal to some users, myself included. The main reason is the removal of the desktop as the default screen, and instead, the "tiled window" or lock screen with  live tiles, programs and utilities. All windows users are used to the desktop as the first screen to show up for many years, and the sudden change had a negative impact to the users as reflected in the lower PC and laptop sales with the new operating system.

Those who has it already has to live with it, that they need to make extra clicks to get into the desktop. And once at the desktop they need to hit the windows key to go back to the tiled window to fetch which program they want to execute for their task! Personally, this is annoying.

Put important files at the desktop

The solution for this impractical situation is to make those programs and utilities accessible at the desktop. One very simple way is to put the icons of the most accessed programs of the computer, like the control panel,  my computer , network and user's file in one folder.

To do this, right click the desktop and click personalisation, change desktop icons and tick the items you want to show in the desktop Then click apply. Now, you do not have to fiddle your menu to see your drive, adjust computer settings through the control panel or access your files as they are already in the desktop.

This is still not enough as you will still be looking for programs you want to use. Pinning your favourite programs into the taskbar is an easy solution.

Mimic a start button

To those who are used to the old interface, they can make their lives easier by making a shortcut to the programs folder by clicking windows explorer (the folder icon between  IE and Chrome in the picture below), click windows(1), right click program files(x86) (2), then click create shortcut(3).

You can change the icon of  the folder to make it more like a start button. You can use this start button that I've downloaded.  You just need to convert it as an icon before you can use it. To convert it into icon and change the icon of the start folder, please see my post at

 http://prakticality.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/easy-way-to-create-icon-files.html

Right click and
save picture as..

For better effect, rename the folder as start.

Now you have all the programs in one click at the start icon at the desktop.

Put the manually made icon at the toolbar

Another trick is to put the desktop icon at the bottom toolbar. This will automatically include the manually made start icon.

Right click an empty space at the toolbar(1), then toolbar(2) and click desktop.

The desktop components will appear at the right side of the bottom toolbar. Drag the separator all the way to the left, then  right click an empty space(1) then untick (2) show text and show title.

Then just drag the start button at the first slot to the left! Though the icons are quite tiny, they make life easier !

Make Windows 8 Easier to Navigate

Windows 8 is faster than the previous versions. The only thing that is somewhat restrains me from using it is its tiled interface. As the live tiles view  are new to me, it is something that needs to get familiar with. At first, I feel lost, I do not know where things are, and I admit I do not know where to start. And this makes things to slow down.

No start button

This was my first problem, to look where the start button is. There is none. But start typing whilst you are in the tiles (start) page, will activate the search function. Windows then shows you the possible files or programs based from the keys you input. If you are looking for control panel for example, just type "C" and windows will show you the link and icon that starts in "C" including that of  "control panel" to click.

Where's the usual accessories?

.

In case you are looking for the calculator, notepad, or paint in the list of files or programs, you might notice that there is no folder named "Accessories" where they usually reside. You need to go further down to "Windows Accessories" to see these.

Not all default  tiles are relevant to users

The tile window is very new and look pretty good. It's like a collection of icons similar to a smartphone. But unlike smartphones that most of the icons there are useful to the user, (How can I tell?  Well they won't be there if the user did not think they are useful to be downloaded) the native tiles are somewhat not relevant to users. And this is where the slowdown occurs.

But the good thing is you can choose which tile to put on and easily delete those you do not like.

Customize the tiles

Windows 8 is easier to use when the start tiles are relevant to the user. Like knowing exactly where to click the usual programs, users usually use, like my computer, control panel, connected devices, favourite programs and utilities. This is all done by "pinning" the programs at the start menu.

• Unpin tiles you do not use

First is to "weed out" things you do not want to make space for the things you want. Hover your cursor to the top or bottom right (yellow arrow)of your screen, click settings (green arrow), right click (1) on the tile that you want to unpin then click unpin(2). Keep doing it until everything you do not want is removed.

• Choose and pin programs

Access all apps by right clicking at an empty space, to show all apps (green arrow).

Then go to the apps, utilities and accessories you usually use, or anything you think is useful to you. Right click it(1) then pin to start(2)

• Rearrage it

Rearranging the tiles is also quick and easy. Just drag and drop each tile to where you want it to be. Here's my trimmed down start tiles with my favourite programs and utilities I usually need beginning with the desktop. You can arrange it alphabetically to make your computer time easier and more productive!