Desktop vs. Start Screen

Why no tiles front and center on the desktop instead of (or in addition to) having them on the Start Screen?
Also, why two separate areas for settings: "PC Settings" and Control Panel?

I love the new start menu. Definate improvement. No need to train our users and we can finally move from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
However the live tiles in the start menu do not make sense. You need to click on the start menu to see a live tile. Unfortunately the Windows Feedback app in Windows 10 does not allow you to attach a picture. Microsoft should add the live
tiles as a replacement for the taskbar (or a toolbar that can be added to the taskbar). Then the live tiles are pinned and we can see updates. A user can shrink the taskbar to one row where it would behave almost exactly like the current taskbar.
Additionally a user with three screens could even have different taskbar sizes showing the same items but at different sizes. This makes way more sense. I've attached a mock up to show how it could look on a three display desktop.
This allows for a user to easily bring live tiles to the forefront by dragging up the size of the taskbar. This would work well with Continuum for devices like the surface which are both a tablet and laptop.

Similar Messages

When I click on the Nightly Windows 8 Start Screen icon it opens the Firefox 18 on desktop, how do I open Nightly on Metro?

Nightly was working on metro at first when I haven't installed Firefox 18 yet but when I installed Firefox 18 and thought it would run on metro if I set it as a default program which did not, opening nightly both on the desktop and start screen would open the firefox in the desktop instead.
I uninstalled Nightly and downloaded and installed the version 20 for 32 bit. When I looked on the default programs to set Nightly all I could see is Nightly on the list but the icon has changed to that of Firefox's. I set it as default and still it doesn't open as metro.
Any ideas how to fix this?

This is because the regular central Nightly channel builds is only the desktop version. The version on Nightly development channel is at 21.0a1 now actually.
You need a build that has Metro support.
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-elm/
Many users state they cannot get Metro version to work on 32-bit Windows anyways.
There is this running thread at mozillaZine about the Metro builds. http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2304983

Resizing application windows started from Start Screen

Hi
For the applications that are already loaded onto the Start Screen how can you resize them once they are started.
For example, I launched Calculator from the Start Screen because I wanted to tally some numbers in another application that I had started from my Desktop. However, Calculator occupies the entire screen. The only resizing options are to split left or right
but the Start Screen is visible in the space vacated and not the original application containing the numbers.
I can add a shortcut to the Desktop for calc.exe, but have noticed this behaviour for all the applications on the Start Screen. I don't see how this is useful because I need to work with several windows open at the same time (which is what Windows xxx
is all about).
Can anyone help me with this, please?
Thanks

Hi The RealBlood,
Do you mean we need to use the Calculator App and Desktop at the same time?
In fact we could use this calculator. It can be used in desktop and located in the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories.
If you want to use the calculator app, we could refer to the following steps:
1. Resize it to split left and then click the right side.
2. Click the desktop in start screen, we will get the two split parts like this.
Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN
Fangzhou CHEN
TechNet Community Support

My macbook pro 10.6.8 desktop as started twitching on the far right side of the screen whether the internet is on or off. Any ideas why and how can i solve it?

My macbook pro 10.6.8 desktop has started twitching on the far right side of the screen whether the internet is on or off. Ie the folders on that side flicker/twitch or if I'm on the internet the far right edge of the page will flicker/twitch Any ideas why and how it can be solved? Thanks People

I would execute SMC and PRAM resets:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379
If there is no success, make an appointment at an Apple store genius bar for a FREE evaluation.
Ciao.

[Forum FAQ] Go to Start Screen/Desktop when closing Windows Store App

After install Windows 8.1 Update 1, you will notice these things set by default even on touchscreen laptops and desktops:
Windows 8.1 now boots directly to the desktop.
Closing Windows Store Apps and go to desktop instead of Start Screen.
Besides option “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” since Windows 8, another new option in Taskbar Properties “Show Windows Store app on taskbar” is used to control closing app behavior.
Features of "Show Windows Store app on taskbar"
When the setting is checked, all of the Windows Store apps that are currently running will display on taskbar. You can easily switch between Windows Store apps and your desktop and its applications through the taskbar. For mouse users,
you can also access the taskbar within a Windows Store app. Just move the mouse cursor to the button of the screen, the taskbar pops up.
When the setting is unchecked,
Windows Store apps have no minimize button, only Close button
Windows Store apps that are open are not visible on Taskbar
Windows Store apps can still be pinned to the taskbar
How do these two options work for closing app behavior?
Modern app and Taskbar setting
OFF
ON
Boot to desktop setting
OFF
Close goes to Start
Close reveals the app that was previously used, and eventually dead ends at the Desktop
ON
Close goes to desktop
Close reveals the app that was previously used, and eventually dead ends at the Desktop
Know why “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” does not work when “Show Windows Store app on taskbar” is checked on
As MironV mentioned in the
thread, Windows 8.1 Update is designed to introduce a number of changes for mouse and keyboard users that would help them use and switch between Windows Store apps alongside their familiar desktop applications. A lot of these changes only made sense when
combined together, so they are toggled by one setting, which is “Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar.” This is usually enabled together with the first setting as a complimentary set of improvements for desktop users. When the setting is enabled, Windows
Store apps are intended to feel more like regular maximized applications living on the desktop, though they are full screen only. For example, when you launch apps from Start, they appear on the taskbar until they are closed. You can also minimize them or
switch between them by invoking the taskbar.
Please understand that unchecking the “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start" setting has no effect on close and minimize behavior when the “Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar” setting is checked, since
they are controlling two independent things. If you tend to use only one Windows Store app at a given time, it may seem like we’re not respecting the setting by going to the desktop.
Please click to vote if the post helps you. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I don't know if I'm the only one, but on my desktop (using mouse and keyboard only) I like to have my Start screen as my main screen. To ensure this I made sure to uncheck the "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop" box and
check the "Show Start on the display I'm using when I press the Windows Logo key" box. I also really like having the task bar appear at the bottom even when I'm using a modern app. Based on the settings I've chosen (i.e., boxes I've checked or not checked),
I would expect to be taken back to the start screen and not the desktop whenever I close an app. From what I've read from your response and from others in this thread, in order to accomplish this function (i.e., closing an app and going directly to the
start screen) I need to uncheck the "Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar" setting. By doing this I get the functionality I was looking for when the apps are closed and I get sent to the start screen. However, I am now not able to see the taskbar
when I'm in a modern app or when I'm on the start screen. This seems counterintuitive/confusing as many have mentioned. Not to mention it creates an additional step for users to get back to the Start screen.
All I want to do is (1) use my start screen as my main screen, (2) see the taskbar when running whatever app I'm using (e.g., modern), and (3) go back to my start screen (and not the desktop) when I close an app. It would only make sense that I should
get these results if I leave the "Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar" box checked and the "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start" box unchecked; but unfortunately this is NOT the case. I really hope that
an update fixing this is coming sooner rather than later because this is really annoying.

Internet Explorer immediately launches when try to open the desktop from the Start screen

When I log onto my computer, instead of the Start screen opening, the Desktop opens, AND when the Desktop opens, Internet Explorer immediately launches there.
Other times, when I log-on, my computer will open on the Start screen, but then immediately launches Internet Explorer on the Start screen. I didn't click any Internet Explorer icons."
Also, when I am doing something on the Start screen and decide I want to go to the Desktop and I click the "Desktop tile" it switches me to the Desktop and launches Internet Explorer. Again, I didn't click the Internet Explorer tile.
(I just wanted to go to the blank Desktop.)
There is something telling my computer to always open Internet Explorer first. When I tried a warm boot, the problem went away momentarily, but returned after a few days"

Hi,
What is your current situation?
Have you checked the suggestions by Robert?
When opening PC the start menu will automatically start Internet Explorer in APP mode, and if we set Internet Explorer to open in desktop mode, then it will automatically open under desktop when start?
As we have no Internet Explorer in startup configured, so it won't start by itself. We may try to replace Internet Explorer item's position on the start menu with a different APP, then check what happens(drag and drop the desktop icon on the place of the
Internet Explorer);
Is the MSN webpage your home page here? If not, then there might be some application on the startup automatically launches this page, we may take a try to disable one at a time to check; and if this is your default home page, try to replace it with another
one, then change it back.
From the last response of
this thread , it seems this is more related with the webpage than the browser?
Best regards
Michael Shao
TechNet Community Support

HP Pavilion 6 Desktop flipping to blank and then start screen

Desktop flipping to Blank and start screen. Will not stop until I force a shut down.

Desktop flipping to Blank and start screen. Will not stop until I force a shut down.

How do I make web shortcuts into start screen tiles that can be pushed to all users profile on a computer in Windows 8.1 enterprise?

We are trying to roll out Windows 8.1 Enterpise in our school system (K-12).
The focus of this question is how do we take an internet web based shortcut and make it into a screen tile (on the start screen) which will appear for any user's start screen that logs on to the computer?
The details:
We came upon a great paper that's entitled "Customize Windows 8.1 Start Screens by Using Group Policy".
By applying this paper we were able to accomplish our first goal: Lock down the start screen so no user could change it. We accomplished this by using the Start Screen Layout policy setting laid out in the paper.
Our second goal: to customize the start screen is only half way met. We can set up the start screen the way we want and then export the .xml file. We are able to "reimport" the .xml file when the new user logs in. The installed programs
will appear on the Start Screen but not the internet based web shortcuts that were on the inital setup start screen.
(FYI - tried creating these tiles by running the start screen internet explorer app to the intended address and pinning them to the start screen. At this time trying to figure if there is a place to put desktop internet short cuts into a directory to make
them appear on the Start Screen).
We can see that the directory: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs is a place for program files to appear on the start screen. Is there a location web based shortcuts can be placed to cause them to automatically appear on the start
screen for every user as well? If not how do we accomplish getting these into tiles for every user logging in?
Sorry for the lengthy explanation. Hopefully it gets our question answered and helps others out there in the same boat!

Karen-
Results: Did not work. The web based shortcuts did not appear.
Below is the steps taken with your tips incorporated. (Again it's lengthy sorry about that, but anyone can recreate what was done here. Maybe someone can see something left out by doing/reviewing it).
Here is what was done:
1. Installed a fresh install of Windows 8.1 enterprise on a pc. No updates were ran.
2. During setup created the admin account.
3. Logged into the account a simple start screen was arranged and setup by:
Starting desktop Internet Explorer. Going to Technet's website. Clicked tools and then selecting "Add site to Apps" from the drop down menu. Went to Apps screen, right clicked and pinned it to start screen. Repeated this procedure with an
educational web based site.
Right clicked a few provisioned apps and unpinned them from the start screen.
Made a few groups and labeled them. Web based shortcuts were arranged with one provisioned app in that particular group.
4. Opened a Powershell, right clicked it and ran as administrator. Typed the following:
export-startlayout -path C:\Users\Public\Master.xml -as xml
(Master is the name chosen for this test .xml file and was put in a location all users would have privelages to access it).
5. Opened the command prompt and right clicked and "ran as administrator", typed in gpedit.
6. In the Local Group Policy under User Configuration, under Start Menu and Taskbar I choose the Start Screen Layout.
7. Enabled the policy and typed in: C:\Users\Public\Master.xml for the Start Layout File.
8. Opened computer management, under Local Users and Groups I chose Users, right clicked in the middle screen and created a new user called Alpha.
9. Logged out of the inital account and logged into newly created Alpha account.
10. When the Alpha account logged in the start screen came up with everything changed in the inital account but no web based shortcuts were found on the start screen or App view.

How do I pin a firefox site to the Windows 8 start screen?

I just got a new AIO with windows 8; not may favorite thing but I'm learning.
I use Firefox as my browser exclusively but Window 8 help, of course, won't explain how to pin sites through other browsers. I had to set up my desktop on my start screen so I can open Firefox from there and then I can start browsing with Firefox - but there has to be an easier way....I've tried to search through the Firefox support but I'm an accountant, not a techie and this is getting very frustrating. lol I hope someone can explain to me how to do this. And in very small words please - remember I'm bean-counter. :)
Thanks y'all.

jscher2000 - thanks for a really fast response!
Your links got me to get to clicking on other related links and I did find a site that was very easy to follow so I'm adding it here for you to give to others; has illustrations and''''' very''''' easy to follow instructions. Perfect to someone like me. I wouldn't have found it without you getting me started though.
Thanks!!!
[http://www.wikihow.com/Pin-Firefox-Web-Apps-to-Windows-8-Start-Screen]

Customize Windows 8.1 Start Screen/Start Menu and Minimizing Modern Apps

How can I customize the start up menu?
If not on desktop, I cannot minimize a window. Please tell me how.

Windows 8/8.1 Metro mode doesn't have a "minimize switch" as Desktop mode, but we have alternative settings
when you want to minimize your metro app, just click the left-bottom corner
to back to the start screen, you can also switch between metro Apps or snap apps as described in the following link, it functions similar as desktop mode, so enjoy the new features.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/zxue/archive/2012/03/07/win8-howto-2-switch-between-apps-or-snap-apps.aspx
Regards
Yolanda Zhu
TechNet Community Support

Bootcamp hanging up on Apple start screen.

So I'm fairly new at this but I have spent hours reading up on boot camp issues with no luck. I am trying to install Windows 8.1 pro with boot camp on a mid 2010 macbook pro running mavericks on an SSD. I have a brand new full dvd disk version of Windows 8.1 Pro in an external usb cd/dvd reader. I have downloaded the windows support software and loaded them onto a flash drive. I run through the steps with bootcamp assistant, which creates a partition and then restarts the computer. If I understand corectly, it should boot up into windows setup, but it just boots to the grey mac start screen with a grey apple logo and freezes there.'
I have shut off the computer and restarted, pressing the option button, which takes me to the boot screen / menu. It then gives me two boot option; the mac osx and a recovery partition option. No Windows or Bootcamp option.
If I select the Mac option, it will boot into osx without any problems. I can navigate to Finder, and see the new Bootcamp partition and I can see the Windows install DVD on the desktop and in Finder.
I then restart again, and press option after the startup tone. Now it gives me four boot options. Two with a hard disk image, Mac OS X and a Recovery partion, and two with a DVD disk image, titled "Windows" and "EFI Boot".
If I click on the Windows option, I get the grey startup screen with a grey Apple logo in the center, where it freezes.
Shut off the computer and restart, and it boots to a black screen with the text, "No bootable device -- insert boot dsk and press any key" and hangs there.
Shut off computer and hold down option key again to get the boot menu / screen.
If I click on the EFI Boot, it takes me into the Windows setup, and everything works fine until I select the Bootcamp partition to install Windows to, and then it tells me that it cannot use the bootcamp partiton (or any other partition) because "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. The selected disk has an MBR partition talbe. On EFI systems, Windwos can only be installed to GPT disks. Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS."
It gives me the option to format the partion, which I did, but seemingly had no effect other than the error message dropping the last sentence. ("Windows cannot be installed to this hard disk space. Windows must be installed to a partition formatted as NTFS.")
I have no idea what to try next. Anybody have any advice?

I have this exact same issue. Its hanging on install, no matter what I seem to do. My system is a late 2009 iMac.
It wont start install of windows from a USB or DVD drive, no matter what I do.
The only fix I can think of, requires reverting to an older system of OSX (snow leopard for instance) which DID let me install windows from a USB (a few years ago). Its only been since my HD died and I installed mavericks, that I can no longer install windows at all.. it just hangs on the apple logo, or gives the error "No bootable device -- insert boot dsk and press any key". I'm hoping that during the new updates to mavericks, my firmware or BIOS has not been altered also with this new mavericks curse that will still block the install for snow leopard. Would this work??

Limited functionality in Win 8.1 Start Screen when using Server 2012 GPO

I'm testing Windows 8.1 EE with Server 2012 for a school where I need to configure a common layout that users are unable to change. So, I have configured a start layout and exported it via Powershell to the server and it works fine across my various test
user ids apart from a couple of things.
If I create tiles on the start screen which point to specific websites such as Scratch, they only work on the user I exported the start layout from - they don't appear on other user start screens under the same GPO. I can get round this by creating a desktop
shortcut in the GPO under User Config/Prefs/Win settings/shortcuts. It's a bit crude but it works so if there is a straightforward way of creating tiles that do this I'd prefer that..
The other challenge is getting a documents tile on the start screen. I'm using roaming profiles and folder redirection as pupils could log onto any machine and once again, I can set this up and export the start layout to the server but only the user whose
start screen I exported gets the documents folder on their start screen when the GPO is applied. The other users just get a blank space. I guess when I create the tile it's pointing to the specific users folder on the server which other users won't have access
to so it needs to pick up the specific username of whoever is logged on...
Any suggestions would be appreciated... Thanks

Hi,
Please make sure that the .xml file with the Start screen layout must be located on shared network storage that is available to the users’ computers when they sign in (the users must have Read-only access to the file). If the
file is not available at sign-in, the Start screen is not customized during the session, and the user can make changes to the Start screen.
After you use Group Policy to import a customized Start screen layout on a computer or in a domain, you can update the layout simply by replacing the .xml file that is specified in the Start Screen Layout policy settings.
To change the Start screen layout imported by Start Screen Layout policy settings
Customize the Start screen on your test computer the way that you want it to look for users.
Run the Export-StartLayout cmdlet, with the following format, to export the new Start screen layout to an .xml file that overwrites the original file:
export-startlayout –path <path><file name>.xml -as xml
That’s all you need to do. The next time the users sign in to their computers, the GPO will import the new Start screen layout.
Kate Li
TechNet Community Support

Pictures of callers in start screen

I am getting pictures of unwanted contacts in my start screen. How can I remove them or take action that they will no longer appear.
My account is set to private and only people on my contactlist are allowed to call.
Thanks in advance for reply.
Abel

If you are seeing pictures of your blocked contacts in the row with "top contacts", then this is a well known BUG in the latest Skype 6.14 version for Windows desktop. The "solution" is to revert to the previous 6.13.0.104 version.
http://community.skype.com/t5/Windows-desktop-client/Blocked-Contacts-showing-as-quot-top-contacts-q...

Bizarre overlaid image on Firefox start screen - then Firefox completely freezes computer

Computer is iMac desktop with OSX 10.6.8. Recently FF's start screen showed a trapezoidal overlay with an amateurish rendering of the FF logo and a "CLICK ME" button. After a minute or so computer would completely freeze, necessitating a hard shutdown. Tried uninstalling then reinstalling FF to no avail - still the weird overlaid image, still the "CLICK ME" button, still the freezing of the entire system. FF's staying uninstalled until I can get an answer re what's going on...I'm certainly not going to click the "CLICK ME" button!

If there are problems with a snippet on the about:home page then you can set the browser.aboutHomeSnippets.updateUrl pref to an empty string on the about:config page.
Delete the storage\persistent\moz-safe-about+home folder in the Firefox profile folder with Firefox closed ("3-bar" Firefox menu button > Exit/Quit) to remove snippets stored in IndexedDB and make Firefox use a default snippet set.
You can reset the browser.aboutHomeSnippets.updateUrl pref via the right-click context menu to the default value to re-enable the snippets and make Firefox recreate the moz-safe-about+home folder.
You need to close and restart Firefox after changing the value of the browser.aboutHomeSnippets.updateUrl pref.
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar.
You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)

Suggestion about Sart Menu & Start Screen

If the Start Menu will come back in the new version of Windows (Windows 9?), then I hope the following suggestions become true.
For better and consistent experience when switching between Start Menu & Start Screen, I suggest:
1) Apps Shortcuts in the Start Menu is a List View (*) of Apps Tiles in the Start Screen; Apps Tiles in the Start Screen is a Large Icon View (*) of Apps Shortcuts in the Start Menu.
* Regarding 'List View' and 'Large Icon View', I just quoted the view name in the Windows Explorer to present my concept, I don't mean to use Large Icon to replace Tile.
2) When user Add/Remove a Apps Shortcut into/from the Start Menu will also Add/Remove same Apps Tile into/from the Start Screen automatically; When user Add/Remove a Apps Tile into/Remove the Start Screen will also Add/Remove same
Apps Shortcut into/from the Start Menu automatically
3) When run a Modern/Metro Apps, it can appear in both Start Screen and Desktop
4) Executable file (e.g. .exe/.bat/.msi/.com, etc.) ONLY can run in the Desktop, and CAN NOT add a Shortcut of Executable file into the Start Screen as a Tile
5) In the Apps list under Start Screen, hide all Executable files (e.g. .exe/.bat/.msi/.com, etc.); In the All Programs under Start Menu, show all Apps and all Executable files
6) The new Start Menu divided into Four sections (from top to bottom):
User (incl. Shutdown, Restart, Logoff options),
Apps/Program shortcuts,
All Apps/Program Files,
Settings
7) Point to the upper-right corner of Start Menu for displaying a upper-right arrow, then click it to enlarge the Start Menu and transform into the Start Screen; Under Start Screen, point to the upper-right of the display screen for displaying
a bottom-left arrow, then click it to bring up the Start Menu and Desktop
Thanks & Regards,
Harry Cheng

For better and more consistent experience...
Consider using a free 3rd party Start Menu replacement called Classic Shell that has provided better and more consistent service since it came out in the time of Vista.
Why bother trying to follow the changing whims of Microsoft at each new version release when you can just have the same top shelf Start Menu functionality from version to version? Classic Shell has been a better implementation of every flavor
of start menu Microsoft has made (and especially better than not having one at all).
When Windows 9 comes out, you can just choose to ignore whatever Microsoft provides and continue using Classic Shell. Your usability won't be impaired because you'll already be good at using it, and there is no doubt that it'll
still be a better, more efficient implementation than Microsoft's own.
-Noel
Detailed how-to in my eBooks:
Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options
Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options

Desktop vs. Start Screen

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