windows 8.1 start screen

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Gilco2

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#143190 6-Apr-2014 07:57

I have windows all installed and set the desktop programs as tiles on start screen. Have been googling but cant find an answer. I start a desktop program from the tile and it goes to desktop and the program starts. When I close the program the desktop displays and I have to click on start or the charms to go back to start screen. Is there a setting somewhere that allows when the desktop program closes it defaults to the start screen and not the desktop.

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

nathan

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#1019313 6-Apr-2014 08:18

no, can you just hit the Windows key on your keyboard, mouse to bottom left, or Start on the charms bar on right?

Mattmannz

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#1019315 6-Apr-2014 08:31

Or disable the Tile interface and just use the traditional desktop and install a start button replacement.

A very poorly thought out interface imho - the mix of Tiles and Desktop with neither fully implemented properly.

Matt.

Gilco2

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#1019318 6-Apr-2014 08:37

Okay I may have to rethink. I bought 2 new copies to make 6 all up of windows 8 pro. This one and the one in the lounge are my htpc. Once setup I dont have a keyboard or mouse, just a remote so was hoping like when I finished using xbmc, when exiting it would go to start screen rather than desktop. Looks like I will still have to have the mouse and the remote. The tiles on start screen makean excellent interface for htpc

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi

Mattmannz

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#1019324 6-Apr-2014 08:44

You could make a script to launch XBMC and have an exit action to send a keystroke to go back to the tile interface.

nathan

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#1019361 6-Apr-2014 09:21

Mattmannz: Or disable the Tile interface and just use the traditional desktop and install a start button replacement.

A very poorly thought out interface imho - the mix of Tiles and Desktop with neither fully implemented properly.

Matt.

some people love it, some people hate it. Its hard to design a pizza topping for a billion people

charsleysa

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#1019378 6-Apr-2014 10:26

Gilco2: Okay I may have to rethink. I bought 2 new copies to make 6 all up of windows 8 pro. This one and the one in the lounge are my htpc. Once setup I dont have a keyboard or mouse, just a remote so was hoping like when I finished using xbmc, when exiting it would go to start screen rather than desktop. Looks like I will still have to have the mouse and the remote. The tiles on start screen makean excellent interface for htpc

Have you looked to see if there is a Windows 8 app with similar functionality to xbmc?

Regards
Stefan Andres Charsley

HP

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Mattmannz

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#1019415 6-Apr-2014 11:02

nathan:
Mattmannz: Or disable the Tile interface and just use the traditional desktop and install a start button replacement.

A very poorly thought out interface imho - the mix of Tiles and Desktop with neither fully implemented properly.

Matt.

some people love it, some people hate it. Its hard to design a pizza topping for a billion people

That's why you don't try and make one Pizza for a billion people.

Pretty straight forward to make changes that would improve both the Metro and the Traditional interfaces in 8.1 - have a setting so when traditional apps are launched from the Metro interface when they exit they return to the Metro interface. In the Traditional interface just bring back the start button so I can access things easily.

I like the tiles on Windows phone and Xbox but they don't have the issues I mentioned above. Just my opinion anyway.

Matt.

Gilco2

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#1019446 6-Apr-2014 13:17

charsleysa:

Have you looked to see if there is a Windows 8 app with similar functionality to xbmc?

yes that is the next move. I knew about plex but just have to see about it on whs2011. I also see now xbmc second screen in the store. will have to check it out.

Someone mentioned not liking the tiles. Personally thats the part I like best with Windows 8 on. I find it logical layout and tidy and you can move tiles around to suit your usage.

HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner, Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi