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PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:50 pm 
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In September 2013 I bought a new Windows 8 (x64) HP Pavilion computer. I hated the Windows 8 desktop (I don't have a touchscreen monitor), so installed Classic Shell. It worked great (thank you, thank you, thank you). Only problem I had with Classic Shell was that usually Classic Shell would open when I started the computer, but sometimes it wouldn't and I'd get that awful Windows 8 desktop. When that happened I'd restart Windows, and then Classic Shell would open. When Windows 8.1 became available I downloaded and installed it. I also reinstalled Classic Shell (version 4.02). I'm still having the same problem. Sometimes when I start the computer Classic Shell will open, sometimes I'll be at the Windows 8.1 desktop. What could be the problem?


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:35 pm 
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So the method Classic Start Menu uses to start itself doesn't seem to be 100% reliable. Some others have reported this too. The fix is simple. You can create a shortcut to C:\Program Files\Classic Shell\ClassicStartMenu.exe and copy-paste it in your startup folder at %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. If you want it to start for all user accounts on your PC, copy it to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:22 pm 
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Have done it (the first solution, I'm the only user on this computer). Thank you. I'll post back as to whether it works or not, but I'm pretty sure it will, you seem to know what you're talking (writing?) about. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am 
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On Thursday, put a shortcut to Classic Shell in my startup folder, like GauravK wrote in his reply to me. I thought that fixed the problem, since then whenever I started the computer, Classic Shell would open. Until this morning. Today when I put on the computer I was back at the Windows 8.1 desktop, no Classic Shell. I restarted the computer and Classic Shell opened. I checked to see if the shortcut to the Classic Shell program was still in my startup folder, and it was. So why did Windows ignore it? Isn't any program you have in your startup folder supposed to start when Windows does?


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:56 am 
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Classic Shell DOES NOT switch from the start screen to Desktop on Windows 8.1. It is a Windows 8.1 built-in feature.

If Windows doesn't boot to desktop, then maybe your setting got reset somehow. Right-click on your taskbar, select Properties, then go to the Navigation tab. Look for an option to go to Desktop automatically (I don't recall the exact name).

If after you enter the desktop you can't access the start menu, that's another issue. Try running ClassicStartMenu.exe manually and see if that works.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 12:15 pm 
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Yes Ivo's right. The Metro skipping functionality in Windows 8.1 is a setting in the OS now so Classic Shell doesn't skip it on its own. What I meant with the above tip I gave was that if the Start Menu isn't starting reliably despite the Desktop showing, then place a shortcut to it in Startup folder. Two different things - Metro skipping and CSM starting. :) Hope it is clear. :)

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:51 pm 
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GauravK, I put a shortcut to Classic Shell in my Windows startup folder on Thursday.
Ivo, when I do what you wrote, what I have checked is "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of start". Other options are "Show my desktop background on Start", "Show Start on the display I'm using when I press the Windows logo key", Show the Apps view automatically when I go to Start", "List desktop apps first in the Apps view when it's sorted by category". Do I have the right option checked?


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 2:57 pm 
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The right option is "When I sign in or close all apps ... ". If you have it checked then you should see the desktop when you sign in.
If that doesn't work, then you can temporarily uninstall Classic Shell to verify that it is not the cause of your problem. I suspect you'll see the same problem even after uninstalling Classic Shell.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 8:02 pm 
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That's what I have checked. Didn't have any problems until yesterday when I started the computer and was back at the Windows 8.1 desktop, no start button. Today I haven't I haven't had any problems with Classic Shell, it's opened and no crappy Windows 8.1.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 8:05 pm 
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It is possible somehow that setting got reset. Next time it happens, press Win+D to enter the desktop and check if you have a start button there. If the start button shows up then Classic Shell if functioning properly.


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:15 pm 
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I'll try that if it happens again, Ivo, thank you (and GauravK) for taking the time to help me. Maybe Sunday morning was just Windows being annoying.


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