Just replaced my old Windows 7 laptop with new HP with Windows 8,1 and cant get used to this stupid interface. No matter what I'm doing when the cursor goes anywhere near the right side of the screen it drags that mess of blue "search/settings+" stuff across. Is there a simple way of getting rid of this feature? Help appreciated. Many thanks
I recently got the dreaded 8.1 but my neighbour set it all for me to run as 7. It's now excellent, no silly tiles etc. It's 99.99% the same as I had before. Good luck Trix xx
You can disable that. The icons are called "charms". I did it but I can't quite remember the process but if you google "disable right screen charms in windows 8" or something like that you should get the process.
It was getting really annoying.
Once you have done that if you want to bring them up again in order to turn off etc you press the windows and the C buttons at the same time and they will appear.
Hope that helps.
You can set Windows 8 so that it can bypass the icon screen and boot straight to the desktop.
You can also download various programs, like Classic Shell, that make Windows 8 look and work like Windows 7 (or XP). It even brings back the Start menu.
Note that Microsoft announced just yesterday that Windows 10 (the next release, the are skipping 9) will be a free upgrade for those running Windows 7 and Windows 8.
It is due out later this year (maybe Autumn or nearer year end).
I was never sure why not having the start menu was such an issue.
I pin all the stuff I use to the task bar and desk top and would not miss it if it never came back.
I can remember when it was introduced: I thought it was an odd feature to bring in.
Still, plainly people have got so used to it that removing it was a big deal