Go straight to the Windows 7 desktop while enjoying all the benefits of Windows 8 with this utility
Windows 8 offers a number of significant benefits, including a great performance boost and new features like shared storage spaces. But not everyone's crazy about the tiled Start screen. If that sounds like you, try this program that restores the native Windows 7 start menu and desktop, making it so you never have to see the Metro UI again.
Windows 7 explorer for Windows 8 (Ex7forW8) brings the Windows 7 explorer.exe to Windows 8. It doesn't modify any system files or protected registry entries, and you can switch back to using the Windows 8 UI when you want to via the Start menu. You could also have other user accounts with the Windows 8 shell.
The program saves some memory because it doesn't load the Metro UI at all. The downside is this means Metro apps are unavailable and multi-monitor taskbars aren't accessible either.
The benefits, though, might outweigh the downsides if you really hate Windows 8's Start screen. Although there are Start menu replacement programs you can use instead (I like Classic Shell), Ex7forW8 is unique in that it never loads the Start screen.
To install Ex7forW8, you'll need access to Windows 7 installation files and have to copy a couple of files over to your computer. Uninstalling the program is just a matter of going into Programs and Features.
Get the download and read more about. Below the original post from the author (
Tihiy
MDL Junior Member):
Download: http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_1.0.zip
PLEASE READ
THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS" AND I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING
WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM:
This program restores native Windows 7 start menu and desktop by bringing Windows 7 explorer.exe.
Start menu retains full configurability you expect from Windows 7 start menu.
This program includes sophisticated lightweight wrapper, install/uninstall/patch program.
You can use it on Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 RTM or RP versions, any edition, any language!
PRECAUTIONS:
This program does not modify system files and system protected registry entries.
You can switch back to unaltered Windows 8 UI any time.
Windows 7 shell is enabled only to users which switched to it.
Other users can use Windows 8 shell without any problems.
LIMITATIONS:
* Metro (Modern) UI is not loaded into memory. As a bonus you save dozens MB of RAM.
* Metro UI screens and programs are unavailable.
* Toasts (like "You have new program to handle this stuff") won't show. You need to use Default programs to change associations.
* You may get more UAC prompts.
* No default language input indicator. Enable language bar via Control Panel->Language->Advanced Settings->Use desktop language bar.
* No multi-monitor taskbars. Maybe more multimon issues.
* No immersive hotkeys (Win+X, Win+PrtScr too).
INSTALLATION:
Launch Ex7ForW8_setup.exe. Follow instructions. You'll need Windows 7 installation DVD or files ready; keep in mind that they should be same language and bitness.
UNINSTALLATION:
Uninstall program from Programs and Features. If you're using portable install, just switch shell to Windows 8 and delete folder.
ALSO NOTE:
All Programs shown in explorer7 has the same shortcuts that explorer8 shows on Start Screen. So the changes you do reflect here and there; better backup desktop.lnk from start menu.
Explorer Ribbon is still there, it's not explorer.exe related!
Using explorer.exe from Windows 8 DP or other Windows versions is not supported and won't be.
