How to access Programs in Win 8

Other than giving up and adding an aftermarket "Start Menu" to Win 8 how do you access programs on a Desktop or Laptop computer??

Let's assume you actually use a computer to produce work rather than simply to consume content.

I am pretty certain that Microsoft hasn't expected us to completely abandon productive work once we switch to Windows 8 but for the life of me I can't find a way to access the 50-60 programs I have loaded on my laptop that I am auditioning Win 8 on. That is I don't plan on putting shortcuts to all my programs on the Desktop so there must be another way.

BTW, no fair loading a "programs" icon on the taskbar....let's find where Microsoft intended for us to access our programs.

Perry

 

Why is pinning programs to the taskbar not allowed? Programs pinned to the OSX dock are the main way to launch programs in OSX.

There are three ways I use to launch programs:

(1) Pinning my most commonly used programs to the taskbar.
(2) Pinning programs to the start screen (equivalent to pinning them to the start menu in Win 7).
(3) Start search (hit the win key and start typing, just like the start menu search in Win 7).

 

Answer 1) Not enough room. Answer 2) Yes, I agree for the most commonly used programs. Answer 3) Thank you, I had not considered that and the search function is pretty good for a non Google search product.

However 3) assumes I can remember the name of the program and frankly I have a number of programs I use only occasionally that I cannot readily remember the name of, however those generally are on my desktop.....things like CrystalDiskMark and some of my photography editors and business apps. But I suppose you can rely on that.

I am trying not to use Classic Start as it also disables the mouse to lower corner quick move to Metro Tiles. However I may have to go back to it. I just hate to do that as it is admitting Microsoft made a huge mess by leaving it off. I suppose they took care of that mistake by firing Sinofsky today.

Frankly I am spending a LOT of free time on my Win 8 machine trying to like it and haven't gotten there yet. I feel about Win 8 the same way I feel about my iPad 1. A cute device for children but not ready for prime time. It is for consumers not producers.

Perry

 

You don't need to remember the exact name of the app. For example, when hit Win and type "clip," I get "Active Clip" and "Microsoft Clip Organizer." I don't need to remember the exact name if I remember a part of it. And how often do you need to open something where you can't remember even part of the name?

For those rare situations where you can't even remember PART of the name of what you want to open, you can browse all programs like a full-screen start menu. Programs are divided into categories like the subfolders of the Windows 7 start menu. There are various ways to access this. The fastest is to hit start, type a single letter and then type backspace. You can also right-click on the bottom of the screen on the start screen to bring up "all apps," which gets you there too.

For what it's worth, I use the taskbar for a half-dozen programs, start screen pins for about two dozen, and start screen search for the rest. "All apps" browsing for those very rare situations when I just want to see what's installed, like I need to find a new program for some purpose. Works just fine for me.

 

seriously? this thread is ridiculous.

 

Forgot to mention. If it's actually "on your desktop," well, you can do that with Win 8 as well. You can put shortcuts on the desktop in Win 8 just like in Win 7. So that's yet another way of accessing programs.

 

i think that's the way microsoft "intended for us to access our programs" ever since the (microsoft) desktop was first introduced in windows 95. maybe you should consider a downgrade to windows 95, OP. things were much simpler back then.

 

after 2 weeks of using windows 8

my best answer for your question is this

windows 7 "start button -- all programs" IS EQUAL TO windows 8 "charm menu -- search"

shows you all the program installed

 

Assuming you have a touchscreen device, simply swipe up from the bottom, while on the homescreen, and select All Apps. Isn't this available in non-touchscreen devices as well?


EDIT: Just checked, I can either do as the above user does (Charm Menu -> Search) or bottom right corner, swipe up (with trackpad) to get All Apps. I can also swipe up from the bottom on the screen for All Apps, but I suppose not everybody will have a touchscreen.

 

I dunno. I've installed lots of programs as well and can't find them. Irfanview doesn't show up anywhere, for example, regarless of the search term used. Half my games don't appear either.

 

Window Key + X gives you access to all Win 7 fuctionality

 

also, try these:

1. Windows Key + Tab = Opens the App list to the left, tapping tab again lets you switch through the list.

2. Windows Key + C = Opens the “Charms” menu to the right, where shortcuts like Search and Settings are.

3. Windows Key + I = Opens Settings.

4. Windows Key + T = Cycle through screenshots of open apps.

5. Windows Key = Takes you to the Metro Start menu.

6. Windows Key + Space bar = Switches the input language.



7. Windows Key + , = Show desktop temporarily.

8. Windows Key + Shift + . = Docks current app to left, right, or center of screen.

9. Windows Key + M = Takes you back to Desktop.

10. Windows Key + Q = Opens up Search in Metro

 

Don't need the shift to do this. It cycles through one way with shift, the other way without shift.

 

Microsoft said people don't use programs anymore, so they removed that feature.

 

"apps" only.

Sent from my PI39100 using Board Express

 

Meh. app = application = program

Though I do kind've detest the app mentality of tablets and smartphones in which every function is handled by a different single-purpose app, to the extent that many individual websites and the like have their own apps. When it's called a program, it sounds like something functional, multipurpose, and customizable, while an app sounds like a gimmicky one-trick item made to run exclusively in some polished, dumbed-down interface.

Quick, everybody, back to DOS before it's too late!

 

Am seeing it not as giving up, just a good move, and adding functionality. One gets a working Start, and keeping all the metro-stuff intact for those who want to go there. W8 has the dumbed-down start hidden in the left corner. To compare with adding any other programs or utilities when needed or wanted, would you call adding Photoshop to replace Paint 'giving up' ? :O)

Have settled on Classic Shell here (PP donation on it's way), lots of configurations, makes Start even better than what w7 could offer.