windows 8 laptop

Hello

I just purchased a laptop from a friend of mine, it comes with windows 8 which everyone knows its the apps window. im used to using win 7.
My question is in this windows can i switch back to the regular screen with the icons. i have an ipad, witch i love, but the laptop should have the icons, in my opinion. Can someone help me, the screens seem to switch without me touchin it.

 

Some guidance for "attempting" to restore 7 to a computer...

see Post 10...

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-8/1086128-can-you-downgrade-windows-7-a.html

This seems to cover the subject well. From the sounds of things, you will really have to know your stuff to get through this process and restore 7.

The individual who authored post 10 is working on a guide for uninstalling Windows 8. Hope he comes out with it soon. Darn good thread...

By the way, if I got this right, I read somewhere (lost the link sorry) that once you install 8, you cannot use your 7 (XP/Vista) disk on another computer.

 

Im sorry, i dont want to uninstall windows 8, and restore win7. Im trying to see if having win 8 has the capability to go from application screen, to the regular desktop icon screen.

 

Ahhhhh...no my mistake:

Google search:
Windows 8 boot to desktop

This looks promising:
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-8-tip-boot-directly-desktop-skip-metro-suite

You'll need a start button and start menu:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Start8_d7644.html

 

Start8 is one, there is also another that is about a dollar less. Start8 allows you to choose whether you want to boot to the conventional desktop, or stay in metro. Really having just the metro, if you do not wish to pay extra for Start8, just keep the Desktop tile at the top and large, then just click on it to go into the desktop, after you log into Windows 8.

Remember, that Ctrl-Atl-Del still allows you to choose the shutdown icon as you could in Windows XP, Vista, 7. Quicker, than going back out to metro, and choosing five other options to shut down.

 

Your dilemma hits almost every new Win 8 user - where's my desktop? where's the Start button? You can use one of the many addons that answer these questions - Classic Shelll for instance - but I found that after a month or so of getting used to 8 I really didn't need them and went back to using 8 as designed. The Win key toggles you between the Start screen and your desktop, and after you've dumped the Start tiles you don't want, and added and organised the ones you do, and have your desktop and taskbar organised you are basically there. It's also very simple to add Restart and Shutdown icons to your desktop if wanted.