Hi, please forgive my ignorance. Until now I've dabbled with 8/8.1/8.1u in a VM and didn't bother much with Metro. I know about the taskbar properties where you can disabled some Metro stuff. Eventually, I want to make the switch to the latest 8.1. However, I don't want _anything_ of Metro. I don't want its network traffic, I don't want its apps that - unlike most apps - you can't uninstall. Is there a tool that goes further than Classic Start Menu and gets rid of this crap completely?
It's pretty simple. Switch to Windows 8 if you want changes. It's not going to kill you. Or else stick with Windows 7 until what they have in store for Windows 9.
do a search and you will find you can remove all the metro apps also update 2 will add the proper start menu to 8.1, so some say.
You should look into Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro/Enterprise, I think it may be perfect for your needs. They are equivalent to their respective normal products, except that they come without any Windows Store Apps or the Windows Store itself. The UI is the same, so you still get the Start Screen, but beyond that, they are effectively desktop only. The 8.1 Update has been released for Industry as well and MSDN has integrated 8.1u ISOs. I think murphy's download thread has these ISOs.
No, the n versions just don't have media capability like Media player etc. Its for for residents that are part of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
Just wait for my NEW version of My ToolKit which you yet to be released soon, you can find in my signature, it will remove all metro apps expect the built-in Internet Explorer and PC Settings. and also it has more features too.
I am not sure on those two, I didn't mess too much with Industry yet. My guess is that codecs are incomplete, just like with the normal Pro (remember you need WMC upgrade for DVD codecs). I would think you get full DX. Free Evaluation version of Industry Pro is available in Microsoft download center, good for 180 days I think, you could download that and try in VM. Search MS downloads for "embedded 8.1 industry evaluation".
Downloading Murphy's magnets now to try on VM. Hope this is the version I have been waiting for and if it is N all the better. I too want nothing to do with the store or providing my personal info for a live account. Are they KMS activation compatible? We will see. Regards