How do I customize Windows 8?

Hi!

How do I customize Windows 8 so it behaves more like Windows 7? (My real dream would be to have it behave like XP, but I know that'll never happen!)

I have a Lenovo G585 running Windows 8, 64 bit. I don't have any of the specs yet, so I'll be starting from the beginning. I'm not very technically inclined, but I'm able to follow instructions, so please use LOTS of details.

Here's what I want to adjust:

1. Should I enable my AV program & Windows Firewall before anything else, or are there things I should do before that? I do NOT want any info sent to MS, as Privacy & Security are of the utmost importance to me...I've had my identity stolen TWICE, (determined by the bank to be related to online transactions), so I must be as careful as possible.

2. There is a lengthy paragraph about "IPv6 Network Address Translation (NAT) Traversal Service" (aka Teredo). It says there is a Firewall Configuration to determine if I want IPv6 connectivity. The rest of the info given made it sound like it was optional. I searched for info on IPv6 & it sounded like it was made for business applications. I'm a home user who only uses my PC for email; games; streaming media, etc. Is it necessary to have IPv6 connectivity, & what would happen if I didn't enable it? If I can/should disable it, what is the Firewall Configuration I need to make?

3. How do I disable error reporting? It seems unnecessary to me & if I don't need it I'd rather do without it. Since 1999, (beginning with Windows 95), I've only used MS for updates & I'd like to keep it that way if it's possible.

4. How do I opt-out of Personalized Advertising?

5. It mentioned search provider updates & it states that there is a "one-time update but the software will try several times to update if unsuccessful ". Are they referring to Bing, Google, etc or does it mean IE? If so, I use Firefox for my browser & either DuckDuckGo or StartPage for searches. In the past I only used IE for updates; I learned that newer versions of Windows don't need any browser for updates, as there's a special tool installed that's strictly for updates. Can/how do I stop this search provider update, (if it's referring to IE, Google, Bing that is)?

6. I don't like the "charms ", "active corners" or the annoying purple rectangles, so I bought "Start 8" from Stardock & this program will take care of these annoyances & return the "start" button, too. I'd like to delete anything that's associated with the charms & the rectangles so I don't use any valuable space with stuff I know I'll never use.

7. I also want to eliminate the picture of Seattle & have the "log-in" screen be the first thing I see. I know there's a fix/hack somewhere to make this modification, but I can't remember where I found it! Does anyone know how to make this adjustment?

The MOST important thing to me is maintaining as much Privacy & Security as possible. I want to avoid any automatic/persistent connection with MS & if there are any other issues that leave me open to Privacy & Security breaches I want to make sure I never enable something that will be hard to disable at a later time.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I thought it was best to list all the issues first, as I want to make sure I get this set up right the first time.

Thanks in advance for your help, & thanks for taking the time to read my post.

Gratefully,
Nuts4Mutts

 

You might want to start here first - after setting up your antivirus - I think the firewall is already on, but I am not sure...

Make Windows 8 look like Windows 7 or XP

I don't get to play with Windows 8 very much, so I'll have to let the others fill you in on the rest.

EDIT: Here's a link concerning Microsoft personalized ad preferences

 

Hi Nuts4Mutts, If you Login automatically you should get rid of the Opening screen.
Hold down Windows Key + R, type netplwiz in box and Enter.
Clear the "Users must enter a user name and password to use the computer" and click OK.
Enter the Username and password of the account that you'd like to be logged in automatically, check OK, Restart your system and this time it should boot directly to the Start screen.
Worked for me.
Have you looked in > Control Panel > Action Center?
You can make heaps of changes in there. Neil.

 

Cheaper? Not sure I would use costs ($3 compared to $5) as a discriminating factor. I really like Start8. I don't find its one time cost of $5 (compared to $3 ) a barrier because (1) it is worth it (2) it "feels" more polished and (3) it does NOT have all sorts of extra and customizable features. It is simple and basic (I generally subscribe to the KISS principle). It restores the Start Menu and it lets you boot to the desktop, and disable charms and hot corners too, if you want that.

That said, with Classic Shell or StartIsBack, you can configure it to look more like XP, if that is your desire.

I recommend you try all (one at a time) and see which one works best for you. See also Pokki, another popular start screen alternatives.

Do remember that W8 is NOT XP. You do not have to secure XP behind blast proof doors, in a deep underground bunker, surrounded by an impenetrable force field as you did with XP. You really don't have to make any changes to the defaults to remain safe. You have to keep Windows current, use a decent anti-malware solution (and the built in Windows Defender and Windows firewall are just fine for the vast majority of users) and you (as the user and always weakest link) must avoid risky behavior. And finally, you need to periodically run supplemental scans with an alternative scanner, such as Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) - all things you must do, regardless your security setup.

I do not like how Microsoft wants us to log into W8 using a Microsoft registered email address. So I too recommend using a "Local" account that does not require logging into MS.

I do NOT, however, recommend setting up W8 so you don't need a password. That is a mistake! What if a badguy breaks into your home and steals your computer? Or a nosey houseguest (got teenaged kids???) starts snooping around your system when you are out-of-sight? Without a password, anyone can access your data. And without a password, a nosey houseguest can then use your computer (and your ISP assigned IP address) for nefarious deeds that may expose your computer (and your network) to badguys and their malicious code.

Always use a password to log into your computer.

 

On the Start Screen, since you will not be using Metro apps I would recommend uninstalling all of them from your machine so they no longer present a privacy risk, How to Close and Uninstall Windows 8 Style Metro Apps.

Actually, this doesn't remove the Metro apps from your computer, just from the start page. If you want to actually remove the apps, follow these steps:

Here's one way using the commandline:

Press Win-X, run "Command Prompt Admin ". Enter the colored text commands into the CMD console (copy-paste if you're a CLI newbie):

C:\Windows\system32>takeown /f "c:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /r /d y (take ownership of folder)

C:\Windows\system32>icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /grant administrators:f /t (give yourself full access rights to folder)

Now you can delete stuff in the folder. Let's nuke a Zune folder. I hate those ad-ridden **** anyway.

C:\Windows\system32>cd "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps " (change directory to said folder)

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps>dir/a/p (list folder content, pick a subfolder to nuke)

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps>rd /s/q Microsoft.Z<Tab>

CLI trick: Press Tab for filename completion. If more than one file fits the match, successive Tabs will cycle through the names. This shortcut is a lifesaver for CLI peeps. Anyway, so we get Microsoft.ZuneMusic_blahblah. Press Enter to kill ZuneMusic folder. (Yes, it's a dangerous command. Disclaimer of responsibility goes here.)

Suffice it to say, set a restore point beforehand.

 

Mutts, you may want to take a look at this program too...

PC Decrapifier​

It will help identify useless, resource-hogging, third-party programs and remove them for you. Follow the others advice, first, before running this program.

 

Hi Everyone!

Thank ALL of you for the awesome responses! I'm grateful for the excellent guidance!

I have quite a lot of work to do, I see; but I'm definitely up for the challenge. I'm going to use every suggestion made, as I can see that all of you understand what I'm trying to do.

To update...I installed my IV program; my email & most of my favorite applications. Now that I'm protected I can start trying the suggestions you've provided. I can see I've got a LOT of homework!

I noticed the concern about my log-in...I LOVE having the need to use a password to access everything...it's the picture of Seattle that I want to eliminate. It seems unnecessary to me, but I wholeheartedly agree about needing to login before it can be used. In the initial setup I chose a local account so I could avoid having a Microsoft account. I was relieved when I saw that those of you who commented about this recommended the same thing. I LOVE the fact that a password is needed to use my PC!

Thank ALL of you for helping me with this...I'm sure I'll still have more questions, so I'll be posting as I go along. I can see I have some busy days ahead so wish me luck!

Would you tell me what you recommend for backup...I already have secure cloud storage, but what's the best, (and easiest & most economical), way to backup my system. When the HDD died I lost everything, so I know firsthand what a pain it is to have to start over! Some suggest flash drives, but what brand is best, & is it better to have several small ones or is a really large-sized one better? Don't laugh, but I've never used a flash drive before, but since this major crash I know I have to do something. The price of external HDDs is out of my price range & having something attached to my laptop would be almost impossible, as I use it mostly in bed, due to disability. Please post suggestions for backups...even include external HDDs...I'll keep an open mind, & if it's the best way I'll just have to save up for it. In that case tell me how to backup till I can afford it.

Well, I'm going back to the setup. Thank ALL of you for your wonderful suggestions. It's nice to know that you're here when I have a question. I'll post as things progress.

Again...thank you SO MUCH for your help!

Gratefully,
Nuts4Mutts