Windows 8 without metro

[squeeky]

We are considering using windows 8 on kids netbooks because it seems to run slightly better than our currently installed windows vista. We would like to keep a theme that the children can recognise and use easily but obviously windows 8 has metro. I would like to know if using ex7forW8 breaks and eulas / is illegal in any way. We can have win 7 pro or win 8 pro on our machines but due to boot speed im pointing towards 8.

 

Does anyone see issues with this software ? The reason I ask is because it requires the windows 7 disk to work in the first place and i think its modifying system files.

 

Any Advise

Thanks

Squeeky

[FN-GM]

I would be careful, these types of things can be broken when applying windows updates. I have seen it a good number of times.

 

Thanks

 

zak

[squeeky]

Good point. Um ok i need to have a think about this clearly

[jonnykewell1]

only slightly better than vista lol?

[FN-GM]

I have seen it a number of times, but some people dont have the issue.

 

We put Windows 8 in front of a group of students (16 of them, aged 11 - 14) all who had never used it before. Didn't take much time to get the hang of it.

[squeeky]

ok thats great information. Now the other end of the stick .... Teachers how do they cope ?

[FN-GM]

Teachers how do they cope ?

 

I didnt try, but i think i know what will happen

[SYNACK]

I didnt try, but i think i know what will happen

 

They won't even try and spend the whole time wineing about it instead, give them a kick and they'll probably get it fine, its just deploying enough kick with the new os

[squeeky]

after making an msi and then packaging ex7forW8. I have determined that all it does is change the shell registry entry and use to the windows 7 explorer.exe in another directory Do you think im safe from Windows Updates ?

[FN-GM]

My previous place used a custom Shell on lots of machines so you should be ok i think. I think the danger is modifying the existing shell. If it makes another copy of the existing one you should be ok.

[squeeky]

Yeh it modifies the existing one so I might give this a shot. However I am now having issues altering HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogin\Shell from batch or import or msi. Always getting You do not have permissions to access this key. Even as admin. Nevermind ill find a way somehow.

[FN-GM]

Yeh it modifies the existing one so I might give this a shot. However I am now having issues altering HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogin\Shell from batch or import or msi. Always getting You do not have permissions to access this key. Even as admin. Nevermind ill find a way somehow.

 

Right click the installer or batch file whatever it is and run as administrator. That should sort it.