Monday, December 23, 2013

Skip Windows Metro UI at boot

Here is a short PowerShell function that will make Windows boot right to the Desktop; skipping the Metro UI!

Function Disable-MetroAtBoot {
<#
.Synopsis
   Disables Windows booting to the Metro Desktop.
.DESCRIPTION
   Disables Windows booting to the Metro Desktop by modifying the registry. Windows will boot to the Desktop after running this function.
.EXAMPLE
   Disable-MetroAtBoot
   After loging out and back into windows you will have 3 rows on your Windows Metro desktop.
.EXAMPLE
   Disable-MetroAtBoot -Verbose
   After loging out and back into windows you will have 1 row on your Windows Metro desktop.
.NOTES
   After running this script the next time you log into Windows, the first thing you will see is the desktop and not the Metro desktop.
.FUNCTIONALITY
   Windows 8, Windows 8.1
#>
[CmdletBinding()]
          Param ( $VerbosePreference = "Continue" )
    
Begin{ $RegLocation = "HKCU:\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartPage" }

Process{ New-ItemProperty $RegLocation -Name "OpenAtLogon" -Value 0 -PropertyType "DWord" }

End { Write-Verbose "Next time you log into Windows; Windows will boot right to the Desktop!" }

}Disable-MetroAtBoot -Verbose