How to change the theme of Windows 8 to the classic theme?

Solution 1:

If you want DWM disabled, try this program:

Windows 8 no DWM

After using it, rename the Resources folder.

But do not forget to enable Auto-login to desktop because both login screen and StartScreen need DWM.

This method makes Metro apps not working because they need DWM.

A third method is somwhat similar to the first one, but is reported not to work with the taskbar (or the taskbar needs to be restarted). It uses a batch file and the handle utility by sysinternals. As the first method, it keeps DWM running.

Use this

@echo off
FOR /F "delims=^T" %%G IN ('Handle Theme') do set output=%%G
FOR /F "tokens=6" %%G IN ('echo %output%') DO set handleid=%%G
FOR /F "tokens=3" %%G IN ('echo %output%') DO set pid=%%G
echo %handleid%
echo %pid%
Handle -c %handleid% -p %pid% -y

or this script

@ECHO OFF
SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS
FOR /F "tokens=3,6 delims=: " %%A IN ('Handle Theme') DO (
ECHO handleid=%%B
ECHO Pid=%%A
Handle -c %%B -p %%A -y
)

or, alternatively a one-liner:

@FOR /F "tokens=3,6 delims=: " %%A IN ('Handle Theme') DO Handle -c %%B -p %%A -y

and you'll get something like this:

Source: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/173367-simple-hack-enables-classic-theme-in-windows-10-and-8-too/

With all three methods the task manager stops working so you have to install the classic task manager from Windows 7.

For advanced users I recommend this method though.

Additionally, one can apply this tweak to make the menus looking more classic.

Solution 2:

I'm guessing you want to bring back the start menu and make it so that at start-up you default to the desktop.

I'd start by getting Windows 8.1 at the Windows store, it gives more Windows 7 type functionality and if you don't have a touch-screen it defaults to the desktop.

Then you can bring back the start menu with classic shell from here.