Windows 10: Is it possible to completely disable the start menu?

I'm using an old laptop as a Kodi Media Center and I have it set to automatically login and boot kodi on startup and wake from sleep, so what I'm wanting to do is add all shortcuts I need to the desktop and completely disable the start menu. Not sure if this is possible, but if it is, any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,


:)

 

Is it possible to disable the horrible new windows 10 desktop?

Ever since a few updates ago, whenever I start up my laptop it goes to this horrible Windows 8-style scree with tiles and apps instead of my regular desktop. Is there a way to set my laptop to exclusively use the standard desktop? Or am I trapped in this
god-awful hell of useless apps and unintuitive menus? Pressing the windows button does nothing. Pressing on the "Back" icon does nothing. It's seemingly impossible for me to use the regular desktop as this tablet-style screen seems to be the base from which
all my other actions spring. Please help. I just want my computer to be usable again without stupid apps getting in the way.

 

Is it possible to disable the horrible new windows 10 desktop?

It sounds like your machine has gone into Tablet Mode for one reason or another.

Click on Notifications and then on Tablet Mode. That should fix it.

 

I'm curious what the others have to say but I don't think you can do that.

 

Disable the Start Menu in Windows? I just pin what I use every day to my taskbar? Have a look at Tablet mode maybe? https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

 

You could hide the taskbar (right click on it, properties, tick "Auto-hide the taskbar")

You can get rid of the button with startkiller portable - this works in 10 also. The button will not show on your taskbar but pressing the *Start key will still open it.

If you really want to stop it working lots of people have problems with it failing so you could just wait for that to happen to you and not fix it *Wink

More seriously I think you'd have to change the permissions on something to deny access and probably hiding it away is a better idea.

Is you purpose for doing this aesthetics or you want to stop anyone running anything except for programs with shortcuts on your desktop?

If you want to allow only certain programs the methods depend on whether you are running 10 or 10 Pro so please let us know.

 

Combination of both. I would like to do it for aesthetic purposes but I do want to control which programs people can use. I have already set the account that automatically logs in as a Standard Account, so I'm good on that front.

I'm running 10 Pro x64.

 

Settings - Accounts - Family & Other Users - Set up assigned access.

It will be at the bottom under the list of other users (you have to have more than one user created). Also known as "kiosk mode". I don't know if it will work with Kodi, though.

More info:
Set up a kiosk on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (Windows)

Looks like there are ways to do it with Kodi in that article.

 

Then I think the best is a comination. Use startkiller to remove the taskbar icon, autohide the taskbar. Make an account for Kodi and in group policy allow only that application (http://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to...ified-programs)

EDIT: or use the kiosk mode as @NavyLCDR says instead of Group Policy - a better way perhaps.

 

Roger, will do. Thank you all for your help. Greatly appreciated.