>>>>I just installed a 3rd party start button on it, and forces it to start in desktop mode. I guess I'm happy with that.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Walter, can you give me a reference to that button? It may be exactly what I am looking for. (Although the built-in Start button has so much functionality I might be a little nervous about overriding it).
>>
>>I've installed the solution on http://www.classicshell.net/ . Works well for me. I almost forget its windows 8 I'm using.
>
>Looks interesting. Any gotchas / drawbacks encountered ?
>
>tia
>
>thomas

Not yet, but I have to admit that I've not been using it heavily yet. I still have not finished to install all software on it.

Walter,