Today, its been a month since release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Thanks to all the hard work and development done by the Windows team, we finally have Windows 8 Consumer Preview running on our computers. Most of the new versions in this public beta of Windows has charmed users. But there are some – who have been just turned off by the start screen or the Metro look and have promised that they would continue to use Windows 7.

While Windows 8 offers some great new features, in this article, I will talk about some things which I dont like in Windows 8 CP; some of which may actually make some users put off the upgrading decision as much as possible and make them want to continue using Windows 7 – like the missing Start Menu.

I confirm that I am aware that this is just a beta version and that we will be seeing many finishing touches and new things in the final version of this operating system.

No Start button

This has irritated users the most. People have been since long been used to seeing the familiar and good-old start button, and the start menu – and not seeing them in Windows 8, has left many distressed.
Since there is no Start Button, hence there is no Start Menu. But people will have to realize that the Start Screen is the new Start Menu. But it does get irritating at times when you see your computer screen flipping to-and-from the Metro UI. Maybe Microsoft could give this option in non-touch devices. There is no need to remove them completely. Start Button takes very little space on taskbar and also the taskbar without this looks incomplete, in my opinion.

No Shutdown or Windows Logon sound

Whenever you log on or shutdown Windows 8 Consumer Preview, there is no sound alert. In previous editions this was a very integral part but now it is missing. Many like to hear the shutdown or logon sound, and I hope that this is just the case in the beta version, and that it will be present in the final RTM version.

Can’t login to desktop directly

The ability of Windows to load the Desktop directly bypassing Start Screen is no longer available. This was present in the Developer Preview. There is now simple known way to escape the Start Screen in Windows 8 CP.

Now every time when you log in, either you have to press Windows Key + D or click on Desktop tile to access the normal desktop mode.

.NET is not turned ON by default

In Windows 8 Consumer Preview, you have to enable some essential features by yourself as they are disabled by default. Take a look at this:

I noticed it when I tried to install an application which required latest version of .NET on the system.Windows asked me to install the latest .NET version to install the application.

So I downloaded the .NET 4 setup, and when I ran that, I received the message that the  latest version of .NET was already installed on my system. Then I remembered to check it up here at Windows Features – found it – and finally enabled it.

Cannot enter Safe Mode with dual boot

If you have installed Windows 8 CP along with Windows 7, you might have noticed that pressing Shift + F8 or F8 doesn’t brings up the Safe Mode option.

The reason is the advances of new graphical boot loader. So again you have to enable the Safe Boot option using System Configuration Utility (msconfig.exe).

SmartScreen error on running non-reputed software

This is the most irritating thing you’ll find on Windows 8 CP. Actually the SmartScreen feature included does not allow you to run software which are not from well known publishers.

It spent half an hour on the More info link. When you use More info link, you can bypass the restriction by clicking Run anyway option. I understand, that the feature is there to protect us. So maybe Microsoft will have to take a more lenient view of the installed software or maybe the software vendors will have to upgrade their software to make it work here – fast!

Linking your local account with Windows Live ID

If you want to use Metro Apps, most of the times, you will be asked to sign in with Windows Live ID. In some cases, Windows will recommend that you  connect your local account with the  Windows Live account. If you do that, you may face some problems.

Now every time you want to log in you’ll be asked for your Windows Live ID password, but how will your computer identify the password when your system has no Internet connectivity at start-up? Is the passwrod being stored locally? Also if you have connectivity, and if you forgot Windows Live ID password, there is no password reset disk option yet. You may have to reset your password online by logging into Windows Live account, using some other computer, in such cases.

Not enough touch features

As we all are aware that Windows 8 is the first touch supported OS but this beta version contains few pen and touch input desktop features.

You have to move third party tools to get such features working. I hope we will see more touch features in the final RTM.

Menu bar replaced with Ribbon

In Windows Explorer section, Menu Bar is now replaced with RibbonUI. Most of keyboard combinations that we were able to use in Menu Bar don’t seems working in Ribbon UI. Some like the Ribbon UI, but I fee; this section needs some improvements.

No balloon notifications for Windows Updates

Windows Updates no longer notifies now for the latest updates to be installed. Instead of  balloon notifications, updates are now shown on the bottom corner of the log in screen. So to install the latest updates you have to reboot and check whether there are new updates or not.

No direct Shutdown option

When I opened Windows 8 DP / CP the first time, I was afraid that I would have to shut down the computer with using the external power button. But thanks to Alt+F4, that is still working. Microsoft should have provided the shutdown button. For now, to shutdown, you have to first sign out, then pick the shut down option from button provided at bottom of log in screen. But hey, there many ways of shutting down Windows 8 – but I’d still prefer a quick way provided by Windows 8 itself.

Some programs / features removed

Windows 8 CP has removed some of the programs which are as follows:

• Windows DVD Maker no longer exists

• Windows boot logo killed

• Windows Help doesn’t supports new downloads, so this feature is of no use now

• Flip 3D (Windows Key + Tab) which was introduced in Windows Vista is no more

• Windows Explorer unable to display preview and details pane simultaneously

• Autoplay doesn’t provides the option to always open a particular program based on the file type

• Windows Error are now more short and less detailed, they don’t say any explanation except the codes

• The ability to completely configure UAC and run with administrator privileges full time has been removed.

Well, I guess this includes most of the things I personally dont like in Windows 8. I repeat, I am aware that Windows 8 CP is a beta build, and many of them may me addressed or included in the final RTM build, but I nevertheless thought I’d share my dislikes with you.

I’d like to hear from you too – what you don’t like in Windows 8 CP or what you’d like to see improved or added in Windows 8 final version.