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software44
Join Date 11/2013
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Windows 8.1 disable Charms Bar?

November 3, 2013 12:42:19 PM from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Hi --

I'd like to totally disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8.1 (on a Surface Pro) for a kiosk.  It looks like Start8 should be able to do this via the "Desktop" feature "Disable charms bar when at the Desktop" (or "Disable all Windows 8 hot corners..."), but when these settings are set, the charms bar will still appear when I drag from the right of the screen.  (I'm using version 1.30 of Start8 that I downloaded from CNET today).

Question: does Start8 allow totally disabling the charms bar?  And if so, has anyone verified this works in Windows 8.1?  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

 

-Brad

 

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johnnyzero
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Reply #1 November 3, 2013 1:51:05 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Is your kiosk application using the Surface Pro's screen as the input device, or are you using the Microsoft Touch Cover or Type Cover?

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software44
software44
Join Date 11/2013
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Reply #2 November 3, 2013 2:34:21 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

The Surface Pro will be the interface device.  We'll only connect the Type Cover from time to time for administrative purposes...for visitors/users of the kiosk, it will be the bare Surface Pro.

(The kiosk functionality would ideally be like the new "Assigned Access" mode in 8.1 terms of locking out edge swipes, etc.  Though Assigned Access unfortunately applies only to apps from the MS Store, and not custom programs...)

 

-Brad

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johnnyzero
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Reply #3 November 3, 2013 3:15:56 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Gotcha. I thought you might be using one of the Microsoft keyboards, in which case I would've recommended that you disable the touchpad's "Edge Swipes" feature. As you probably know, this feature is hard-coded into the Synaptics touchpad driver, and it does not respect Win8/Start8's Hot Corner- and Charms-related settings.

Just for kicks 'n giggles, have you tried disabling Edge Swipes to see if it has any effect on how the touchscreen handles them?

 

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software44
software44
Join Date 11/2013
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Reply #4 November 3, 2013 5:11:03 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Ah, good thought.  But on the Surface, I don't see the additional tab in "Mouse Properties" that might allow disabling Edge Swipes.  (I'm using this site as a reference for how to turn off edge swipes -- maybe there are other ways, but this is what I've found online):

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/20992-touchpad-edge-swipes-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

If that's the main way of turning off edge swipes, I'm not sure that will work with Surface and it's keyboard.  The step that trips me up is that additional touchpad properties tab, which I don't see...(I wonder if I got another keyboard from another vendor if that would allow me to disable?  Hmmm...)

Do you know if this feature (disable charms bar swipe) is part of Start8? Thanks!

 

-Brad

 

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johnnyzero
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Reply #5 November 3, 2013 6:52:23 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

After doing some more checking on this topic, I really doubt that disabling Edge Swipes for the touchpad will have any effect on the touchscreen swipe behavior anyway.

I came across some questions from others about how to do this (mainly other kiosk developers), but no real answers.

The only other promising thing I found was an article called Disabling Windows 8 Edge Gestures. Unfortunately, I think the registry setting for Gesture Filters is only supported by Windows Embedded 8, not "regular" Windows 8. I suppose you could try it and see if it works.

Good luck!

JohnB

 

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stevenswain44
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Reply #6 November 30, 2013 10:35:59 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

This worked for me:

Control Panel.

Mouse.

Device Settings.

Settings.

Uncheck "Enable Edge Swipes"

 

Steve

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