Can we disable the charms bar in Windows 8?

Anonymous
2013-01-22T14:37:05+00:00

Old Title: when I move the mouse around the right hand side bar keeps appearing, when I don't want it to.

I recently bought a new computer with Windows 8 and have managed to work with it OK.  The thing is that when I move the mouse around, the right hand sidebar with the Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings buttons (and the date and time, bottom left),  keeps appearing.  It is so frustrating as I keep having to click to get rid of it. Ironically, when I am ready to close the computer down, I have to fiddle around with the mouse trying to get the damn bar to appear so that I can get the settings button to shut it down. Are there any solutions for this?

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Anonymous
2013-06-05T09:31:15+00:00

"I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8."

OMG, when I pay hundreds of my hard-earned dollars, especially in this economy, I expect to customize my product after purchasing. Did Microsoft have regular people try Win 8 for awhile before releasing it?

Got it!!! Its simple, go to control panel, synaptics touchpad and disable side swipe function, simples. it was really beginning to annoy me.

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Anonymous
2013-01-23T10:24:36+00:00

Hi Deborah,

Thank you for choosing Windows 8 and posting your query on Microsoft Community Forums.

It seems that you are not happy with the “Charms Bar” in Windows 8 as it always appears when you move the mouse pointer to the right hand side of your computer screen and would like to know if we can disable it.

I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8. I can definitely forward your suggestions to the concerned department.

Microsoft has designed it for making things faster and easier. The charms bar help you do the things you do most often, like search, share links and photos, connect devices, and change settings without any difficulties.

For more information, please check this link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/charms#1TC=t1

Hope this information is helpful.

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Anonymous
2013-07-31T18:02:19+00:00

"I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8."

OMG, when I pay hundreds of my hard-earned dollars, especially in this economy, I expect to customize my product after purchasing. Did Microsoft have regular people try Win 8 for awhile before releasing it?

Got it!!! Its simple, go to control panel, synaptics touchpad and disable side swipe function, simples. it was really beginning to annoy me.

This issue was driving me crazy with my new week old inspiron 7720 windows 8.  I even spent time on the phone with tech support who suggested using an external mouse. I followed your suggestion to disable side swipe function and it worked perfectly.  Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-23T01:04:52+00:00

    Oh my god this is the most worthless piece of garbage I have ever owned. I have a large touchpad, and even with the touchpad disabled for a split second after I type my right hand grazes the touchpad and I have to stop doing whatever I'm doing to get rid of the CHARM BAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

    <Removed by FM>

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-21T12:35:38+00:00

    Robert, my dear chap. as I said in my last correspondence, Microsoft and the computer manufacturers are singly and jointly responsible for this catastrophe, but just take a look at the complaints. All of them are made against Windows 8. Hardly any mention the manufacturers and as I suggested to your Customer Liaison man at Reading a few weeks ago in a letter, purely from a reputation point of view, Microsoft must now make some effort to resolve this very serious problem. I take your point about various technical tweaks and adjustments but what about paying customers who have absolutely no technical knowledge whatsoever?? What are they to do?? They buy an expensive piece of equipment in good faith only to find it is almost unusable. My local electrical retailer tells me he now has a steady stream of customers wanting their money back. Problem?  Windows 8.

    We all know what has happened here. This software, designed for touch screen equipment has been crudely shoved into laptops where, in a large number of cases. it is wholly inadequate.

    Consumer Legislation, I can assure you is very clear in cases such as this. The Merchandiser is obliged, by law, to supply equipment in which every aspect of that equipment is fit for the purpose for which it was designed. It definitely does NOT say 'once sold, if not working properly, the customer is on his own and must find his own solution!!' which seems to be the attitude of Microsoft.

    I wish I were a lawyer. I would take this on and I would win. With my knowledge of Consumer Law I  would win.

    Regards  M.Cutlan

    I dont think Microsoft can do anything about this. They cant tell the Manufacturers what and what not to put in thier drivers. The only thing they can do is to not certify the drivers. But a not certified driver can still be installed. So no stoping there.

    I dont even think that MS designed the Charm bar to be opened by the Touch pad swiping. The Surface does not have this kind of feature. So I think the manufacturers are just adding features on thier own. 

    It would anoy me if the charms keeps on poping up if I swipe from right to left. Thank god I hate Touch pads... Thats why I'm using convertables since 2003 :) and never looked back. I cant even imaging using a pure Laptop anymore... No Touchscreen and no stylus? I can't work with such a device anymore

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