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
    2013-05-14T18:58:42+00:00

    If Toshiba are still stuck at the version you stated it looks like someone needs to wake them up.   ; )

    In fact, they are offering 

    http://support.toshiba.com/drivers

    <quote>

    • Version: 16.4.2.3
    • Posted Date: 2013-05-06

    </quote>

    Don't know who can get it.   You would need to use your own product code to find out.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-05-14T16:04:16+00:00

    The touchpad is Synaptics. Driver 16.3.4.0

    There is a newer driver available.

    http://www.synaptics.com/resources/drivers/

    <quotes>

    Windows 8/7/XP/Vista 64/32-bit Edition v16.3.15.1

    Note: Installing a generic driver may result in the loss of OEM-customized Synaptics pointing device functionality.

    </quotes>

    Perhaps that note would be good news?   <eg>

    FWIW on W7 I am seeing  Device:  Synaptics TouchPad V6.3   Driver:  v 15.3.29 13 Oct 11

    Before doing anything about trying the newest one on my W8 partition I want to compare what it has installed now.   Also, I'm curious what the device level is that people are having trouble with.   Mine is in an old TouchSmart tx2 which is quite small compared to some of the pictures I have seen in W8-ready machines.

    In any case, I have already downloaded it and read in the Release Notes:

    <quote>

    Version  16.3.15.1 02/25/2013 (WinXP/Vista/Win7/Linux)

    Bug Fixes

      -Fixed popup help strings are not properly aligned.

      -Fixed Edge Swipe is not working on Windows 8.

    </quote>

    (emphasis added)

    Maybe I won't see this Edge Swipe problem even if I do install this one?   <EG>

    Note that they don't mention Win8 in the Version line.  I wonder if that means it needs to be installed in W7 compatibility mode in W8?   We'll see.   ; )

    BTW other fixes which supersede your version could also have changed symptoms for both Edge UI and default settings (perhaps making the defaults closer to a real mouse?)

    If Toshiba are still stuck at the version you stated it looks like someone needs to wake them up.   ; )

    FYI

    Robert

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