How to disable gestures (charms bar, edge swipes, etc...) without changing the registry

Although some of the nomenclature was a bit different, I was able to go to "Mouse" directly from control panel, and the Synaptics mouse controlling section, under "Gestures", allows you to deselect the zone of the touchpad that initiates "Windows 8 functions", around the edges of the trackpad.  That worked for me in 2015.  I have an HP with Synaptics.

OMG thank you!  This worked on my Samsung 900 series ultrabook.  The right swipe insanity was driving me bonkers.  Bonkers, I tell you.

I have a Lenovo. They've hidden the settings!

If you open Mouse Properties, then click on the last tab labeled "Device Settings" you will see a button you can click labeled "Settings". Click it.

A new window will open where you can disable the edge swipes.

I've had a Windows 8 laptop for a few days and the charms bar/settings pages that kept popping up out of nowhere were driving me absolutely insane.  BUT, I finally figured out how to turn them off. 

I went into control panel>hardware and sound>mouse>device settings>settings.  From there you can adjust a lot of the trackpad settings, including DISABLE EDGE SWIPES. 

I have a Toshiba Satellite with a synaptics mouse/trackpad, so i cant guarantee this works with all models, devices, etc. 

Windows 8 for laptop is now tolerable!  Hope this helps!

Thanks, incredible help.