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For instance - I read a PDF file, and it fills my 24 inch monitor with 1 file. I really only need it to fill about a third of my screen so I can see the pdf while I create the Word file I am working on. I also want several browser windows, a power point window, and an excel window, all in WINDOWS, not in full screen. I NEVER do anything in fullscreen since it is so limiting.
Start with something simple - like PDF reader? How do I make it NOT be full screen, since I NEVER want it to be fullscreen?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Windows 8 has a built-in MS PDF reader, which always defaults to fullscreen, and cannot be changed. The "issue" here comes from the MS implementation of the Windows 8 Tiled apps.
Download an external app, like Adobe Reader, and open the PDF with that app, and you can open the PDF in a window just fine.
I don't have a problem with the start menu, or switching to the desktop. The shell is not the issue - 99.9% of the time I jump right to the desktop anyway - the issue is the apps that seem to trap me in full screen against my wishes.
My problem is that I have no idea why anyone would ever want to use any of these apps full screen - ever - I certainly NEVER would. I want my Adobe WINDOW (and every single other app) to fit in like 1/4 of my 24 inch display, not fill it. That way I can scroll and read it, but still have my other WINDOWS available. I always work with multiple apps open at the same time and keep them in windows to facilitate ease of use. The suggestion that Microsoft could have made this a constraint is so far from my reality that it is just simply stupid.
For instance, if I start Explorer from the shell, it locks into full screen, so I immediately close that and drop to the desktop. If I open Explorer from the desktop I can window at will.
So, the question is:
How can I make the apps on my desktop computer running the Windows 8 OS actually open in windows, instead of full screen? Is there a configuration option to restore this absolutely required functionality?
This is the stupidest Windows Ever! What's the point when one can't multitask. I am reverting to 7.
I too ran into this problem. The best solution I've found is to right click on the icon that opens the app and go down to properties. Switch over to the "Compatibility" tab and change the compatibility mode to Windows 7. Click apply and attempt to reopen the app. It should run windowed just fine now.
Totally agree with you though. How this ever got through user testing is beyond me.
TDR
the .pdf reader is not the real issue. All my apps will either go full screen top to bottom, but ,
necessarily side to side (this is acceptable!!), but certain apps (like Paint Shop Pro) will immediately go full screen in all directions if I move it all the way to the right. I need multiple programs open at once so this is annoying!
