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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.
Thanks Bounceone I've had to do this.
To Mike Hall , my point is, I've bought Windows 8 with all these pre-installed features that don't work but fill up my hard drive.
It's like buying a car with square tyres as soon as you get it home you have to change them and put on round ones.
Sure the square tyres got you around but boy was it uncomfortable (eg PDF reader).
The seats are also uncomfortable and some of them don't work (Windows Media player - which won't play videos!).
Lots of us have had to move the steering wheel (Start Button) from the back seat back into the front again. Microsoft has been putting steering wheels in the front for years but have come up with this new theory and will not acknowledge, despite the number of complaints, they're wrong.
My garage (Hard Drive) is now filling with my own stuff and the Microsoft useless stuff I want to remove.
I'm a great fan of 3rd Party programs and the clever and dedicated people who do such a great job writing them.
My love of them started when Microsoft removed Outlook Express from Windows expecting me to buy Office just to have a mail client.
This prompted the search for a program to replace it. Long live Mozilla and Thunderbird.
Then I found a browser, Firefox, (and I was disgusted when Microsoft wrote code to deliberately slow it down). And so it's gone on.
I wish I could have bought Windows 8 on-line ticking the boxes of the features I required and leaving blank the one's I don't want (touch screen features).
Anyway, I have to go and try to clear out my garage of all these worthless items, which I paid for, don't work and take up space on my SSD. I doubt if I'll be able to remove them and I certainly won't get any money for them on eBay.
All Windows 8 apps for the Modern UI do the same.
You can switch to desktop by using one of these..
If you don't like the default Start Menu or the apps, try one of these..
Use an alternative start menu..
Free..
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
Costs $5 but is just like Windows 7..
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/
Now you can install Foxit for your PDFs which will work as per Windows 7, and have easy access to any Windows 7 style desktop program..
It is free for home use..
Completely agree. I posted a similar question in November 2012 (Why do Windows 8 applications (like Skype) open in full screen?) and received a similar answer.
I just hope Windows Blue corrects the annoying full screen issue which does not fit PC user habitudes.
thank you.. I had the same annoying issue and downloading Adobe Reader solved this... cheers
