Disable Start8 without uninstalling

Run Start8 UNLOAD from a command prompt in the Start8 directory.

That's a handy one to know.

Just for anyone else, to load it again, it is just: "Start8 LOAD".

well  nice to knw but it would be seriously easier if you can just right-click->quit it and start it again like classic shell, there are some other points which should be added in this software, since I dont think that a paid software should be worse than a free one, but I'll put them somewhere else...

Generally there is no need to unload the software.  You cannot unload the menu in Windows 7 afterall.

sometimes there is. for example when you wanna compsre start8 with other things like classic shell and whatnot...

That is something of a niche need.  If you add a menu option to quit you can bet we will get support issues raised with people accidentally picking it.  99.99% of customers will never want or need to unload Start8 and the options the app provides need to target the vast majority of customers.

Start8Tweak.exe in the Start8 install directory offers an unload button if you wanted to do it from a UI.

"Generally there is no need to unload the software.  You cannot unload the menu in Windows 7 afterall."

"That is something of a niche need.  If you add a menu option to quit you can bet we will get support issues raised with people accidentally picking it.  "

Arrogant and untrue comments. You convinced me never to buy another Stardock product.

I am sorry you disagree (though a year after the comment and 2.5 years from the thread start), but I can tell you that from a developer perspective these are true.  Adding options leads to additional questions such as if you unload it then you need to add a start menu link to reload it - which they would have to use the Win8 start screen for - the one they bought Start8 to avoid.  That's great, but what should it do when it is already running?  Should unload remove it from the current session, or always until you next reload it?

It is also true that you cannot unload the menu in Windows 7 and Start8 was designed to replicate that experience.  Unload options make things feel less integrated to the user.

We DO offer an unload option from the command line, or from Start8Tweak as mentioned in this thread, so a user who needs to do that can still do it without causing confusion to those less technically capable users.

It is worth nothing that this thread is hardly full of people asking for an in app option to unload things so it is indeed a niche need.

Personally I think it is an overreaction to say you will never buy another Stardock product simply because of the comments above but that is indeed your choice to make not mine.

well I'd say we could make this mostly like classic shell does it. a close entry in the right click menu, but maybe with a question before closing (of course with a tick to disable this question in the future)

that's my Idea...

This was just what I need.

However, "Start8 LOAD" doesn't seem to reload Start8 in Windows 10.  Did I get that right?

PS - when a developer says "as a developer, I know what users need" or words to that effect I run for the door!  Developers know the product inside out, but, alas, often have a very different perspective to "normal" users, and are (to be frank) not always the best people to ask about user needs.  I say that as a software developer myself.  I've also spend time commisioning software, and have spent hours and hours persuading, cajoling, begging developers to implement what users want, rather than what developers know - just know - that users really need. 

I must agree with the original poster on both counts.

One, that the option to turn off the function of the program without uninstalling it is important, a no-brainer really.  I'm only here because I had to search the Internet for that capability.  So I spent a few minutes to achieve what should have taken a few seconds.

And two, the attitude expressed in response to that request is beyond arrogant.  Sounds like the developer in question could have come from Apple, where the culture is "if we want the user's opinion, we'll tell her what it should be".

well while it might sound arrogant I can see where it comes from, I am an IT apprentice and I see that people (including me) are often coming to a dev and raise questions to this and that option.

and as I said there might be a question before unloading and even with an ignore tick. you could even go as far as saying that the tick only can be selected after the user once properly restarted start8, so he isnt stupid enough to be unable to restart it.

its a safe hazard.honestly most people nowadays dont know cmd prompt exists much less how to properly use such a thing.hell i deal with trying to help people with things like fastboot and stuff to modify phones and they get confused in even the cmd prompt area much less anything basic.im not an it graduate but ive helped people for years with tech questions.hell my most famous being hacking a psp back when you had to use a pandora and an mms file.unfortunately pspmod.com seems to been taken down so i cant do a reference.probably should also change my acctname on here cause im sure to those that dunno i may just seem like a noob.perhaps not on advice but on post count.i didnt think stardock needed me chiming in with the past because all their stuff worked and there wasnt as much question workload as there is now-ƒR()§†H@X

As a user I found this forum because I need to disable Start8.  I am also a teacher and I need to view the computer as my students see it. I do show my students how your program works...I guess I won't be recommending your product to my students any more.

especially when there re free alternatives that let you do more (Classic shell for example)

There is an option to unload Start8/10 built into the software.  If you need to unload it even easier you can make a shortcut calling START10 UNLOAD and to reload just call START10.  Replace Start10 with Start8 for Start8 users.  Or run Start10Tweak / Start8Tweak where there is a button for unloading Start10.

We have not added this as a direct menu item as the vast majority of the customer base do not need this and such an option would detract from the 'nativeness' of the product.

The solution has been supplied and this thread is now locked.