Setting a " DJ Only " profile in Windows.

Sorry to disappoint you. Different from Apple (where lots of stuff doesn’t cross over to other user profiles), all the stuff that is in the machine and running in the background will still be there.

The one real solution is to make your machine dual-boot. At boottime you get a menu asking you if you want to start the DJ image or the Regular image. When you choose the DJ image, it is effectively like having an actual second machine. You can switch everything off, strip windows naked and have only the stuff on there you need for DJ-ing.

Greetinx.

Nope (although I would personally advice that, but that’s because I think Windows 8 needs way too much stripping to get rid of the Metro interface, bring back the start button and such). But you can use the same OS you are currently using, including the serial/key!

Greetinx.

It isn;t too hard to do.

There are quite a few how-to’s online. Or drop me a question if you have any.

Greetinx.

You’ll find all sorts of good lists of things to turn off/disable in Windows 8 by searching the internet, and after running down all of them I was still having issues with my N4 doing the most bizarre things (like playing all 4 decks just fine, but lagging and stuttering more and more as I paused one deck at a time to the point where it would stall or freeze completely with only one deck playing) after I got a new Windows 8 laptop. I pulled most of my hair out trying to source the issue. I troubleshot everything three times. And then I finally got it sorted with something that was on NONE of the prep lists to make a Windows 8 laptop controller friendly:

Turn off live tiles.

Now it works like something from a dream.

And if you want to avoid using seperate tools like Start Is Back you can update Win8 to 8.1, which allows you to boot to the desktop instead of the start screen. The start button on the desktop is back in 8.1

Most probably know this but if no one says it out loud someone is going to have a really bad night: don’t make major changes like this to your gig laptop without rigorously stress testing the entire concept on another machine first if at all possible. You don’t need any surprises or in the middle of a jam. Even if you only have one machine, make sure you don’t make major (or even relatively minor) changes to its inner goings on if you don’t have a few days to put it right again before your next job.

For real? LOL. I’m very comfortable with the Start screen so I’ve never bothered to click the Start button on the desktop…what a laugh. As if the keyboard shortcut wasn’t easy enough they put one on the desktop too….just to try and make people happy? Oh man. “Hey guys! We heard you loud and clear about not liking that Start screen so we put your button back!”