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I'm getting very annoyed at the way Windows behaves differently depending on whether or not it thinks you have a touch screen.

Using the mouse is very clunky and I would like to get the mouse to imitate touch but I cannot find a setting or options to get Windows to behave the way I want it to. what I mean by this is that when you hold down the left mouse button (in a default setup) and move the mouse it should act as if you were touching the screen with a single fingertip.

Example 1: On a touch screen I can swipe from right to left to get the charms to appear, with a mouse I have to bash it down to the bottom corner and wait for the charms to appear. The actions should be the same but they are not.

Example 2: On a touch screen I can swipe the All Apps screen to move left/right. with a mouse I have to click in the scrollbar on the bottom of the screen.

Counter Example 3: Perversely the lock screen works exactly how I'd expect it to. I can swipe with a touch screen and swipe with a mouse.

It's especially annoying on the multi monitor and multi-PC systems I have been using for the last five years.

So is there a way to force Windows 8 to accept mouse input as if it were touch input?

Edit: In case it's a specific mouse/laptop issue I'm using an HP Probook 4540s with a budget Microsoft wired mouse

Update: Please do not suggest keyboard alternatives. I already know what they are. I'm trying to find a way to do things without using the keyboard.

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    It seems to be a function of how fast you swipe. I can get the right to left swipe to show charms when I have an insanely high DPI on my mouse (which means the mouse moves more on screen for a given physical distance), and dosen't when I have it turned down. An easier way, however is to just use win-c
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Mar 18, 2013 at 9:10
  • I do know about the keyboard shortcuts which is why I was asking about touch like mouse. I've edited the question to include another example as I wasn't looking for a specific answer to the first example
    – user172353
    Mar 18, 2013 at 9:16
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    A touchpad is not a touchscreen they don't work the same at all
    – user172353
    Mar 20, 2013 at 8:59
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    That still doesn't answer the question!
    – user172353
    Mar 20, 2013 at 9:21
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    Once again that doesn't answer the question. I personally don't like to use the keyboard to access the start screen as it breaks my flow. It has been deliberately set to act differently by MS and there should be a way to allow the mouse to act like touch input.
    – user172353
    Apr 10, 2013 at 7:34

2 Answers 2

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I quite sure that it isn't possible to have a mouse function in the way you wanted it to, unless you could somehow find a pen tablet driver that is compatible with mice as well as tablets while having the same functionality between the two (which I'm quite sure doesn't exist). The closest I'd say you are to getting touchscreen functionality is actually getting a touch screen- or the next best thing, a tablet, like this one here: http://www.wacom.com/products/pen-tablets/bamboo/bamboo-capture. They come in varying sizes and prices, and provide touchscreen-like capabilities. The tablet that I linked to (above) is compatible with Windows Touch input and therefor can be programed to function exactly like a touch display.

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  • Completely misses the point
    – user172353
    May 13, 2013 at 7:40
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If you haven't already you might look into mouse gestures. You generally make gestures by holding right-click and then move the cursor. StrokeIt is old but does this sort of thing pretty well on Windows 7.

I found this page on makeusof.com that describes a different gesture to get to the charms menu. It's not similar and to the touch gesture and I agree that it should be.

For the record, the charms gesture is a move to the top-right down and then swipe down.

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