Bringing back the Windows Start menu

[Legolash2o]

Classic Shell 3.5

Classic Shell is a collection of features that were available in older versions of Windows but are removed from Vista and Windows 7. This is for users who actually want the start menu back and this tool is VERY customizable. For example i have disable the 0 pixel metro button but kept my WinKey as Metro, whilst have a fully functional Start Menu.

Download: http://classicshell.....net/index.html

If you tweak the a couple settings (right click on the orb -> settings):

-click show recent programs

-click show search box -> access normally

you essentially got Win7's menu (same look and feel), but it's actually better in some ways:

-the recent programs are numbered by default -- you can just press the windows key to see the list, then hit alt + the number displayed besides the app to start it (sort of like Win+number for apps to the taskbar). I like it.

-you can even reverse (upside-down) the list of recent apps which might be quite nice if you use the mouse a lot (less mouse travel for the apps used the most)

-it has FAR more settings to make it work the way you like (click the "all settings" radio button at the very bottom) which is very nice.

-if you enabled "search box -> access normally" then you can disable showing the "search menu" (and other junk you don't want, like the useless "help and support")

-"Windows Update" is pinned at the top which is a lot more convenient than anything MS currently has to offer (besides manually pinning it there yourself)

-you can disable the animations (which makes it seem faster -- it already feels faster than Win7's start menu before that! Search function included)

-it has several skins (and being able to select if you want one or two columns), so it can look almost identical to the start menu of any version of Windows you'd like

etc.

There's just so much stuff you can tweak. It's exactly what Windows' own start menu should be like: do whatever you want. Definitely NOT this "let's cram a dumb smartphone touch UI down your throat". Classic Shell's start menu is so good I just might install it on Win7 too.

You still get the occasional metro crap here and there (like network connections :puke: ) but it's like 98% gone. In fact, it seems to make Win8 mostly usable. There's still some small issues to fix (e.g. can't pin stuff in the start menu easily) but it's still a light-year ahead of Win8's metro garbage. An open source app just might be what saves MS from themselves.

Edited April 2, 2012 by Legolash2o

[bphlpt]

From what I've read, and from experience with past versions, I think this is a better choice - Classic Shell 3.5 adds support for Windows 8 - http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/. It is favorably "reviewed" over at MSFN here - http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/156084-get-the-classic-start-menu-windows-8-dp/. It is also Free and Open Source.

Cheers and Regards

[Legolash2o]

I've just installed it and WOW!

I don't link the fact that it disable the 0 pixel metro

EDIT: Nevermind, i found the option to re-enable it.

Edited April 2, 2012 by NIM

[RicaNeaga]

It's for people very into xp. I really like some changes to the interface made in vista/7. I'll try it however, since you advertise it so intensely.

btw, where's the Windows 8 Toolkit section? It had been deleted by mistake?

Edited April 2, 2012 by RicaNeaga

[bphlpt]

It's for people very into xp. I really like some changes to the interface made in vista/7.

Don't worry. From the MSFN "review" linked to above:

If you tweak the a couple settings (right click on the orb -> settings):

-click show recent programs

-click show search box -> access normally

you essentially got Win7's menu (same look and feel), but it's actually better in some ways:

-the recent programs are numbered by default -- you can just press the windows key to see the list, then hit alt + the number displayed besides the app to start it (sort of like Win+number for apps to the taskbar). I like it.

-you can even reverse (upside-down) the list of recent apps which might be quite nice if you use the mouse a lot (less mouse travel for the apps used the most)

-it has FAR more settings to make it work the way you like (click the "all settings" radio button at the very bottom) which is very nice.

-if you enabled "search box -> access normally" then you can disable showing the "search menu" (and other junk you don't want, like the useless "help and support")

-"Windows Update" is pinned at the top which is a lot more convenient than anything MS currently has to offer (besides manually pinning it there yourself)

-you can disable the animations (which makes it seem faster -- it already feels faster than Win7's start menu before that! Search function included)

-it has several skins (and being able to select if you want one or two columns), so it can look almost identical to the start menu of any version of Windows you'd like

etc.

There's just so much stuff you can tweak. It's exactly what Windows' own start menu should be like: do whatever you want. Definitely NOT this "let's cram a dumb smartphone touch UI down your throat". Classic Shell's start menu is so good I just might install it on Win7 too.

You still get the occasional metro crap here and there (like network connections :puke: ) but it's like 98% gone. In fact, it seems to make Win8 mostly usable. There's still some small issues to fix (e.g. can't pin stuff in the start menu easily) but it's still a light-year ahead of Win8's metro garbage. An open source app just might be what saves MS from themselves.

And it also works on Win7 as well.

Cheers and Regards

Edited April 2, 2012 by Legolash2o

[Legolash2o]

It's for people very into xp. I really like some changes to the interface made in vista/7. I'll try it however, since you advertise it so intensely.

btw, where's the Windows 8 Toolkit section? It had been deleted by mistake?

There isn't a Windows 8 Toolkit, W7T works with Windows 8 too.

[Saeed Sami]

there is a free product by Stardock called "Start8" which can be downloaded at the following link:

http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

its a pretty great product that can bring back start menu as well as settings the desktop as default choice for startup

[bphlpt]

See this also for another option - http://www.wincert.net/forum/topic/10081-desktop-over-start-ui-in-windows-8-rtm/#entry89697

Cheers and Regards