18 replies to this topic

[pcHuntqwerty]

Classic Shell, a free and open-source program that replicates the classic Start Menu now supports Windows 8 Consumer Preview. It adds a new customizable start button and some of the features have been disabled because they are not possible on Windows 8 or no longer make sense - like the status bar enhancements, the copy dialog replacement, and the Up button.

On Windows 8 you can customize the Start button too:



Download Classic Shell

[Frylock86]

Wasted effort, IMO. Those who want the old Start Menu are going to hold onto Windows 7, and ween themselves into Windows 8. By Windows 9, this software will be useless I would imagine.

[ThunderROM]

Nice! Classic desktop FTW!

[Maximum Payne]

I didn't try consumer preview but I would wanted to use Win 8 because of faster boot,nicer task manager and that ''reboot'' feature if actually work.

[hab]

Tbh, the fact alone that Windows 7 still has the searchable start menu is enough to make me stick with Windows 7.

[hb860]

Can't find the reason to stick with anything from Microsoft. They always decide what i will use, even i don't like their way.

[FalseAgent]

Tbh, the fact alone that Windows 7 still has the searchable start menu is enough to make me stick with Windows 7.

Windows 8's start screen is searchable too. Just start typing.

Can't find the reason to stick with anything from Microsoft. They always decide what i will use, even i don't like their way.

Well then don't.

[manneman]

Can't find the reason to stick with anything from Microsoft. They always decide what i will use, even i don't like their way.

And how is Apple any different?

[hb860]

idk, i decide to use Debian as my primary OS
However, i'll keep Windows 8 for windows tasks

[tuxplorer]

It can be customized to look like the Windows 7 menu. No one's forcing you to use it. In fact, we don't disable Metro either. We are giving people a choice of whether to use the Start menu or Start screen - use what you like and respect others' choices.

[Secured Tim]

I think I'll be using it for a month or two after switching over to Windows 8 completely. I simply can't use my computer without the damn start menu.

Edited by Secured Tim, 21 April 2012 - 12:49 AM.

[Frylock86]

Can't find the reason to stick with anything from Microsoft. They always decide what i will use, even i don't like their way.

Yeah, **** that. I'm just gonna go change the UI on my iPad, and......


Oh, wait.

[Eye Pie Rate]

Microsoft build the old start menu into Windows 8 and give people an option.

[M.Sudoku]

Microsoft provided Win98 style start menu option in Win7. They should do the same in Win 8.

[Frylock86]

And even if they did, when it finally gets removed in Windows 9 again, then what?

[Elhuyar]

People use OSX inspired dock launchers in Windows then why not a start menu? I love the fact that it's skinnable.

[pataoengineer]

Someday we will get used to the new thing, but not now. LOL

[hb860]

In case someone interested, we have released a skin for Classic Shell.

It looks good in Windows 8, much better than default skins. The skins shipping as part of Classic Shell do not match the look of the Windows 7 Start Menu or the style of Windows 8. Many settings also need to be heavily tweaked to get a more closer look. We tried to match the look on Windows 8 while making some changes from the Windows 7 style. For example, the skin has square corners, not rounded corners, like Windows 8 has. Also, because Windows 8 no longer has blur or glow, the glass is replaced by simple transparency, just like the Windows 8 taskbar uses. Semi-transparent Start Menu without blur makes the content behind it much harder to read, so we made the skin with very subtle transparency, that keeps the content behind it readable.

Sample:

 

Download link

 

Please read provided FAQ.

[pcHuntqwerty]

The skin looks really nice. Very well done man.