Bring back the start menu - solution

I tried this out... it may not be exactly what people that want the start menu are looking for... but at least it's an option.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Consumer Preview
... it may not be exactly what people that want the start menu are looking for...

Haven't got around to installing Win8CP, but am interested (since you have tried it) in what you feel is lacking that makes it "not exactly" what people want to see.
 

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You shouldn't have to get a third party app for this kind of stuff. A switch should already be built in, like changing themes (to classic, etc) and such.

Its almost like MS is trying to become apple by taking away user preferences.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win 7 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18xR2
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    i7 3820qm
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    Alienware / Dell
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    16gb Corsair ddr3
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    Dual GTX 675m
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    Samsung 120gb SSD
    1tb storage drive
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    Not nearly fast enough
Let me get this right (because I haven't installed Win8 yet and may not get the chance to do so for a while): Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8
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    Shuttle SG33G5M
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    Intel Q8300
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 1066MHz
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    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    128GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD
    2x500GB Seagate Barracuda
    Keyboard
    Logitech DiNovo Mini
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity 65 Mbps
Let me get this right (because I haven't installed Win8 yet and may not get the chance to do so for a while): Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:

there is an option for classic desktop, just no start menu when you are in it.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro ($39.99 upgrade)
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    PC/Desktop
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    Home Built
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    Intel I5 3570K overclocked to 4.2ghz
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    Asus P8Z77-V LX
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    Cosrair DDR3-1600 (4 x 4gb)
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    None
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    AOC 27" LCD
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    1920x0180
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    Seagate HDD 500gb (windows)
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    Dell
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    qty. (5) 120mm fans, four are monitored by motherboard.
    Logitech T650 Touchpad for touch screen gestures
Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:

Well thought out, well stated, and how true. Where's choice of UI?
 

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System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
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    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
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    Standard 250 watt
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    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
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    Dual case fans + CPU fan
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    Acer Windows PS/2
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    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Let me get this right (because I haven't installed Win8 yet and may not get the chance to do so for a while): Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:
There still is a desktop. Windows 7 and lower apps will work (as they did for me in Dev Preview). You start in Metro, but there is a Classic Desktop with Taskbar. The only thing, if you click where the start button was, you get the Metro interface, "start menu"
 

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System One

  • OS
    W7
there is an option for classic desktop, just no start menu when you are in it.

You beat me to answer the post. OK and true. We are a minority here, though. We know how to tweak an OS for desktop and a start menu. What about the common people or business sector if they want classic desktop?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Let me get this right (because I haven't installed Win8 yet and may not get the chance to do so for a while): Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:
There still is a desktop. Windows 7 and lower apps will work (as they did for me in Dev Preview). You start in Metro, but there is a Classic Desktop with Taskbar. The only thing, if you click where the start button was, you get the Metro interface, "start menu"

Thank you. Legacy apps will create a Metro shortcut then?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Shuttle SG33G5M
    CPU
    Intel Q8300
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 1066MHz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    128GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD
    2x500GB Seagate Barracuda
    Keyboard
    Logitech DiNovo Mini
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity 65 Mbps
Let me get this right (because I haven't installed Win8 yet and may not get the chance to do so for a while): Windows 8 when run on a desktop implements Metro and does not give the user the opportunity to go to a "classic" desktop (with start menu, taskbar, etc)? Or have I got it wrong? And if the first statement is true, how exactly do you access your apps that don't create a Metro icon or are not specifically designed for Win8? :huh:
There still is a desktop. Windows 7 and lower apps will work (as they did for me in Dev Preview). You start in Metro, but there is a Classic Desktop with Taskbar. The only thing, if you click where the start button was, you get the Metro interface, "start menu"

Thank you. Legacy apps will create a Metro shortcut then?
Yes they will.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7
A genuine removal of choice on Microsoft's behalf would had been to get rid of the Desktop altogether, scrap NT code, and focus solely on the metro environment and WinRT.

Now, saying that that Start button and menu are gone isn't a removal of choice. The button is in two locations, and the menu and turned into a screen that acts the same as the menu, but FAR more customizable than the menu. It's like saying a car manufacturer changed the doors on a new model year car so instead of simply hinging out, they open up like gullwing doors. "But it's a removal of choice!".....
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
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    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
The button is in two locations, and the menu and turned into a screen that acts the same as the menu, but FAR more customizable than the menu.

So you can add folders to it now?
You don't have to swap to another screen anymore?
 

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  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
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    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
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    ATI Radeon HD6450
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    Realtek?
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    Samsung S23B350
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    1920x1080
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    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
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    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
    Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-11-13
    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
A genuine removal of choice on Microsoft's behalf would had been to get rid of the Desktop altogether, scrap NT code, and focus solely on the metro environment and WinRT.

It would have been corporate suicide to completely abandon their 1.3 bn existing users.

To do what, exactly? To chase after a small slice of the tablet market.

They could have chosen to have a separate o/s for the desktop/laptop market - with voluntary access to apps. and other online services as an extra feature.


That would probably work very well - seems to work for Apple.
 

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System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I believe our Classic Shell is a much better solution.

SevenVG_Skin_for_Classic_Shell.png

- Consumes 1-2 MB memory on my x64 Windows 8.
- No full-screen requirement, it doesn't disturb your workflow and gets out of the way quickly
- Has quick access to shutdown commands
- Special folders 1 click away and expandable
- Expandable Recent documents
- Frequently used programs list
- Neatly organized All Programs list by folders
- Does not cover the Taskbar and the notification area
- Search results are in a single unified list of Programs and Settings for easy up/down keyboard navigation, press Enter to launch
- Context menu options of our choice present
- Launch multiple apps quickly by holding down Shift
- Full optimum utilization of screen space when using multiple columns to show all programs without unnecessarily scrolling
- Familiar interface benefit
- Every aspect of look and functionality is customizable
- Does not disable Metro if you want it
- Has support for skins, including additional 3rd party skins
- Free customizable Start button
- Completely, free and open source and has had a million downloads!
 

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System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
Or...the Windows 7!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Yes, xpclient

Classic Shell is excellent.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
A genuine removal of choice on Microsoft's behalf would had been to get rid of the Desktop altogether, scrap NT code, and focus solely on the metro environment and WinRT.

Now, saying that that Start button and menu are gone isn't a removal of choice. The button is in two locations, and the menu and turned into a screen that acts the same as the menu, but FAR more customizable than the menu. It's like saying a car manufacturer changed the doors on a new model year car so instead of simply hinging out, they open up like gullwing doors. "But it's a removal of choice!".....


So if they DID remove the desktop environment --then this version of Windows would have absolutely NO USE WHATSOVER for many millions of users -- so MS BIG BIG BUCKS lost.

Even in its present state I doubt if W8 will ever be seen inside any commercial office work environment except on some private laptops or possibly the I.T dept might have one just for playing with. There is no way that in this form W8 will be deployed in these situations --just the staff training etc would be HUGE - to say nothing of the fact that people are just doing the XP===>W7 upgrades and that isn't as easy as it seems either.

Why on earth Ms even THOUGHT of announcing an "Enterprise" version - never mind actually announcing it will remain a mystery I suppose --it certainly wouldn't have been for any sensible commercial reason whatsoever.

Unless the marketing director was either on a different planet to this one, been smoking that sort of funny smellying tobacco found in Amsterdam's famous "Coffee Shops" or had been imbibing enormous quantities of Alcohol what business does he think would even THINK of buying W8 Enterprise.

He should visit maybe a large company like SHELL and see what a job it is even to do a SMALL upgrade across these size operations. !!

People need to go out into the REAL market place to see how work is ACTUALLY DONE instead of spending hours in corporate jets and whiling away his time on Golf Courses.

@SIW2

agree classic shell is as near as you can get to the original look and feel of W7's menu and works very well indeed.
However these sorts of tricks *Could be* deprecated when the RTM build of W8 appears (or even a Release candidate -- there might be something appearing in the wild later --who knows !!).

Note that you still have to click classic desktop from the Metro at logon and you still get the navigation stuff if your mouse goes to the screen edges --seems it's impossible to inhibit that but classic shell is probably as good as it gets.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Or...the Windows 7!

Yes that's a good option. Personally I would be sticking with Windows 7 if I have to use any of the post XP OSes. Windows 8 is full of removed stuff from the desktop besides the Start Menu. Do a Google search for features removed in Windows 8 (and avoid the Wikipedia article). :D
 

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System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
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