Classical Menu WITHOUT using 3rd party apps or system mods

jimbo45

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Hi there
Just to remind those people who really find they can't live without some sort of menuing system that you can replicate a classical menu system VERY CLOSELY by using a little trick I found on the Net some while ago. I can't remember the original source from the net but the method works 100%.

I've posted it on the W7 Forum so the details and screenshots are there.

If you use that method it actually is far more flexible and customisable than the "Classic menu" and is perfectly 100% standard windows -- you don't need any 3rd party apps whether paid or free.

More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8 - Page 18 - Windows 7 Support Forums

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Good one, Jimbo.
I actually did that one when I first tried the DP, and got totally lost with the Metro screen and no start ball/menu. :)
It works well.
Wenda.
 
Last edited:

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Good trick.
Mentioning "W8" on SevenForums did made a tidal wave of critics so it seems. :)
 

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I checked it out and I don't see how anybody can complain. Especially if they have their taskbar on the left side instead of at the bottom of their screen.
I've been a toolbar fan for a long time. They are various sizes when my task bar is at the bottom. With my taskbar on the side, all toolbars are the same size and stack up neatly to resemble a file cabinet.

This is the line to copy/paste to make the new toolbar
%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs


Screenshot (51).png Screenshot (52).png
 
Last edited:

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Hi there
Just to remind those people who really find they can't live without some sort of menuing system that you can replicate a classical menu system VERY CLOSELY by using a little trick I found on the Net some while ago. I can't remember the original source from the net but the method works 100%.

I've posted it on the W7 Forum so the details and screenshots are there.

If you use that method it actually is far more flexible and customisable than the "Classic menu" and is perfectly 100% standard windows -- you don't need any 3rd party apps whether paid or free.

More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8 - Page 18 - Windows 7 Support Forums

Cheers
jimbo

Quite confusing, initially that trick was created for Windows 7 who don't include Classic Start Menu.
 

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Hi there
Just to remind those people who really find they can't live without some sort of menuing system that you can replicate a classical menu system VERY CLOSELY by using a little trick I found on the Net some while ago. I can't remember the original source from the net but the method works 100%.

I've posted it on the W7 Forum so the details and screenshots are there.

If you use that method it actually is far more flexible and customisable than the "Classic menu" and is perfectly 100% standard windows -- you don't need any 3rd party apps whether paid or free.

More Than 3 Out of 4 Enthusiasts Reject Windows 8 - Page 18 - Windows 7 Support Forums

Cheers
jimbo

Quite confusing, initially that trick was created for Windows 7 who don't include Classic Start Menu.

That's true, considering it works on almost all Windows versions and you DON'T require any Classic Start Menu as long as toolbars exist (which they do).
 

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That is just a programs flyout. It not a start menu. Very different.

This is much more useful:

2013-03-03_201648.jpg
 
Last edited:

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That is just a programs flyout. It not a start menu. Very different.

This is much more useful:

View attachment 17629

Yeah I have it, but in that case there's already a "All Programs" option that expands in the lower left, and you see all programs anyway. :)

The programs button you show mimics more the classic look XP and oldies provided and is indeed useful.
 

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The choice is a tough one do I:
  1. Press the Start Button and then the All Programs link
  2. Go back to the Start Screen with the Windows key or Right-click lower left corner of monitor
  3. Just click on the Program Toolbar created with this trick to see All Programs

One click or Two
for me the best choice is #3. It's out in the open and I see All Programs with just one click.:dinesh:
 

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    Google Chrome
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That is just a programs flyout. It not a start menu. Very different.

This is much more useful:

View attachment 17629

No, it is not.

Hi there
The post said basically that you could ALMOST replicate a start menu functionality -- I didn't say you would HAVE a start menu - and in any case I still think this method IS more useful than the old fashioned start menu - which can almost take ALL your screen if you have a lot of applications.

I think it's actually MUCH easier creating one or two toolbars --

In any case the other point was to show that the whole "Menu" thing really isn't that big of a deal if you are 100% honest with yourselves.

There's plenty of valid reasons for not liking W8 -- even "I just don't like it" is good enough but some complaints don't really seem to be particularly hard to overcome or get round, - Whether you SHOULD have to make these "fixes" is another issue of course but if you want to continue with W7 -- and if your system runs fine -- you can stay with it at least until 2020 -- and why not.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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That is just a programs flyout. It not a start menu. Very different.

This is much more useful:

View attachment 17629



Is there a difference from pressing the programs button on the right side and pressing the all programs button on the left side?
It still takes 2 clicks to view the All programs list. No time saved (focus + click on start button,—WAIT— focus + click on programs button)
Programs toolbar only requires focus + one click—no waiting

Maybe it would be nice to have another toolbar with the right half of the start menu. To have the ability to click on Computer, Pictures, Run, etc.
 

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There's nothing new about a Quick Launch additional toolbar except in 8 you need it. Quick Launch - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Help Forums

I have several on 7 for separating quick access to select programs like IE, WaterFox, WLMail, Windows Explorer(pinned a second time as well as IE and EF), VirtualBox, VM Player, UltraISO, PowerISO, etc.. Now the next will be for strictly System functions out of the Control Panel as well as shortcuts to the exes for different services without the need to type service into Start>Search and click a few more times.

Then comes all those utility programs in another Quick Launch tool bar for Acronis as well as System Info For Windows, Core Temp, and other monitoring programs as well as Defraggler, Speccy, EasyBCD, LiberKey, 7Taskbar Tweaker, Win7 Diag, and the list goes on and on. And then you add the Desktop toolbar for Documents, User account, Computer, Control Panel, etc. for that one. And then lastly two more for a large number of Steam and other game titles divided up between two folders on the drive to cover all the bases. You can pin an All Programs on Vista as well as 7 and 8 as well as seeing a Program Files on XP tool bar made up.
 

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Night Hawk— There's a difference between having quick launch pinned to the taskbar. Which always shows the icons.
And a quick launch toolbar. Which only shows the icons when you click the arrow for the popout.


For toolbar shortcut

right click the task bar, Toolbars & click New Toolbar

copy/ paste line into Folder name box at bottom

%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

— or—

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

and click Select Folder
now you have a new toolbar with menu on a mouseclick
 

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Night Hawk— There's a difference between having quick launch pinned to the taskbar. Which always shows the icons.
And a quick launch toolbar. Which only shows the icons when you click the arrow for the popout.

Always shows icons? The Quick Launch type addon toolbar shows the shortcuts you drag into a new folder on C: only when bringing out the new toolbar when going to use something there. The rest of the time the new toolbar is only seen by how you set it up with or without the first item showing. When having multiple toolbars the first on some will tend be half way revealed until unlocking the taskbar itself to make some adjustments and then locking it up again.

Win 7 brought in the pin to taskbar alternative to the previous XP-Vista Quick Launch enabled or disbled section you would see hidden from view until clicking the same type of arrow you see in the System notification area presently. You found the option to use the Quick Launch previously tucked away in the Taskbar-Start menu properties screen options there.

When not finding the Control Panel or having that displayed in Windows Explorer which is already pinned to the taskbar there's even a better option then digging into the user account for that second one's limited items. Desktop Toolbar on Taskbar - Add or Remove - Windows 7 Help Forums[2]=Taskbar%20Start%20Menu

The new toolbar for that may see two Control Panel items one for individual items on a jump list or the second to bring up a new window for the CP itself.

Deskttop Toolbar Control Panel.jpg

You'll note the user account folder is present along some other useful items seen there.
 

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    1440x900 same on both builds
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    WD Caviar Black Edition Sata II 1tb two OS drives
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