A List Of Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

[mlauzon]

Added Start Menu Reviver.

 

[SIW2]

That is interesting.

Here it is in win7.

I prefer classic shell. Maybe there could be a skin a little along these lines.

I suppose those who want playschool looks would like it.

Uses about 25mb ram

 

[mick823]

StartIsBack

I have tried them all and StartIsBack wins hands down in my book. Tons of options including the option to show the taskbar on the tile screen. It is a paid software but dirt cheap. 2 license for $3 or 5 license for $5. 30-day trial is available. The Windows 8.1 version is already available (StartIsBack+) and the license is transferable from 8 to 8.1. Pay once for life.

 

[boohbah]

the taskbar in the metro screen is a nice touch,
i use start8 so hopefully they will copy this idea in the next few updates.

 

[ultralame]

Question for anyone listening...

I think I tried Start8 about 6 months ago; I have a touchscreen all-in-one, so I use both the desktop and the metro apps.

Do any of these allow you to keep the Start Screen too? Whatever I was using replaced the Start Screen with the menu, and I was unable to get back to it.

StartIsBack looks good, but just wondering before I start installing and mucking things up.

 

[mick823]

Question for anyone listening...

I think I tried Start8 about 6 months ago; I have a touchscreen all-in-one, so I use both the desktop and the metro apps.

Do any of these allow you to keep the Start Screen too? Whatever I was using replaced the Start Screen with the menu, and I was unable to get back to it.

StartIsBack looks good, but just wondering before I start installing and mucking things up.

I bought StartIsBack and it has a feature to toggle back and forth between the desktop and start screen. I have it set up to toggle using the windows key on my laptop. I don't have a touch screen so i can't say for sure that it will work the way you want. Why don't you try the 30-day trial and see if it does what you want. You can always uninstall and spend nothing. Change the selection I have highlighted in the picture and you will have a toggle from desktop to start screen just by pushing the windows key.

StartIsBack - real start menu in Windows 8

 

[ultralame]

Thank you. I am trying not to install utilities willy-nilly on this machine. Sometimes I install them and forget they are there.

 

[robinb9]

I have tried them all and StartIsBack wins hands down in my book. Tons of options including the option to show the taskbar on the tile screen. It is a paid software but dirt cheap. 2 license for $3 or 5 license for $5. 30-day trial is available. The Windows 8.1 version is already available (StartIsBack+) and the license is transferable from 8 to 8.1. Pay once for life.


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I agree it works great and is dirt cheap. I paid $5 but for me it is really a donation to him, for 5 licenses which is beyond good and they are for life. I highly recommend this one and plan to add it to the seminars I give. Try it out for 30 days free also, way cool

 

[Mark Phelps]

Do any of these allow you to keep the Start Screen too?

Sorry for the late reply ... but ... Start8 does keep the Start Screen. When you click on the start button, at the top of the panel is a small icon that, once clicked, puts you into the Start Screen. However, that may also be an option in Start8.

 

[alihmsi98]

What is The Best Replacement ?

 

[robinb9]

What is The Best Replacement ?

there is really no best
it is a matter of choice and which works better on your machine
you can trial each one out and decide which one you like better
startisback and start8 has a small price and and both allow you to trial it
classicshell is free but you can try it out too
each one has similar features

i have classic shell one one of my pcs, one i have start8 because classic shell did not work well on it after i tied it so i uninstalled and went to start8. It works better on that machine
i have startisback on my laptop and another pc because it also worked better on those
the advantage of startisback if you pay 5.00 you get it for 5 pcs
start8 is for one pc only

pick one, install it, try it for a while, if it does not work for you, uninstall it and go for another etc etc

 

[JohnBurns]

I agree - there probably really is no "best". I tried Start8 and it works very well and has many nice features. I now am trying StartIsBack and find it very similar to Start8. I do like the taskbar being included on the Start screen as well as the desktop, but it all just depends on what one prefers. $3 and $5 is really a small amount to pay for the convenience. I'm sure the free ones are also good. Both Start8 and StartIsBack are very customizable and easy to configure.

 

[simono11]

3rd Party Start Menu Helps

I do not use phones that have tiles so using one of these start menus has helped me make the transition over to using them in 8. I like that I can still use the charms bar... taking be back to all the tiles at startup. I have windows 8 starting up to the desktop with a 3rd party start menu. Seems to help me out a lot.

 

[JohnBurns]

Here is a comparison of Start Menus available - of course Classic Shell made the list, so you might consider that. Classic Shell works great - I've also tried StartIsBack and Stardock's Start 8, both which were ok - just my preference was Classic Shell.

Classic Shell ? View topic - Compare Start Menus:Classic Shell vs StartIsBack, Start8 etc