Classic Shell for Windows 8.1 / Win 7 lookalike

[Syd]

I never like upgrades, so am planning on a format (Samsung SSD) and a clean install of Win 8.1 from the image I downloaded.

However I have one (biggish to me) concern, I still like to use a program called (Ex7forW8exe) this gives me the Windows 7 lookalike/classic shell, Start button and Start Menu etc, so can I please ask, does anyone know what program works with Windows 8.1 ?

Thanks in advance
Syd

 

[mikeytg]

Classic Shell is free, versatile, and works with 8.1:

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements


There are others, but I tried classic shell first and stayed with it.

How to get the Start menu back in Windows 8 | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews

 

[sgage]

I never like upgrades, so am planning on a format (Samsung SSD) and a clean install of Win 8.1 from the image I downloaded.

However I have one (biggish to me) concern, I still like to use a program called (Ex7forW8exe) this gives me the Windows 7 lookalike/classic shell, Start button and Start Menu etc, so can I please ask, does anyone know what program works with Windows 8.1 ?

Thanks in advance
Syd

I believe not - I think work on it was discontinued some time ago. However, the same author develops StartIsBack, which I find the best of all the Start Menu replacements. StartIsBack Plus works with Windows 8.1.

There is a free 30 day full-featured trial - I believe the purchase price is a whopping $3.00. Anyway, give it a try.

 

[Rickkins]

Classic Shell is free, versatile, and works with 8.1:

Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements


There are others, but I tried classic shell first and stayed with it.

This....

 

[vrosa]

Latest Classic Shell and Start8 1.21+ work fine with W8.1

 

[Clintlgm]

I never like upgrades, so am planning on a format (Samsung SSD) and a clean install of Win 8.1 from the image I downloaded.

However I have one (biggish to me) concern, I still like to use a program called (Ex7forW8exe) this gives me the Windows 7 lookalike/classic shell, Start button and Start Menu etc, so can I please ask, does anyone know what program works with Windows 8.1 ?

Thanks in advance
Syd

I too have clean installed Win8.1 Pro 64, the very first thing I did was install Classic Shell. De Activate all the corner hot spots. Set up my desktop as it was in Win 7 HP 64. Set up to boot straight to log in on my desktop. It took me a couple of days to find most of the call out for the APPS, redirecting them to my installed software. IE PDF files open on my desktop with Acrobat 9.1 not the * app reader taking up my whole desktop. I have to admit it did take awhile to redirect the default programs to open my installed software. I can still access the new Task Manager. I have my desktop Gadgets running on my desktop. basically I have my more or less Win7 desktop. I haven't see the 8 start up screen app crap, I haven't seen the lock screen for days now. And it free. I think the main differences between the Startback8 and others is the range of configurations. Classic Shell has tons of options that include IE adjustments Folder adjustments. I only think that, I haven't tried any of the others. last year about this time I bought my wife a HP All In One Win 8 Pro Touch Screen. She went nuts with the new interface so I put classic Shell on for her. I left her booting normal for 8, showed her how to get to her desktop. She is very low tech. Over the last rear she has started using some of the apps and has learned some of the touch screen stuff. She Never was a multitasker she always uses one window at a time full screen. So this wasn't that much of a change for here.

 

[XweAponX]

Ex7forW8 - That's great! I wish I knew about that sooner, it totally blocks off Metro completely and it raised my experience index from 3.4 to 3.5, and my RAM use is WAY down. Oh WOW, my system is almost as fast as my Media System now... Amazing.

THANX A lot, Syd!

This don't work for 8.1? It's a shame. Is there a developer page for this? I see it all over, but no main website.

Damn this is SO GOOD! I got StartisBack too.

 

[Syd]

Thanks Guys
I have gone down the Classic shell route, works a treat
Syd