Classic Shell for Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
My first custom buttons

unt2.png

unt3.png
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
    Sound Card
    7.1 HDA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
    Case
    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
    Browser
    IE, FF, Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
I don't know what happened, but the following is my experience after installing the latest version of Classic Shell. After switching the selected Start button from "Aero" to "Classic" or "Custom", I cannot return to Aero. The dot is filled in but the logo doesn't appear. I didn't add any custom button myself, but merely used the one that appeared when I selected that option. Strangely, I can switch between Custom and Classic without any problem, but I can't restore the original full shell logo. I have tried both the Repair function and uninstalling/reinstalling to no avail. Any suggestions? Thanks.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS8500
    CPU
    Intel i7
    Memory
    12GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast Free Antivirus
I don't think so. The status bar feature of Classic Shell only works on Windows 7.
On Windows 8 you see the total size of the selected files if: a) the selection is up to 100 files, and b) only files are selected (no folders). This may have improved on Win 8.1 but I doubt it.

You are right Ivo. It's not fixed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio XPS 9100
    CPU
    intel i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    24 Gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5670
    Sound Card
    Internal
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Flat Screen HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 850 250 GB SSD
    2 Seagate internal 1TB
    WD external 3TB USB 3
    WD external 2TB USB 3
    PSU
    550-W
    Case
    Mid
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    US USB
    Mouse
    USB
    Internet Speed
    3.84 Mbps Download .44 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
    Other Info
    Liteon DVD wrighter
    Liteon BD drive
    Monoprice Tablet
Not defaulting in 8.1 Pro Preview

Gang I've used Classic Shell on 8.0 with no issues - fabulous tool.
However, installed it the same way on a freshly built 8.1 Preview and its not defaulting to the desktop and I see no settable parameter to force it.

can someone give me a clue???

it works - the features are all there etc but I have to manually hunt down the "Desktop" app pane and hit it.... annoying
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1, Win 10P, Win7-all, RIP XPP, 'droid 2.2, 2.3,4.x, 5..IOS,
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    many: E5440, 430 G1, E45, G4-1117DX, X120E, DC7600, X83VB-X2, NC10, Droids, Galaxy,
    CPU
    too many
    Motherboard
    ditto
    Memory
    ditto
    Graphics Card(s)
    ditto
    Internet Speed
    30mbps

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus CM5675
    CPU
    IntelCore i5 3.20Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus CM5675
    Memory
    6.0Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD integtrated
    Sound Card
    SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 24'
    Screen Resolution
    1900x1080
    Hard Drives
    Segate 1tb
    Intel 120Gb SSD
    Internet Speed
    100mb down /10mb up
Hi there
What's the basic difference between Classic shell and simply using custom toolbars

Here's my Custom toolbar for most of the stuff I run -- so I can't really see the need for this program any more (although a great idea though until custom toolbars did the job simply and without having to fiddle anything in the OS).

I'm certainly not against anybody developing things but in this case it seems the standard Windows 8 stuff can now provide most of what classic shell can provide.

Cheers
jimbo

The difference is that the Start Menu All Programs is a combined view of two folders - per user and All Users. With the toolbar method, you will have to create two toolbars to see the contents of both.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
I just updated to 3.6.8 and now no matter which start menu style I choose it's showing $Menu. I'm not using Windows 8.1. Could that be why?

classic_shell_error.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    tw33k
    CPU
    Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Formula
    Memory
    8gb (2x4GB) Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 7950
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Acer B273HU
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    WD Black 2TB
    Samsung F3 1TB
    WD 1TB USB 2.0
    WD 3TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Corsair AX-750
    Case
    Corsair 800DW
    Cooling
    H100
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Internet Speed
    5mb/s
Looks like the file ClassicStartMenu.L10N is missing or corrupted. Uninstall and install again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Fixed...thanks Ivo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    tw33k
    CPU
    Intel 3770K @ 4.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Maximus V Formula
    Memory
    8gb (2x4GB) Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire 7950
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Acer B273HU
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 128GB
    WD Black 2TB
    Samsung F3 1TB
    WD 1TB USB 2.0
    WD 3TB USB 3.0
    PSU
    Corsair AX-750
    Case
    Corsair 800DW
    Cooling
    H100
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless 5000
    Internet Speed
    5mb/s
I have Windows 8 Pro 64bit installed and when I try to install Classic shell 3.6.8 I get an error.
The application has failed to start because the side-by-side configuration is incorrect.

I also have Windows Server 2012 and get the same error.

Do I need to load anything else before Classic shell to make it install correctly?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Antivirus
    Vipre
No, Classic Shell has no external dependencies. It should work on a fresh OS installation with no additional software.
How far into the installer do you get?
You can try using the logging option to see what is failing: Classic Shell: FAQ
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I click the EXE and immediately get the error.
I've tried Run as Admin which makes no difference.

I have a second older Windows Server 2012 setup that loaded classic shell fine but when the update came through it also fails with the Side-by-Side error. All are 64 bit so I don't know if that has any bearing on the problem. The previous version of CS must of loaded OK at the start of the year for me to be using it on the older server. This is now happening on 3 units, 2 servers and one PC so I don't think hardware is the issue.

OK tried logging, the EXE doesn't start as there isn't a log file produced.

I've done a trace

=================
Begin Activation Context Generation.
Input Parameter:
Flags = 0
ProcessorArchitecture = AMD64
CultureFallBacks = en-US;en
ManifestPath = C:\Users\david\Downloads\ClassicShellSetup_3_6_8.exe
AssemblyDirectory = C:\Users\david\Downloads\
Application Config File =
-----------------
INFO: Parsing Manifest File C:\Users\david\Downloads\ClassicShellSetup_3_6_8.exe.
INFO: Manifest Definition Identity is (null).
ERROR: Line 0: XML Syntax error.
ERROR: Activation Context generation failed.
End Activation Context Generation.
=================

Does that help?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Antivirus
    Vipre
I've downloaded the installer individually on each piece of hardware and have just downloaded it again on this new Windows 8 PC and it still fails.

Is it possible Microsoft have changed something in an update for Windows 8 that is now giving the error with your installer?
Could you extract the files from your current installer and make sure the XML file is correct for Win 8?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Antivirus
    Vipre
Not sure what you mean by "extract the files and make sure the XML file is correct". There are no XML files in the installer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
The installer statically links all libraries it needs. The only thing in its manifest is Common Controls v6, which should be present on all machines since XP. What you are seeing is not typical. Something is busted on your end.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Possibly, but the common factor is Window 8 64bit core software. It installs fine on all the XP 32bit and Windows 7 32bit machines I've tried. It only fails on Windows Server 2012 (which is Window 8 64bit underneath) and Windows 8 Pro. Very strange. I wouldn't put it passed MS to tweak Win 8 so Classic Shell doesn't load because they don't want people using the old menu system.

Using a server with the new interface is crazy. I can't see a time when a server is run using a touch screen. I started with Windows 3.0 and Unix so even the Windows 7 interface annoys me :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Antivirus
    Vipre
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