Start Menu - Restore in Windows 8

How to Restore the Start Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to restore the Start Menu for all users in Windows 8 and 8.1 using your choice of free programs.

Tip   Tip
Here's a list of some free Start Menu replacements for Windows 8 that are not already in the tutorial below.

Classic Start 8:
Classic Start 8 | Free Classic Style Start Menu for Use with Windows® 8 | ClassicStart8.com

Handy Start Menu:
Handy Start Menu: Makes Working with Your Start Menu Easier

Pokki:
https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu

Spesoft Windows 8 Start Menu:
Free Windows 7 Start Menu for Windows 8

StartMenu8:
IObit StartMenu8 Free download, Bring Start Menu back to Windows 8

StartMenuPlus8:
StartMenuPlus8 Advanced Start Menu

StartW8:
Start Menu for Windows 8

Wentutu Start Menu for Windows 8:
Wentutu Start Menu for Windows 8





OPTION ONE

To Restore Start Menu in Windows 8 using "Classic Shell"



Note   Note
Classic Shell is a collection of features that were available in older versions of Windows but were later removed. It has a customizable Start menu and Start button for Windows 7 and Windows 8, it adds a toolbar for Windows Explorer and supports a variety of smaller features. Look here for the full list.

Classic Shell FAQs.


1. Download and install Classic Shell.​
2. When it's finished installing, click/tap on the Start orb (see step 4 below) to open settings for you to select what Start Menu Style you would like. (see screenshot below)​
ClassicShell-1.jpg
3. You can now set any other settings you would like to customize Classic Shell. Be sure to set Controls to the actions you want. Click/tap on OK when finished. (see screenshot below)​
ClassicShell-3.jpg
4. You will be able to open settings again by right clicking on the Start Menu button, or by what action you set in Controls. (see screenshot below)​
ClassicShell-2.jpg







OPTION TWO

To Restore Start Menu in Windows 8 using "Power8"



Note   Note
Power8 gives you a Start button that opens a Start Menu full of features. From the left pane, you can pin your favorite applications and access all your programs via the Programs menu. From the right pane, you can open specific folders, such as Computer, Libraries, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, and Network. You have a search box field at the bottom to search for any application, file, or other item on your PC.

Right clicking on the Power8's Start button, will open a context menu with several options. The Settings item lets you customize Power8 to how you like. You can set Power8 to auto start each time you sign in to Windows 8. You can also resize the button or change its image. You can block all "Metro" features, which means your mouse will no longer open the Start screen thumbnail or the Charms bar. If you block all "Metro" features, you will still be able to press the Windows key to get to the Start screen, or press Win+C to open the Charms bar.


1. Download and install Power8.​
Power8-1.jpg
Power8-2.jpg
Power8-3.jpg






OPTION THREE

To Restore Start Menu in Windows 8 using "Start Button 8"



Note   Note
The free Start Button 8 (aka: Start Menu X) program by Denys Nazarenko, Developer of Start Menu 7, adds a fully customizable Start button and Start Menu to your Windows 8.

Right clicking on Start Menu X's Start button or notification area icon, will open a context menu to allow to set and customize Start Button 8 how you like.


1. Download and install Start Button 8 (aka: Start Menu X).​
StartMenuX-1.jpg
StartMenuX-2.jpg





OPTION FOUR

To Restore Start Menu in Windows 8 using "Start Menu Reviver"



Note   Note
Don't just replace your Start Menu - revive it. Start Menu Reviver is designed for you, whether you just want a Start Menu back in Windows 8, or want to have more control in Windows 7. The unique tile structure in Start Menu Reviver means that it is the only Start Menu that is also truly touch-friendly. Start Menu Reviver accommodates up to 32 tiles so you can customize it for a truly personal experience. Choose which applications, documents, folders and more you want to launch directly from your Start Menu. You can also change the tile images using our ever-growing library of icons, or create your very own. Launch both traditional desktop programs and new Windows 8 modern applications directly from the Start Menu.


1. Download and install Start Menu Reviver.​





OPTION FIVE

To Restore Start Menu in Windows 8 using Stardock "Start8"



Note   Note
While Start8 by Stardock is not a free program, it is only $4.99. It is an excellent program if none of the free programs above did not meet your needs.

Start8 Start menu for Windows 8. Bring the Windows 8 Start menu back.

  • Add the best Windows 8 start menu to your desktop
  • Windows 7-styled start menu enhanced for Windows 8
  • Pin Modern applications to the Windows 8 start menu
  • Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop


1. To purchase/try, download, and install Start8.​
NOTE: If you like, you could try Start8 for 30 days free before needing to purchase or uninstall it.​



That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Start_Screen.png
    Start_Screen.png
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Last edited:
I like Vstart better than Classic Shell to get closest to the 7 Start Menu, but it's not customizable to get Menu choice on any of the listings, nor is Computer right-clickable to get to important Menu's quickly. Am I missing a setting other than Options? Trying Start Menu 7 now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7
Start menu 7 works well - loks very different, tho . Matter of taste.

Very easy to customise - just click the add or remove buttons and browse to what you want to add.

It starts out floating above the taskbar.

That is because it waiting for you to choose the sizes- then you drag the bottom edge down to the taskbar and it will stay there.

I think I prefer the look of Classic Shell - others may not.

Classic shell is very customisable - not terribly simple to do it tho.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I like the exact Win7 Start Menu replica look of VStart but cannot get beyond it not customizing for fold-out menus, so I tried SM7 and like it best mainly for that reason.

I figured out how to drag left border over flush to left, then right border over to size needed, no more. Only Win8 default needs an entire Desktop for the Start menu. :rolleyes:

Thanks, Si.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7
You're welcome.

I haven't looked at it in a while.

May give it go.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If you want an exact replica of W7 Orb/Start Menu, with ALL the functions, click: Ex7ForW8.

It requres slightly more work, as you need the W7 Installation disk to load it; but it only takes a matter of seconds to extract Explorer 7 files.

Once loaded it has a toggle switch between Explorer8/Metro and Explorer7/Orb Start Menu.

In effect you're running either Explorer 7 or 8. When using Ex7 Metro is totally gone, on boot and after boot; but only a click away if you need to access it from the active GUI.

I'm using it on Enterprise 8, and after all available updates still runs seamless. And W8 on SSD SATA3 with I5 CPU absolutely flies. :thumb:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
Start8 is even better! I'm using it :D
IMHO it's not. First off you have to pay for it from Stardock. And more importantly it doesn't, (or didn't when I tried beta 9.0.4.0), do all the functions of the original W7 start menu. From memory you couldn't rename start menu items, move sub-menu items up to the main menu item by drag/drop, send to desktop as shortcut.

Ex7ForW8 downloaded here, is free and does it all exactly as per W7 Orb Start Menu. And while running it in Explorer 7 mode, Metro is totally gone. However, a simple toggle switch changes over to Explorer 8/Metro.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
Start8 is even better! I'm using it :D
IMHO it's not. First off you have to pay for it from Stardock. And more importantly it doesn't, (or didn't when I tried beta 9.0.4.0), do all the functions of the original W7 start menu. From memory you couldn't rename start menu items, move sub-menu items up to the main menu item by drag/drop, send to desktop as shortcut.

Ex7ForW8 downloaded here, is free and does it all exactly as per W7 Orb Start Menu. And while running it in Explorer 7 mode, Metro is totally gone. However, a simple toggle switch changes over to Explorer 8/Metro.

I know it's payed app and i'm giving a try, so far i like and i think im gonna buy it! :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate
I've tried a few different ones, but personally prefer Classic Shell.

I like the way it lets me have both the Start button and the Start Screen....:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Enterprise 64-bit (7 Ult, Vista & XP in V-Box)
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire Ethos AS8951G 'Super-Laptop'.
    CPU
    Intel Sandy-Bridge i7-2670QM quad-core
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 3000HD / Ge-Force GT555M 2 gigs
    Sound Card
    Realtek/5.1 Dolby built-in including speakers.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18.4" full-HD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1024
    Hard Drives
    2x750GB Toshiba internal, 1x500GB Seagate external, 1x2TB Seagate external, 1x640GB Toshiba pocket-drive, 1x640GB Samsung pocket drive.
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Air-cooled
    Mouse
    I/R cordless.
    Internet Speed
    Borderline pathetic.
v0id said:
I know it's payed app and i'm giving a try, so far i like and i think im gonna buy it! :D

Fair enough but have you actually tried Ex7ForW8? :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
I've tried a few different ones, but personally prefer Classic Shell.

I like the way it lets me have both the Start button and the Start Screen....:)
Hi Kat, I agree that it's preferable to have both, but Ex7ForW8 does give you the option for either Explorer 7 with traditional W7 Orb start menu, or Explorer 8 with 'Metro'. The difference is you can't have both at the same time with Ex7ForW8.

To swtich from Ex7 to Ex8 you use a toggle switch which is equivalent to logging off Ex7 and logging back onto Ex8. But since I never use 'Metro' my preferred one is Ex7ForW8.

If you want both at the same time, then I'd agree Classic Shell or StarDock is the way to go. My only grievance with them is you have to pay for one of them; and neither fully replicate the W7 Orb Start Menu. Some of the features are missing. Only Ex7ForW8 is a true replica of W7 Start Menu.

Cheers M :D
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ult Reatil & Win 8 Pro OEM
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built as DIY
    CPU
    6 core 12 thread & 4 core
    Motherboard
    Inel Extreme & Intel standard
    Memory
    12GB & 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    3 top end SLI linked & onboard
    Sound Card
    In built in graphics card & onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24 & 23 inch Samsung LED backlit
    Screen Resolution
    High def
    Hard Drives
    Corsair Force 128GB SATA3 SSDs in each machine. Plus several external USB3 and eSATA spinner HDs
i clicked on the link to download Classic Shell, but when i went to run it, it never would run. so i went to there site and downloaded
it from there, and i still couldnt get it to run. that was in firefox, so i tried in I.E. but it wouldnt run there either, it would download
but not run. anybody got any ideas as to what is wrong. thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hello Bill, and welcome to Eight Forums.

The link in the tutorial takes you to the site for Classic Shell. Was it the ClassicShellSetup_3_6_2.exe file that you download at their site?

Do you have any 3rd party security program installed that may be blocking it from running.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
hi brink
well i turned nortons off and tried it from the link above, and it still didnt work.there may be something in windows to turn off
but i dont know what, or how to get to it. i usually don`t have any problems downloading any thing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Click on the link in post above to see if you are able to download it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Shawn

Download stops at 3611 kb

CaptureD-L.PNG

CaptureD-L-3.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
@Ray,

Odd, it finishes downloading for me. You might try one of the mirror download sites to see if one may work better for you.

Select a mirror



@Bill,

Do you know if it finished downloading and is the full 8.38 MB in size?

If not, then that's why it's not running?

Do you have any security program that may be blocking it from running? If so, then you may need to set the progam to allow this program to run.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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