Best replacement start menu for Windows 8

RastaManBob

RastaManBob

RastaManBob

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Hello,

I am looking for some software to add a replacement start menu for Windows 8 and allow immediate booting to the desktop environment... Hoping for a feel like Windows 7 but still benefit from the advantages offered by Windows 8. I do not mind paying a minimal fee if doing so is better than the free alternatives. I'd rather not be installing lots of different ones to try and would therefore like to make my decision now.

At the moment it seems that Start8 looks suitable and is pretty inexpensive. Is there a better solution?

Thank you! :)
 
I'm currently using Classic Shell and have yet to come across any bugs, nor have I found any reason to actually pay for a start menu replacer (such as Start8) when this free program is light on resources and very easy to customise.

I should say that I also use the Modern UI interface for a few tasks as well, so to me it is less a start menu replacer and more about having the best of both worlds.
 
Commala said:
I'm currently using Classic Shell and have yet to come across any bugs, nor have I found any reason to actually pay for a start menu replacer (such as Start8) when this free program is light on resources and very easy to customise.

I should say that I also use the Modern UI interface for a few tasks as well, so to me it is less a start menu replacer and more about having the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...

Can Classic Shell boot directly into the desktop environment rather than the metro interface? Thanks.
 
StartIsBack is clearly the "best" overall experience IMO. Boots straight to desktop, the actual proper Windows 7 start menu (not a 3rd party clone that's not "quite" right), WIN key takes you to Win7 Start, CTRL+WIN takes you to "Modern UI". Can disable or enable individual hot corners on the desktop.

Ex7forW8 isn't a bad alternative if you want to ditch "Modern UI" completely.
 
paradigm said:
StartIsBack is clearly the "best" overall experience IMO. Boots straight to desktop, the actual proper Windows 7 start menu (not a 3rd party clone that's not "quite" right), WIN key takes you to Win7 Start, CTRL+WIN takes you to "Modern UI". Can disable or enable individual hot corners on the desktop.

Ex7forW8 isn't a bad alternative if you want to ditch "Modern UI" completely.
Click to expand...

It looks as though Ex7forW8 is no longer being developed. StartIsBack looks good, though. My only irk with it is the start menu icon - Start8 looks much more integrated into W8 for that reason.

StartIsBack mentions that some W8 start menu applications load into the desktop by emulating key presses and so the metro interface is shown, even if only for a second. Do you know if this is the approach Start8 uses?

Definitely a good shout and one I will be considering! :)
 
d_brennen said:
Have you tried 8 without any Start Menu mods? Maybe you'll like it. I understand though, I resist change too :)
Click to expand...

+1 after hating it with preview version of Win8 (lasted all of 3 hours before I went back to Windows 7) I've found somehow I like the new interface upon purchasing it, I think it's partly down to improvement in apps, especially the mail app.

Hopefully they'll continue to improve them and integrate an app for file browsing which is currently the only reason I see the old desktop unless i'm in the control panel!
 
RastaManBob said:
It looks as though Ex7forW8 is no longer being developed. StartIsBack looks good, though. My only irk with it is the start menu icon - Start8 looks much more integrated into W8 for that reason.

StartIsBack mentions that some W8 start menu applications load into the desktop by emulating key presses and so the metro interface is shown, even if only for a second. Do you know if this is the approach Start8 uses?

Definitely a good shout and one I will be considering! :)
Click to expand...

Ex7forW8 was the precursor to StartIsBack, and doesn't really need any further development, its a simple explorer shell replacement for the Windows 8 one.

StartIsBack, you can choose whatever orb icon you like (doesn't have to be the Win7 orb), so don't worry about that.

I'm yet to see the Modern UI interface show up, no matter what I'm running from the start menu.
 
paradigm said:
Ex7forW8 was the precursor to StartIsBack, and doesn't really need any further development, its a simple explorer shell replacement for the Windows 8 one.

StartIsBack, you can choose whatever orb icon you like (doesn't have to be the Win7 orb), so don't worry about that.

I'm yet to see the Modern UI interface show up, no matter what I'm running from the start menu.
Click to expand...

Are you aware of a way to use the same skin as Start8 in StartIsBack? E.g., square corners (rather than rounded) so that it matches more closely the W8 theme?

Also, can you link to a 'orb icon' that is the same as the stock Start8 one, as shown here: http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/images/features/after.png

Thank you! :)
 
Okay cool, and a W8 style skin?

Also, on the StartIsBack FAQ it says:

"Is it possible to remove Metro (Modern, oppa MS Style) UI completely?

No, it's not possible to remove it without bugs since a lot of things depend on it. You can download my another (free) program Ex7forW8 (google it) and use Windows 8 without Metro UI, but with several limitations."

Any idea what the limitations of Ex7forW8 are? I can only find a HUGE thread on it and finding them in there is going to be difficult... And no doubt many early bugs have been fixed. Still, if the coder admits limitations I'd imagine there must still be some ;) Any ideas? :)
 
The main limitations are (obviously) that you lose the use of Metro apps, they still all appear in the start menu though (they don't in StartIsBack, Metro apps appear in the Metro Start, Classic apps appear in Start Menu).

You can't replace the start menu skin with the one from Start8, you're stuck with the Windows 7 start menu appearance, but IMO if you are going to use Start8 with it's massive Metro-Like start menu, you might as well use Metro.
 
Not used Start8 for aaaaages, the last time I had it, it was metro-esque start menu that took up at least 2/3rds of the screen!
 
I see. I think you can still use that if you prefer but I'd rather the appearance as in the screenshot above. Do you know if StartIsBack can be skinned that way? E.g., the look is the same as it currently is (Win7 style - not metro style) but the edges are square and it has the overall more 2D (W8) look than the 3D W7 look? Thanks! :)
 
imo, just force yourself to use the new interface. I wasn't keen at first, the only gripe I have is it takes longer to open Control Panel

Keyboard shortcuts are your friend
 
Ahh yes, I keep forgetting about the WIN + X menu, didn't know you could right click to get it either, thanks
 
paradigm said:
StartIsBack is clearly the "best" overall experience IMO. Boots straight to desktop, the actual proper Windows 7 start menu (not a 3rd party clone that's not "quite" right), WIN key takes you to Win7 Start, CTRL+WIN takes you to "Modern UI". Can disable or enable individual hot corners on the desktop.

Ex7forW8 isn't a bad alternative if you want to ditch "Modern UI" completely.
Click to expand...

Oh my god thankyou so much for pointing me to startisback :D
 
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