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! :)
 
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.
 
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! :)
 
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? :)
 
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! :)
 
groen,

Do you have any screenshots of the before/after of a number of places where there are changes? Start bar included! I'm trying to work out, start bar aside, what visual elements would change as a result of explorer changing.

I still think that StartIsBack is a better solution for me but I'd still like to see what Ex7ForWin8 has to offer. Clearly MS are never going to drop Metro now and therefore removing it entirely does not seem like a great idea to me (I understand the changes can be reverted but then you lose the start menu!) so having a solution where you boot into the desktop and have a start menu back but can load Metro and the corresonding apps seems like a good compromise. Especially considering that with StartIsBack *only* Metro apps show in Metro, therefore it creates a nice division between the desktop (for 'serious' use) and Metro for full-screen simplified applications.
 
Orcvader said:
After trying out a few I found Start8 to be best for me, but haven't tried StarIsBack yet, may give that a go after the trial ends.

I did try Win 8 without the start button for a week but I got fed up after a while :(.
Click to expand...

If I could persuade you to give StartIsBack a go sooner rather than later I'd be really interested to hear your opinion compared to Start8! :)
 
I'm being sent a replacement laptop where Windows 7 was not an option (original laptop had Win7 installed but that specification is no longer available). I've considering reinstalling Win7 on it but I do not have a license and from what I can see Win8 plus a start bar give me the best combination... The advantages of the latest OS, the Metro features for use 'if' I ever have the need and still as productive (my only issue with Win8 having looked in the lack of start menu and booting into Metro).
 
Thanks for all of the opinions. Having considered the options I think as it stands I'll be giving StartIsBack a go when the machine arrives. I had a quick play with Win8 in a store yesterday and, sure it is not even time to really get a feel for it let alone give it a chance, I really want to avoid Metro. Having said that, removing it entirely does not seem a good idea.

For me it still seems the options come down to Start8 and StartIsBack and the fact that StartIsBack is a more tightly integrated solution makes more sense. I also like the idea that it makes the Metro launcher only show Metro apps. Seems a good wall to seperate the experience and unless I hear any game changing feedback I'll be giving it a go soon! :)

Thanks again!
 
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