Honestly, the Start Screen is better than the Start Menu. Try it out and see how well it works for you. If it doesn’t, then you can use third-party software to bring back the old Start Menu.
Start Screen better than the Start Menu? Sorry, not for me. I work in the desktop most of the time. Those flat blocks look awful in a big monitor and the transition adds no value, so let’s agree to disagree 🙂
GraveDigger27
10 years ago
I’ve been a subscriber to Stardock’s Object Desktop for over a decade and they’ve added their Start8 program (plus their MetroMix and Decor8 programs) to the subscription – I tried the Start Screen for a while but I’ve installed the start menu replacement and haven’t looked back. The Modern/Metro Start Screen maybe suitable for a tablet or smart phone OS, but it’s not more useful than the old Start Menu and on a laptop or desktop system that is not touch based it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
I too use Stardock’s Object Desktop (Start8). My take on it is, Microsoft built Windows 8. Stardock put the finishing touches on it.
Its great.
MoisheP
10 years ago
As P_Cezar states, Classic Shell is great. It is fully customizable, allowing all the loose shortcuts on the Programs menu or desktop to be arranged categorically in folders. The appearance (skin, number of columns, background, Aero effects etc.) is also easily altered. This is what MS _should_ have done from the “Start”.
Rock
10 years ago
Many persons including myself lament the loss of the windows Start Menu in windows 8 and 8.1. There are several Programs which have been written to return the Start Menu. I have tried a couple of them and they might work for you. They didn’t for me. I however did find a simple work around and now have a fully functional start menu. The files used to create the Start Menu are still around and by simply locating them and creating a Taskbar Toolbar you can completely reinvent Your Start Menu. The new location will be on the right end of the taskbar. But every thing is there. You will still need to rightclick on the original location at the left end of the taskbar for those functions. The location of the start menu file is as follows: C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/StartMenu. To create the toolbar rightclick on the taskbar, and select Toolbars and then New toolbar… Browse to the StartMenu File, select it and then click Select Folder. The new Toolbar Start Menu will appear on your Taskbar at the right end. Clicking on the double arrow will produce a satisfying replacement for the original Start Menu. It is Free and easy Enjoy!!
What a half-baked solution!
It would be much easier (and a lot better) just adding ONE item: “Start Screen? No, thanks. Just give me the Start Menu”
Honestly, the Start Screen is better than the Start Menu. Try it out and see how well it works for you. If it doesn’t, then you can use third-party software to bring back the old Start Menu.
Start Screen better than the Start Menu? Sorry, not for me. I work in the desktop most of the time. Those flat blocks look awful in a big monitor and the transition adds no value, so let’s agree to disagree 🙂
I’ve been a subscriber to Stardock’s Object Desktop for over a decade and they’ve added their Start8 program (plus their MetroMix and Decor8 programs) to the subscription – I tried the Start Screen for a while but I’ve installed the start menu replacement and haven’t looked back. The Modern/Metro Start Screen maybe suitable for a tablet or smart phone OS, but it’s not more useful than the old Start Menu and on a laptop or desktop system that is not touch based it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
Not gonna change for now…
Classic Shell (http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell) does the job for me.
I too use Stardock’s Object Desktop (Start8). My take on it is, Microsoft built Windows 8. Stardock put the finishing touches on it.
Its great.
As P_Cezar states, Classic Shell is great. It is fully customizable, allowing all the loose shortcuts on the Programs menu or desktop to be arranged categorically in folders. The appearance (skin, number of columns, background, Aero effects etc.) is also easily altered. This is what MS _should_ have done from the “Start”.
Many persons including myself lament the loss of the windows Start Menu in windows 8 and 8.1. There are several Programs which have been written to return the Start Menu. I have tried a couple of them and they might work for you. They didn’t for me. I however did find a simple work around and now have a fully functional start menu. The files used to create the Start Menu are still around and by simply locating them and creating a Taskbar Toolbar you can completely reinvent Your Start Menu. The new location will be on the right end of the taskbar. But every thing is there. You will still need to rightclick on the original location at the left end of the taskbar for those functions. The location of the start menu file is as follows: C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/StartMenu. To create the toolbar rightclick on the taskbar, and select Toolbars and then New toolbar… Browse to the StartMenu File, select it and then click Select Folder. The new Toolbar Start Menu will appear on your Taskbar at the right end. Clicking on the double arrow will produce a satisfying replacement for the original Start Menu. It is Free and easy Enjoy!!