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Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by TonyT, 2012/12/19.

  1. 2012/12/19
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff Thread Starter

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    I setup 4 Windows 8 laptops for different clients yesterday. They wanted the Start Menu back. I ended up using the opensource Classic Shell. It works very well! During its install I only selected to install the shell and the Explorer plugin.

    This was my first experience with Windows 8. The first setup took some time as I had to learn how to make my way. I must say, I am not overly impressed with it. It appears to be just Windows 7 without a start menu and the Metro overlay.

    But, because it's new, it's fun!
     
    TonyT,
    #1
  2. 2012/12/19
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    I upgraded a pc this weekend to 8... It isn't as bad as I thought it would be;)
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2


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  4. 2012/12/19
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Well, I think these Start Menu replacements are cr@p. Specially the free classic Shell. The $5 one from Stardock looks better.

    But I want to be without one.

    Today I switched my boot order, so that by default my desktop now boots into 8 instead of 7. I see how/if I can cope.

    Most important thing I found missing (and fixed) was my CPU meter gadget. Since I routinely run multiple VM's, I need to sometimes check on CPU/RAM usage.

    Only big issue so far I that there's no Array Networks SSL VPN Client available.
     

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    Arie,
    #3
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  5. 2012/12/19
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Classic Shell is a nice addition to Windows 8 but it doesn't bring back a great Start Menu alternative.

    I've been doing some research online and found some other Start Menu alternatives.

    The first is Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8 which as the name implies is a program that allows you to run the Windows 7 Explorer shell in Windows 8. This method allows you to run the Windows 7 Explorer with the fully functioning Start Menu. Using this method also disables all Metro elements of Windows 8. The program allows you to toggle between the Windows 7 and Windows 8 Explorer shells at anytime so you can access the Metro interface and have a Windows 7 Start Menu.

    I haven't tested it yet but it looks promising. In order to use that progam you will need to copy over Explorer.exe from C:\Windows and Explorer.exe.mui from C:\Windows\en-EN on a Windows 7 system. You can download the program from here, Windows 7 explorer for Windows 8 (Ex7forW8).

    If that looks to be to much work then the author of the Explorer 7 for Windows 8 also made a better Start Menu replacement. Its called StartIsBack. You can download that program from here, Start Is Back.
     
    Last edited: 2012/12/19
    Evan Omo,
    #4
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  6. 2012/12/19
    EL CONJUNTO

    EL CONJUNTO Well-Known Member

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    I've been using ViStart8 from lee-soft.com (freeware).

    http://lee-soft.com/

    Has anyone else tried it? I think it does the job ok.
     
    EL CONJUNTO,
    #5
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  7. 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    Start8 from stardock here. does everything same as 7 , only one little glitch in that it disables the hot corner its sitting in. -Its probably configurable , just haven`t found the setting yet.

    The Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8 sounds really good but you must have a Windows 7 installation DVD in order to install it. (or access to a Windows 7 system).
     
    Last edited: 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright,
    #6
  8. 2012/12/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Start8 here as well.
    You can activate hot corner by pressing Windows key + X
     
    broni,
    #7
  9. 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    No - I mean that for instance if the menu bar is on the bottom then the bottom left hand hot corner does not work, - if the bar is on the left or top, then the top left hot corner does not work. I.E. Wherever the actual start button is then that corner is disabled.
     
    Nick Wright,
    #8
  10. 2012/12/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Again you can bring that hot corner menu up by going Win + X
     
    broni,
    #9
  11. 2012/12/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Agreed :)
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    Sorry but I`m missing something here...

    If the bar is on the bottom. -I can put the cursor in the top left hand corner (hot corner) and the last Metro app is displayed in a thumbnail.
    if the bar is on the left then THAT "hot corner" where the thumbnail was displayed does not work. The thumbnail is not displayed and you can`t switch to the Metro app last used with it.

    .


    similarly

    if the bar is on the left then putting the cursor in the bottom left "hot corner" reveals a thumbnail of the metro start screen.

    But if the bar is on the bottom then the bottom left hand "hot corner" does not work .

    whichever corner the actual button covers is "switched off ".

    win-x works regardless of where the bar is but does not display the last metro app thumbnail/function or the Metro Start menu thumbnail/function. -its not a hot corner , its a menu that happens to be in the corner - "hot corner" is when you put the cursor in the corner of the screen and a function is displayed/accessed.
     
    Last edited: 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright,
    #11
  13. 2012/12/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    You simply can't have it both ways.
     
    broni,
    #12
  14. 2012/12/21
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    I simply pointed it out... I`m not complaining.
    the Start8 menu has more function than a hot corner anyway, (But there`s no reason why it shouldn`t work) , I assume its been switched because it would be easy to hit the hot corner by mistake when "aiming" for the start button.
     
    Nick Wright,
    #13
  15. 2012/12/23
    Nick Wright

    Nick Wright Inactive

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    Lol!! Found it! - in the Start8 menu you untick "Disable button, left hand corner when the taskbar overlaps it "

    So Actually you CAN have it both ways...:p
     
    Nick Wright,
    #14
  16. 2012/12/30
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Nice one Nick - thanks for sharing:)
     
    PeteC,
    #15
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  17. 2012/12/30
    rwa1florida

    rwa1florida Inactive

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    I am also using the freeware from lee-soft on my windows 8. It works great and I am so glad to get the previous start menu back.
     
    rwa1florida,
    #16

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