Classic Shell Skin to Get Windows 7 Lookalike Start Menu & Button

[KRazpopov]

Well I don't like the Metro theme. And I would rather disable it like I did on Windows 8 Developers Preview. But you can't do that in Windows 8 CP or on Windows 8 RP.

And what about search Companion from Windows XP? Like these pictures taken from my Windows XP. Why did they remove it from Windows Vista,Windows 7 and Windows 8. I like search Companion and although Agent Ransack does the same thing. I have not been able to find any software that can bring back the animated characters on Windows 7 that you have on Windows XP.You know the animated dog,Merlin the magician, Courtney and the others. Andrea Borman.

Well if you don't like the Metro UI, there's a nice alternative called windows 7. Since Windows 7 is basically 8 without the start screen, you'd be saving yourself the hassle of using software like ClassicShell to remove something you don't use.

As for the animated search companions-they served no extra purpose, other than being a decoration to that sidebar. If you're searching for a file, you won't be looking at the "companions". Rather you'd be focusing on inputting the correct data, so the right results show up.

Do we even need to answer this?

I guess I just did.

[Lee G. Veteran]

Well I don't like the Metro theme. And I would rather disable it like I did on Windows 8 Developers Preview. But you can't do that in Windows 8 CP or on Windows 8 RP.

And what about search Companion from Windows XP? Like these pictures taken from my Windows XP. Why did they remove it from Windows Vista,Windows 7 and Windows 8? I like search Companion and although Agent Ransack does the same thing. I have not been able to find any software that can bring back the animated characters on Windows 7 that you have on Windows XP.You know the animated dog,Merlin the magician, Courtney and the others. Andrea Borman.

Andrea, you would love Microsoft Bob.

[Andrea Borman]

Andrea, you would love Microsoft Bob.

What software is that? Where did you get it? Andrea Borman.

[Max Norris]

What software is that? Where did you get it?

Bob? It was an alternate shell for 95. Personally, one of those "WTF were they thinking?" products.

And just to keep the "WTF?" alive, there's a web version of MS Agent too by a third party.

http://www.smore.com/clippy-js

[Lee G. Veteran]

What software is that? Where did you get it? Andrea Borman.

Microsoft Bob. It was a new interface for Windows 95 for new computer users. It was a failure.

[KRazpopov]

What software is that? Where did you get it? Andrea Borman.

Microsoft Bob. An attempt at a more consumer-oriented user interface for Windows 3.1 and 95. And might I add it failed miserably.

I found it a few years ago on the internet while I was running XP and gave it a go just to see what it was like. Needless to say, it's not very functional. Half the functions didn't work because of how ancient it is, and it was real cumbersome to operate. Plus, it only supports a 256 color pallets.

[FiB3R]

So I thought I'd give Classic Shell a shot, but it removes the ability to press start, and start typing, so that is a no go for me.

[FiB3R]

So I thought I'd give Classic Shell a shot, but it removes the ability to press start, and start typing, so that is a no go for me.

Can be changed in the settings. **** knows why it isn't the default.

So, Classic Shell, you are getting a second chance. I've got some serious rearranging to do though. :/

[Knife Party]

nice piece of software OP. Also, for some reason i'm waching your videos on youtube Andrea, your voice is strangely very calming :o

[Max Norris]

Yes,I looked it up on Wikipidia but I don't think it will work on Windows 7,Windows 8 or Windows XP. It could mess up the system if I tried to install it.

Just for giggles and idle curiosity I went and installed Bob on Windows 7. One of my x86 test machines as this is a 16 bit program. I was surprised to see it actually more or less still works. Had to make a couple of adjustments to get it to run but it does work. Cropped off of three monitors and scaled way down, but you get the idea. If it runs on 7 it'll probably run on 8 too, and no reason why it shouldn't on XP.. not that I'd recommend using something that old, even if you were interested in it.

That said, I'll still take Metro any day over this ;)

[Detection]

Well UAC must depend on IE to work. So when you uninstall IE UAC goes too. You try it for yourself. But I am glad that UAC is gone I don't want it on my computer. It is very annoying like Smart Screen which I have also disabled. Andrea Borman.

Or you could just turn UAC off like a normal person would

[Dot Matrix]

Well UAC must depend on IE to work. So when you uninstall IE UAC goes too. You try it for yourself. But I am glad that UAC is gone I don't want it on my computer. It is very annoying like Smart Screen which I have also disabled. Andrea Borman.

UAC is also a critical system security feature. You can turn it off in Vista and to a lesser extent in Windows 7, but in Windows 8 you cannot, and it is not recommended to do so.

[Andrea Borman]

Or you could just turn UAC off like a normal person would

Of course I turned off UAC, but it got uninstalled with Internet Explorer. So that's one way of getting rid of it for good. Andrea Borman.

[Dot Matrix]

Of course I turned off UAC, but it got uninstalled with Internet Explorer. So that's one way of getting rid of it for good. Andrea Borman.

I can tell you that uninstalling IE does nothing to UAC.

Double check all the programs you have installed, I can guarantee you one of those is the offender.

Edited July 2, 2012 by ~Johnny

[contextfree]

I'd rather people spent time trying to improve Metro Start than trying to recreate the past. Imagine Metro Start with animated app rollovers and launching, super-tiles (i.e. twice the current size), mini-tiles (ala Windows Phone 8), live previews of websites, dynamic backgrounds (similar to

), keeping the taskbar constantly visible, allowing desktop apps to appear on top of the start screen, etc. I'm not saying all of those ideas are particularly good but the potential is huge.

This probably isn't quite what you mean but desktop apps can already appear on top of the start screen (if they're installed with UI Access). Try it with Task Manager or inspect.exe from the Windows SDK (which lets you inspect the UI element tree of any UI Automation-enabled apps, including immersive apps).

[ArialBlue]

Yes,I looked it up on Wikipidia but I don't think it will work on Windows 7,Windows 8 or Windows XP. It could mess up the system if I tried to install it.

Did you seriously think about installing that thing?

Those clay abominations from XP were killed off because they are a visual equivalent of getting herpes.

The point of a desktop is to have something nice in the background.

A visually messy interface is noisy and has a massive amount of detail which causes unconscious stress and makes you dumber (thank you Cracked.com)

The point of an OS is to have a simple, elegant and highly functioning environment to do anything you please to. Beauty, Simplicity, and Focus are the keys.

Ergo Windows 8 is the way it is. It is visually SIMPLE, relaxing, etc. It also manages to maximize your productivity.

Windows 7 reached the climax of start menu design - there is simply no where else to go. It combined tools, controls, and the ability to search and launch applications.

Windows 8 start menu is simply an extension of that. Because Windows 7 introduced the ability to PIN applications - Windows 7 start menu got little love as simply it was seen as an extension of the task bar's pinning ability.

Additionally, system settings that are on the W7 start menu do not get much love as once the settings are solidified to the user's liking - there is no need to mess with them. Users realized how much of a pain it is to search through legacy menu structures to find their applications - ergo pinning and WINKEY + Firefox + ENTER type things. The death of the W7 start menu was inevitable from a design perspective. For example, W7 start menu gives access to shut down / hibernate / restart - but again as W7 is rock stable these do not get used much - besides the big power button on the PC case may be simpler to press.

W8 start screen is simply that which is accessed frequently presented in a visually uncluttered flowing method.

What you are trying to do is kill off the elegant mistress of GUI design, give her corpse a gender reassignment surgery, mutilate and reanimate the corpse, and try to get it working as a swimsuit model.

You know what I have on my W8 desktop? A wallpaper. Technically 173 wallpapers shuffling every minute.

Also Windows 8 is significantly faster than Windows 7. UAC is a driver level service which prevents executable code from modifying system files without elevation.

IE10 is way better than IE9 - please read the official IE blog if you do not know this. IE9 is significantly faster than IE8 and better looking too.

IE6 is one of the worst plagues ever invented. Trying to tell people that IE6 is in any form "good" is like justifying having no cellphone.

Also, you can simply live with XP and IE6. There is the Way Back Machine for IE6 compatible internet.

[HawkMan]

This probably isn't quite what you mean but desktop apps can already appear on top of the start screen (if they're installed with UI Access). Try it with Task Manager or inspect.exe from the Windows SDK (which lets you inspect the UI element tree of any UI Automation-enabled apps, including immersive apps).

Apps which run in explorer (like task manager which is part of explorer) would be able to show up on top of the start screen, as the start screen and desktop are effectively two shells running in parallel under explorer.

[darth_vader]

UAC is also a critical system security feature. You can turn it off in Vista and to a lesser extent in Windows 7, but in Windows 8 you cannot, and it is not recommended to do so.

You can, go to registry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system", set EnableLUA=0, done. :D

Be aware that you can not use metro aps anymore.

[~Johnny]

Please respect other members opinions guys - some people simply have different tastes. And no need to gang up or make fun of others either, regardless of their knowledge.

Also, do try to stay on topic please! :p

[Andrea Borman]

Just for giggles and idle curiosity I went and installed Bob on Windows 7. One of my x86 test machines as this is a 16 bit program. I was surprised to see it actually more or less still works. Had to make a couple of adjustments to get it to run but it does work. Cropped off of three monitors and scaled way down, but you get the idea. If it runs on 7 it'll probably run on 8 too, and no reason why it shouldn't on XP.. not that I'd recommend using something that old, even if you were interested in it.

That said, I'll still take Metro any day over this ;)

Well I have done it I have installed Microsoft Bob on Windows 8 and it works. Thank you for telling me about Microsoft Bob. It has all of the different animated characters like Windows XP's Search Companions.

I think that is where Microsoft got the idea to put Search Companion on Windows XP from Microsoft Bob.So yes,Microsoft Bob does work on Windows 8.Andrea Borman.

[Grinch]

Guthix help us all.

[HighwayGlider]

Some people are just so damn rude. Some are being sarcastic and some are even making fun. Its good to defend what you like, but while doing that, some are imposing their likes as if they are setting the standards.

@+AndreaBorman: Seems you're having fun and like what you do, carry on; even though those custo's don;t suit my taste, I'm definitely sure some will like it.

[Coi]

Some people are just so damn rude. Some are being sarcastic and some are even making fun. Its good to defend what you like, but while doing that, some are imposing their likes as if they are setting the standards.

@+AndreaBorman: Seems you're having fun and like what you do, carry on; even though those custo's don;t suit my taste, I'm definitely sure some will like it.

I don't dislike her customised interfaces (it's her own choice after all) but most of the claims she makes are really absurd, especially about IE like IE10 being IE9 being IE8 or Windows XP being faster than 7 being faster than 8...

[Andrea Borman]

Well I found out about Microsoft Bob from here this forum,after some members on this thread told me about it. And it is amazing that it works on Windows 8 and so do all of it's features,Bob email, Geo Safari and all of the others work.

IE10 is the same as IE9 or at least it looks exactly the same. But there is no Ie10 or download link for Ie10 for Windows 7. And even if there was,I will never install it. Just like I will never install IE9,I am sticking with IE8. Andrea Borman.

[Detection]

Well I found out about Microsoft Bob from here this forum,after some members on this thread told me about it. And it is amazing that it works on Windows 8 and so do all of it's features,Bob email, Geo Safari and all of the others work.

IE10 is the same as IE9 or at least it looks exactly the same. But there is no Ie10 or download link for Ie10 for Windows 7. And even if there was,I will never install it. Just like I will never install IE9,I am sticking with IE8. Andrea Borman.

If you think MS Bob running on 8 is amazing, wait until you see this, it will blow your mind :o