47 replies to this topic 1 votes

[@Leo]

Scorbing, on 02 November 2012 - 17:18, said:

Care to explain to us how that is the native Windows 7 start menu? How are they going to make it part of the OS if Microsoft took out the Start Menu codes from the registry and the system itself?

http://startisback.com/

Max Norris, on 02 November 2012 - 17:22, said:

Haven't tried SIB myself, used his previous ExForWin7, guessing it's along similar lines. It installs the Windows 7 Explorer as an alternate shell, not a knockoff but the actual files from the Windows 7 ISO, it'll ask for it during the installation. (Installs elsewhere, doesn't overwrite the original, and you'll still retain Win8's file manager.) Couple very minor quirks aside it worked quite well, and would guess SIB improves on it.. very rarely had the desire to switch to the Win7 shell so never bothered to update it.. purely using for easymode start screen organization then switching back.

Start is back does not require any previous Windows 7 files, and I am not entirely sure how the Win7 code has been taken, but during install it hooks right into Explorer. This also does not kill Metro, as opposed to Ex7ForWin8, which replaced the entire Explorer.exe binary.

Start8 isn't a very good imitation either, and looks bad from design point. I'd rather have the real deal.

[Asrokhel]

Regardless if it was from a one post wonder, StartMenuPlus8 should not have been deleted from this topic, because it's still relevant.

StartMenuPlus8:
http://www.winok-msixray.com

[Farchord]

Asrokhel, on 05 November 2012 - 12:59, said:

Regardless if it was from a one post wonder, StartMenuPlus8 should not have been deleted from this topic, because it's still relevant.

StartMenuPlus8:
http://www.winok-msixray.com

I'm sorry but.... that.... looks atrocious!

[xiphi]

Start8 is probably the second best to StartIsBack, but it was known to take up huge amounts of ram in Windows Explorer, at least for me. StartIsBack is the best since it's free and looks and acts JUST like Windows 7's Start Menu. I did wish I could have the Metro theme from Start8 so it'll look like it belongs there.

[Tihiy]

StartIsBack v1.0 has been released

http://www.startisback.com/

[Asrokhel]

RetroUI Pro

[Deihmos]

I just installed startisback and all my WIndows 8 woes are no more. How did Microsoft decide that the new start menu was good enough to replace the traditional start menu? I have disabled everything about metro including the ridiculous charm bar.

[Copernic]

Wentutu Start Menu 1.2
http://www.wentutu.com/

[Asrokhel]

I was searching to see if there were anymore Start Menu replacements, and it seems someone has been copying this list that I posted here as well as added parts of Copernic's list to, while adding in some new things. Here's a copy of that list:

Power8:
http://code.google.com/p/power8

StartMenu8:
http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

Start Menu X:
http://www.startmenux.com/index.html

Classic Shell:
http://classicshell.sf.net

Spesoft Windows 8 Start Menu:
http://www.spesoft.c...start-menu.aspx

Taskbar Classic Start Menu:
http://www.desktopapps.org/

ViStart:
http://lee-soft.com/vistart

BringBack 8:
http://www.revel-sof.../BringBack.aspx

Handy Start Menu:
http://www.handystartmenu.com/

Start8:
http://www.stardock....roducts/start8/

StartIsBack:
http://startisback.com/

Start Button 8:
http://www.startbutton8.com/index.html

Pokki:
http://www.pokki.com...ws-8-start-menu

Win8StartButton:
http://www.quadsoft....redownloads.php

StartFinity:
http://www.winability.com/startfinity/

Windows 8 Start Menu:
http://sourceforge.n.../w8-start-menu/

Tweaks.com Start for Windows 8:
http://tweaks.com/windows/63691/twea...-start-button/

Start Button for Windows 8:
http://windows8startbutton.com/

8StartButton:
http://www.totalidea...utton/index.php

StartMenuPlus8:
http://www.winok-msixray.com/

RetroUI Pro:
http://www.retroui.com/default.asp

Viva Start Menu:
http://www.vivastartmenu.com/

Win8Starter:
http://www.win8start...m/index-en.html

[+goretsky]

Hello,

Lenovo computers: Lenovo QuickLaunch for Windows 8

Samsung computers: Samsung Quick Starter (go to Samsung Windows 8 Upgrade Page and install the Windows 8 Software & Drivers Update Tool, which will then download the tool).


Personally, I'm starting to get used to the Start Screen, but I do see how a program to bridge the gap might be useful for some users until they become used to the new functionality.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[georgevella]

Hey @Asrokhel, why don't you update the original post with that new list?

[LUTZIFER]

xiphi, on 05 November 2012 - 18:04, said:

Start8 is probably the second best to StartIsBack, but it was known to take up huge amounts of ram in Windows Explorer, at least for me. StartIsBack is the best since it's free and looks and acts JUST like Windows 7's Start Menu. I did wish I could have the Metro theme from Start8 so it'll look like it belongs there.

Yeah I would think Start8 would use a lot of RAM. As far as I can remember, Stardock software only makes changes in memory, at least that's what was stated years ago when WindowBlinds came out. I was under the impression they did stuff that way so there was no conflict with Microsoft cuz they're not actually altering anything. I could be wrong, that was many many years ago. I do remember WindowBlinds eating up a lot of resources though, but computers had less RAM in those days.
Start8 does have some nice features though, like how it can actually blend in nicely with the Windows 8 look.
But my choice probably would be StartIsBack.

[Asrokhel]

Start8 is hardly using any RAM from what I can see in the Task Manager.

georgevella, on 18 November 2012 - 11:24, said:

Hey @Asrokhel, why don't you update the original post with that new list?

I would, but for some reason neowin or IPB has a set time that you can go back and edit posts, so the original post hasn't be editable for a number of days now. It's a stupid restriction!

[LUTZIFER]

Asrokhel, on 18 November 2012 - 11:46, said:

Start8 is hardly using any RAM from what I can see in the Task Manager.

How come you didn't post the amount then?
Also, the start menu isn't always showing on your screen like a visual style is, not to mention the fact that it's just a menu.
There would be a big difference between Start8 and WindowBlinds for RAM usage.

[Asrokhel]

LUTZIFER, on 18 November 2012 - 11:53, said:

How come you didn't post the amount then?
Also, the start menu isn't always showing on your screen like a visual style is, not to mention the fact that it's just a menu.
There would be a big difference between Start8 and WindowBlinds for RAM usage.

There, does this make you feel better!