does windows 8 have the normal start menu?

[draelas]

i heard it doesnt, but then i also heard they came out with an update that brought it back?

 

id like to upgrade to 8, but id like it to still operate like 7...

[The Evil Overlord]

There's a 'boot to desktop option' but I also was using start is back, for the brief time I had 8, beyond that, I don't know, sorry

[DreadPirateRoberts]

No it doesn't but you can make it so it does.

 

I don't know much on it as I use Windows 7 so I don't know if you have to download anything or if its just a setting.

 

But if I was you I'd just stick with Windows 7 because I personally think Windows 8 is horrible. 

[NEVER85]

Download Classic Shell. Its Start menu is better than the inferior Windows 7 one anyway.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Windows 8 has the Start Screen, which is the full-screen replacement for the Start Menui. Windows 8.1 has a "boot to Desktop" option, but still uses the Start Screen.

 

Here's a listing of Start Menu replacement/add-on's for Windows 8 I put together that you might want to look at.  I have not tried all of them myself, and some of them are from software companies with some, well, interesting other lines of business.  The folks behind SweetLabs are the same ones who developed the Open Candy sponsoring app you often see bundled with other programs.  A program name in italics indicates that it is open source.

AreaGuard Software - StartW8
ChemTable Software - Handy Start Menu
Crawler Group, LLC - Classic Start 8
ConsumerSoft - Viva Start Menu
Engelmann Media GmbH - Win8Starter for Windows 8
IObit - Start Menu 8
Ivo Beltchev - Classic Shell
LeeSoft - ViStart
Mike Makarov - Power 8
Omas Mims - Windows 8 Start Menu Application
OrdinarySoft - Start Button 8 and StartMenu7 and Start Menu X
Quadsoft - Win8StartButton
ReviverSoft - Start Menu Reviver
Spesoft - Windows 8 Start Menu app
Stanislav Zinukhov - StartIsBack
Stardock - Start8
SweetLabs - Pokki for Windows 8
Thinix - RetroUI
Torch Media, Inc. - Start Button for Windows 8
Total Idea Software - 8StartButton
Tweaks.Com - Start for Windows 8
Vladimir Belyaev - Taskbar Classic Start Menu
Wentutu - Windows 8 Start Menu
Winability Software - StartFinity
WinOK Software - StartMenuPlus8

 

Hopefully, you'll find one you like out of these.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

[Ryoken]

Personally, unless there's a pressing need, I'd just stick with 7 till 10 comes out. If you really want something in 8, then one of the above options should work for you.

[DConnell Member]

I'd give the Screen a try. I was skeptical for about an hour, but then loved it. But then I always hated the Start Menu.

 

If you do go for 8, give the Screen a try and make your own decision on it. Just because others don't like it, doesn't mean you won't. And the fact I do like it doesn't guarantee you will, either.

 

The menu tools are easy enough to add, and do the job well if you decide the screen isn't for you.

 

I put one on for my old boss when I set up her new laptop 3 years ago. She probably still doesn't know she's not running 7. :laugh:

[NightmarE D]

Hello,

Windows 8 has the Start Screen, which is the full-screen replacement for the Start Menui. Windows 8.1 has a "boot to Desktop" option, but still uses the Start Screen.

 

Here's a listing of Start Menu replacement/add-on's for Windows 8 I put together that you might want to look at.  I have not tried all of them myself, and some of them are from software companies with some, well, interesting other lines of business.  The folks behind SweetLabs are the same ones who developed the Open Candy sponsoring app you often see bundled with other programs.  A program name in italics indicates that it is open source.

AreaGuard Software - StartW8

ChemTable Software - Handy Start Menu

Crawler Group, LLC - Classic Start 8

ConsumerSoft - Viva Start Menu

Engelmann Media GmbH - Win8Starter for Windows 8

IObit - Start Menu 8

Ivo Beltchev - Classic Shell

LeeSoft - ViStart

Mike Makarov - Power 8

Omas Mims - Windows 8 Start Menu Application

OrdinarySoft - Start Button 8 and StartMenu7 and Start Menu X

Quadsoft - Win8StartButton

ReviverSoft - Start Menu Reviver

Spesoft - Windows 8 Start Menu app

Stanislav Zinukhov - StartIsBack

Stardock - Start8

SweetLabs - Pokki for Windows 8

Thinix - RetroUI

Torch Media, Inc. - Start Button for Windows 8

Total Idea Software - 8StartButton

Tweaks.Com - Start for Windows 8

Vladimir Belyaev - Taskbar Classic Start Menu

Wentutu - Windows 8 Start Menu

Winability Software - StartFinity

WinOK Software - StartMenuPlus8

 

Hopefully, you'll find one you like out of these.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

Stick with what was said in that post and ignore anyone going straight to saying "stick with Windows 7 because I hated Windows 8"

 

That was them and not you. People like that tend to think that what they speak for all so just ignore it. Try it and see if YOU personally like it or hate it. Most of those people tried Windows 8 and not 8.1 because they gathered soo much hate towards it. Either one with an added start menu is no different than Windows 7 (better than 7 IN MY HONEST OPINION). They want to to believe differently.

[StrikedOut]

Make sure you upgrade to 8.1. I like the start screen on 8 and got used to it quite quickly but 8.1 seemed to make it more intuitive for me. The only thing I prefer on 8 versus 8.1 is the ability to multi select when doing a tidy up of the default apps on the start screen.

[remixedcat]

Start 8 is really good I use it

[whs37]

The rumor you heard about the start menu coming back pertains to Windows 10 - sort of. There it looks a bit like the Windows 7 start, but it is not at all the same thing. I set my Windows 10 to the 8.1 start screen which is a lot more convenient (once you cleaned it up to serve your purposes).

 

In the beginning of 8 I also installed Start8. But at the end I uninstalled it because the full start screen is so much more convenient. And I like the full screen Apps - if they only would sort ALL of the apps alphabetically. But it still beats All Programs.