Start8 brings the Start Menu back

[LightShadow]

Start8 from Stardock has recently been updated to bring a Start Menu back to Windows 8. It acts just like the menu from Windows 7 with pinable applications, jumplist support, along with the ability to launch both Modern and Desktop apps.

Download Page

[CG-88]

That's pretty nice tbh

[Rudy]

That's pretty nice tbh

It looks great, it looks like how Win8 should have been.

There's no reason why you can't have the start menu AND the metro interface

[Klownicle]

Couldn't microsoft eventually kill this if they wanted to. It is copying after all...

[Quillz]

I don't think so, as long as it's not using any of Microsoft's actual code.

[Astra.Xtreme]

Awesome. I'll definitely be giving this a try.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

Couldn't microsoft eventually kill this if they wanted to. It is copying after all...

if they haven't gone after Classic Shell, it's very unlikely they'll go after this

besides, MS usually (unspokenly) encourages 3rd party customization of Windows

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

Now, that actually works pretty well. And doesn't look too bad either.

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

What is the point of all this? If you don't want Windows 8 then don't use it, just stick with Windows 7 instead of trying to turn 8 into 7.

[bandit_liberty_rumble]

What is the point of all this? If you don't want Windows 8 then don't use it, just stick with Windows 7 instead of trying to turn 8 into 7.

Why not have the best of both worlds?

[Brandon H Supervisor]

What is the point of all this? If you don't want Windows 8 then don't use it, just stick with Windows 7 instead of trying to turn 8 into 7.

the point is having all the back-end enhancements and all the improvements to windows File Explorer among other things changed and improved in windows 8 while not having to deal with the start screen if you don't like it

Windows 8 is not JUST the new start screen

[Astra.Xtreme]

What is the point of all this? If you don't want Windows 8 then don't use it, just stick with Windows 7 instead of trying to turn 8 into 7.

This will be beneficial to people who buy a new PC with Win 8 installed and don't want to have to relearn how Windows works.

There's a lot of improvements in Win 8 that people will like to use, but the new "Modern" UI might not be one of them.

[Klownicle]

What is the point of all this? If you don't want Windows 8 then don't use it, just stick with Windows 7 instead of trying to turn 8 into 7.

Whats the point of breathing air, its bad for you anyways. You should just stop :).

The point is options, thats what we live in a PC world with options. Not a closed world like other unmentioned OS's are.

[The King of GnG]

Easy prediction: Start8 will be downloaded and installed 1 billion times, will ship with almost every new Windows 8-powered computer (after the first, disastrous run past-October 26) and will then be integrated within Windows 9 a year after the departure of Steve Ballmer as the worst CEO Microsoft will ever have :-P

[cropcircles]

Microsoft should have just made this an option in the first place, to enable or disable. Ridiculous taking away the start button. You knew it was a matter of time before several companies offer 3rd party software to add a start button to W8

[Nerd Rage]

Microsoft should have just made this an option in the first place, to enable or disable. Ridiculous taking away the start button in the first place.

Yup, even if it were disabled by default, just the option would have been nice.

[.Neo]

There's no reason why you can't have the start menu AND the metro interface

I don't see any reason in having both either.

[Panda X]

Yeah this is the software for me: http://thepanda-x.deviantart.com/#/d5cz4v4

[Livin in a box]

This just makes Windows 8 so much more usable. I can't believe such a small thing could make such a massive difference, it makes me want to get Windows 8 now just because it has a proper Start menu!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

I gave in and installed it. It's not bad at all. You even get a selection of Start button images:

Perfect for those who don't want to let go of XP yet. :p

[grayscale]

Time to call Borman :p

Seriously, this is beautiful, perfect for those who badly need their old start menu. Why can't Samsung just bundle this of instead of that ugly dock? Wasn't Fences being bundled to some laptops and PCs as well?

[Semtex]

Yeah this is the software for me: http://thepanda-x.de...t.com/#/d5cz4v4

Cool find PandaX, so looks like Start8 bypass explorer.exe restrictions for menu start and use native .msstyles menu start?? :shiftyninja:

[+Fahim S. MVC]

Cool - if you are so lost without the Start Button and Start Menu.

I won't be using it, but a good option for those that can't/aren't willing to adapt.

[Panda X]

Cool find PandaX, so looks like Start8 bypass explorer.exe restrictions for menu start and use native .msstyles menu start?? :shiftyninja:

I'm not sure of what restrictions you're talking about, and some things don't work like it did in 7. For example you can't remove the user picture by changing USERPICTURE:BOOL in StartPanelPriv, 1, 0. I tried doing that and Start8 and Explorer itself crashed :D

[Brandon H Supervisor]

Time to call Borman :p

nah, she'd probably still prefer classic shell so she could have her XP/9x style start menu :p