A List Of Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

By Asrokhel
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

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Asrokhel

Posted
Posted

This is in no way comprehensive, but if people know more, please add to the list:

Power8:

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

StartMenu8:

http://www.iobit.com...tstartmenu8.php

StartMenu X:

http://www.startmenux.com/index.html

ClassicShell:

http://classicshell.sf.net

Spesoft Free Windows 8 Start Menu:

http://www.spesoft.c...start-menu.aspx

Taskbar Classic Start Menu:

http://softwaredistribution.xclan.ru

ViStart:

http://lee-soft.com/vistart

Revel 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/

  • CentralDogma and HoochieMamma
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Grand Master

Max Norris

Posted
Posted

Ex7ForWin8 - http://forums.mydigi...r-for-Windows-8

Which later turned into

Start Is Back - http://www.msfn.org/...-start-is-back/

Usually stick with the standard Windows 8 start screen (actually like it), but occasionally will switch shells just to make organizing the "back side" of the start screen easier. Like these as it's the real Win7 shell/start menu and not a work-alike.

Edit: And derp.. just notice SIB on the original post. Either my brain is broken due to lack of coffee or my reading comprehension is bad today.

Grand Master

Scorbing

Posted
Posted
It's not. StartIsBack is, as it is the native Windows 7 start menu.

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/

Grand Master

Max Norris

Posted
Posted
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?

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.

Grand Master

Copernic Reporter

Posted
  • Reporter
Posted

http://www.startbutton8.com/index.html

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

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

http://www.startmenu7.com/index.html

https://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu

http://www.spesoft.com/free-windows-8-start-menu.aspx

http://maketecheasier.com/restore-start-menu-in-windows-8/2012/08/13

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/10/09/whats-the-best-windows-8-start-menu-program/

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

http://www.revel-software.it/BringBack.aspx

http://sourceforge.net/projects/w8-start-menu/?source=directory

http://tweaks.com/windows/63691/tweakscom-start-for-windows-8-restore-start-button/

http://windows8startbutton.com/

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

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

https://www.totalidea.com/8startbutton/index.php

Grand Master

Scorbing

Posted
Posted

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.

Well isn't that what Stardock did with Start8? I installed Start8 and I do not see any startup app or anything running in the background so I am thinking maybe they added the code inside the registry to make it work. Nevertheless, it works great.

Grand Master

Noir Angel

Posted
Posted

Seriously, must every single goddam thread about start replacements be trolled with this mindless schlok? We get it, everything Microsoft does is awesome. Go and flagellate in another topic and leave these ones alone.

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.

SIB uses no content from Windows 7, it simply installs a DLL that acts as a hook to enable some functions that are still present in Explorer to present a fully working start menu. You still use the Windows 8 explorer, and you still have a fully functional start screen.

Rising Star

@Leo

Posted
Posted

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/

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.

Mentor

Asrokhel

Posted
  • Author
Posted

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

Veteran

Farchord

Posted
Posted

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!

Guest xiphi

Posted
Posted

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.

Mentor

Asrokhel

Posted
  • Author
Posted

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

Grand Master

goretsky Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

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

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