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

[Andrea Borman]

But don't forget Windows Vista. Classic Shell also works on Windows Vista.

As you know there is the Classic Windows 98 start menu on Windows Vista but the Microsoft one has limited functions. As you can see in my picture. But the Classic Shell Classic Start menu is much more customisable than Microsoft's one.

In the Classic Shell Classic start menu you can enable the search bar and change the folder names. And also you have the Windows XP start menu,which looks nice on Windows Vista. And also a classic version of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 start menu,with the expanding programs menu.

And Classic Shell also has Classic Explorer which puts classic toolbar buttons in Windows Explorer. Classic Shell also has Classic IE9 which I never installed and I have never upgraded to IE9 on Windows Vista or Windows 7. I have got IE8 and I have uninstalled IE10 from Windows 8.

Pictures,Microsoft Classic start menu on Windows Vista. As you can see it is not very customisable and has limited functions. Other pictures,Classic Shell Classic start menu and Windows XP start menu on Windows Vista.Andrea Borman.

[Dot Matrix]

And Classic Shell also has Classic Explorer which puts classic toolbar buttons in Windows Explorer. Classic Shell also has Classic IE9 which I never install and I have never upgraded to IE9 on Windows Vista or Windows 7. I have got IE8 and I have uninstalled IE10 from Windows 8.

No. You don't. You don't just simply install IE8 to Windows 8 without breaking things. And for the love of God, get off IE8!

No 'we' won't. You might.

Whether you like it or not, computing is moving past the point and click OS. The future is all about interactive and dynamic input.

[derkim]

this is just trolling.

[Andrea Borman]

No. You don't. You don't just simply install IE8 to Windows 8 without breaking things. And for the love of God, get off IE8!

Whether you like it or not, computing is moving past the point and click OS. The future is all about interactive and dynamic input.

No,I don't have IE9 on my Windows 7 or on Windows Vista. I have IE8 on both my Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

IE9 is horrible. It is slow,I don't like the toolbar and has a confusing download manager. So I will never install IE9. And I certainly won't install IE10 if they make it for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

On Windows 8 they have IE10 which is exactly like IE9 which I have uninstalled by deleting the program file on C drive.

But I have IE engine based browsers on Windows 8 like I do on my other versions of Windows.I have Advanced browser and Ace Explorer which are Internet Explorer shells. And when I go on the browser sniffer sites on Advanced browser on Windows 8,it says I am running IE8.

Which suggests that IE8 or the source code of IE8 is still on Windows 8,like it is on Windows 7. But you just cannot install IE8 on Windows 8. As Windows won't let you download it.

On Windows XP I had IE6 but I had to upgrade when IE6 stopped working and Advanced browser and my other IE based web browser would not work either. As they ran off of some of the html code of IE6. This often happens on IE6 when you visit some websites and often they crash IE6. Which does not happen on IE8. So I upgraded to IE8 . And I now have IE8 on my Windows XP.

Windows Vista comes with IE7 as my Windows Vista did but forget IE7 that is worse than IE6. Andrea Borman.

[McKay]

You get more desktop icons in every screenshot, I give it another 10 posts before your desktop is gone. Also what's with the Rainbow Vomit colour scheme? Are you partially colour-blind?

[rfirth]

But I have IE engine based browsers on Windows 8 like I do on my other versions of Windows.I have Advanced browser and Ace Explorer which are Internet Explorer shells. And when I go on the browser sniffer sites on Advanced browser on Windows 8,it says I am running IE8.

Which suggests that IE8 or the source code of IE8 is still on Windows 8,like it is on Windows 7. But you just cannot install IE8 on Windows 8. As Windows won't let you download it.

No, on Windows 8 it is the IE10 rendering engine you are using. However, it's in IE8 compatibility mode. The developer of Advanced Browser and Ace Explorer have to set a key in the registry for it to take it out of compatibility mode. I think it's IE7 compatibility mode by default, at least on Windows 7.

[MS Bob 11]

No offense but that is the most cluttered desktop and ugly menu and window colors I have seen in years. What is the point of making the beautiful Aero look like Windows classic?

[Andrea Borman]

Makay wrote-

You get more desktop icons in every screenshot, I give it another 10 posts before your desktop is gone. Also what's with the Rainbow Vomit colour scheme? Are you partially colour-blind?

What do you mean my desktop will be gone?

Well You can always set your desktop icons to small size. On Windows Vista,Windows 7 and Windows 8,there is large icons,medium which most people use and small. On Windows XP there is just Medium icons and small icons. And medium icons is the default setting.

No, on Windows 8 it is the IE10 rendering engine you are using. However, it's in IE8 compatibility mode. The developer of Advanced Browser and Ace Explorer have to set a key in the registry for it to take it out of compatibility mode. I think it's IE7 compatibility mode by default, at least on Windows 7.

Well actually when I go onto some browser sniffer sites in Advanced browser,Ace Explorer and other IE based web browsers,some say I am running IE7 on Windows 8. And also You Tube tells me that.

But when I look on the registry in Windows 8 it says the version of Internet Explorer is IE9 not IE10.And it also says IE8. So that means that IE10 and IE9 are the same version. That is IE10 is IE9.

So IE8 is still in Windows 8. Because if you have IE9 installed on Windows Vista and Windows 7 and open Advanced browser. The browser sniffer sites say IE9.

Andrea Borman.

[DJGM]

Andrea ... if you have an AMD or Nvidia graphics card/chip on your computer, instead of trying make the Basic theme look

like a hash-up of the old Windows Classic theme from XP, you should re-enable the full Aero UI. It'll take full advantage of

the graphics card/chip, and takes a fair amount of strain off the main processor ... especially on a netbook!

[Coi]

On Windows 8 they have IE10 which is exactly like IE9 which I have uninstalled by deleting the program file on C drive.

But when I look on the registry in Windows 8 it says the version of Internet Explorer is IE9 not IE10.And it also says IE8. So that means that IE10 and IE9 are the same version. That is IE10 is IE9.

:cry:

[Darrian]

But don't forget Windows Vista. Classic Shell also works on Windows Vista.

As you know there is the Classic Windows 98 start menu on Windows Vista but the Microsoft one has limited functions. As you can see in my picture. But the Classic Shell Classic Start menu is much more customisable than Microsoft's one.

In the Classic Shell Classic start menu you can enable the search bar and change the folder names. And also you have the Windows XP start menu,which looks nice on Windows Vista. And also a classic version of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 start menu,with the expanding programs menu.

And Classic Shell also has Classic Explorer which puts classic toolbar buttons in Windows Explorer. Classic Shell also has Classic IE9 which I never installed and I have never upgraded to IE9 on Windows Vista or Windows 7. I have got IE8 and I have uninstalled IE10 from Windows 8.

Pictures,Microsoft Classic start menu on Windows Vista. As you can see it is not very customisable and has limited functions. Other pictures,Classic Shell Classic start menu and Windows XP start menu on Windows Vista.Andrea Borman.

Why are you posting this crap in a thread about a Windows 7 Classic Shell skin? This is not a "I can make my desktop look like Windows XP" thread. Maybe you should take this to the Classic Shell thread?

[Andrea Borman]

XP Client,oh yes. I have seen you before. I read your website and we have met on the Classic Shell forums where I am a member. And you are also a member of the Classic Shell forums under the same name XP Client.

I am worried that Classic Shell may not work in the final version of Windows 8 that will go out on sale to the public.The metro start menu does not meet our needs at all.

I hope they can still make Classic Shell work in the final version of Windows 8. Because I don't want to use the metro start menu.

And they say that there won't be Aero in the final version of Windows 8. But that does not matter to me as I never use the Aero theme.

By the way on Windows Vista Home Basic which is the version of Windows Vista I have,there is no Aero,just Windows Vista Basic.

Which is part Aero like Windows 7 Basic but I don't use that either.I use Windows Classic theme.Andrea Borman.

[theyarecomingforyou]

This is why we can't have nice things.

[KRazpopov]

Andrea, can I just ask why you're even bothering using Windows 8, when (at least as far as I see) you're not utilizing one new feature. You've gotten rid of the start screen, and instead replaced it with a start menu. That I would be OK with, if your desktop just wasn't such a mess of XP (Luna msstyle) and Classic/Windows 98 UI elements. That, and the fact that your desktop is just an unbearable sight to me, seeing as almost 2/3rd's of it are taken up by application shortcuts. Here's a little hint-the search field in the Start menu is more efficient than that.

As for the Vista/7 screenshots, the same arguments as above apply, but I've also got to comment on the horrendous choice of window colors. That over-saturated purplish color just can't be pleasing to read on.

You also say that Windows 8 is slower than 7, which is slower than XP. So, why aren't you using XP in that case?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for UI customization, but I just don't see the benefit in installing a new iteration of an OS and then removing all of its' new features and/or replacing them with older ones.

[pmrd]

Andrea Borman Andrea Borman Andrea Borman, your desktop pics makes me want to slam my head really hard in a old CRT. You're the reason I hate the word customization. Please never press printscreen. Ever.

[Andrea Borman]

Andrea, can I just ask why you're even bothering using Windows 8, when (at least as far as I see) you're not utilizing one new feature. You've gotten rid of the start screen, and instead replaced it with a start menu. That I would be OK with, if your desktop just wasn't such a mess of XP (Luna msstyle) and Classic/Windows 98 UI elements. That, and the fact that your desktop is just an unbearable sight to me, seeing as almost 2/3rd's of it are taken up by application shortcuts. Here's a little hint-the search field in the Start menu is more efficient than that.

As for the Vista/7 screenshots, the same arguments as above apply, but I've also got to comment on the horrendous choice of window colors. That over-saturated purplish color just can't be pleasing to read on.

You also say that Windows 8 is slower than 7, which is slower than XP. So, why aren't you using XP in that case?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for UI customization, but I just don't see the benefit in installing a new iteration of an OS and then removing all of its' new features and/or replacing them with older ones.

No the Metro theme and the start screen are still there on Windows 8. Because you can't disable the Metro theme like you could in Windows 8 Developers Preview.

But now with the new version of Classic Shell it boots straight to the desktop. Well you only see the start screen for 1 second before being taken to the desktop.

Where as before,in the old version of Classic Shell you booted into the start screen and did not get to the desktop unless you clicked the desktop tile.

Although in Start Menu 7 you could get to the desktop by clicking the Windows key,which took you to the desktop and brought up the Windows 7 start menu.

But if you have the Windows XP or Windows 7 start menu on Windows 8,which I have. You don't really need to have so many icons on the desktop. And I could make the icons smaller,by using the small icons setting instead of Medium icons.

But if you have got only the Metro start menu and have not installed Classic Shell or other start menu software,then you probably need to have more icons on the desktop. To access things quickly,although you can still pin items to the taskbar in Windows 8. But you notice I have not done that.

Well the quick launch in Windows XP and Windows Vista is useless. As it pins all of the desktop icons to the taskbar. It is not like Windows 7 and Windows 8 pin to the taskbar function,where you can choose what items you want pinned to the taskbar.

Oh,and there is another quick launch toolbar on the right hand side of the taskbar in Windows XP,Windows Vista,Windows 7 and Windows 8. That displays all of your items pinned to the desktop. Andrea Borman.

[Andrea Borman]

Here is the Quick Launch toolbar in Windows 8 and also the search bar in the taskbar. Where you can search for your files.

The taskbar search bar in Windows 8 and Windows 7 is the same the taskbar search bar in Windows XP. That also searches for files and folders.

Windows Vista also has the taskbar search bar. Andrea Borman.

[KRazpopov]

No the Metro theme and the start screen are still there on Windows 8. Because you can't disable the Metro theme like you could in Windows 8 Developers Preview.

They might be there, but since you're not utilizing them in any way, it's basically the same as having them removed from the OS.

But if you have got only the Metro start menu and have not installed Classic Shell or other start menu software,then you probably need to have more icons on the desktop. To access things quickly,although you can still pin items to the taskbar in Windows 8. But you notice I have not done that.

Nope. I would pin my most often used applications to the taskbar, as I have in Windows 7, but for the rest of my apps, I can still get to them via the same method that I use in Windows 7: Hit the Windows key on the keyboard, and start typing the name of the application. Hit Enter and it's there.

Well the quick launch in Windows XP and Windows Vista is useless. As it pins all of the desktop icons to the taskbar. It is not like Windows 7 and Windows 8 pin to the taskbar function,where you can choose what items you want pinned to the taskbar.

There is so much wrong with this quote. The quick launch does not serve as an area to store your desktop shortcuts. That's what the Desktop toolbar that you can put on the taskbar does.

In Vista and earlier OS's , while installing an application, it would ask if you wanted to make a Quick Launch shortcut. You can also open up the folder and add other files in there. I don't see how it's useless, but I still prefer Windows 7's Superbar to it.

Here is the Quick Launch toolbar in Windows 8 and also the search bar in the taskbar. Where you can search for your files.

The taskbar search bar in Windows 8 and Windows 7 is the same the taskbar search bar in Windows XP. That also searches for files and folders on Windows XP.

Windows Vista also has the taskbar search bar. Andrea Borman.

~Screenshot~

As I said, what you're showing is the Dekstop toolbar. Hence the name "Desktop". If you have ever used Windows 98-Vista, you'd know that the quick launch toolbar is not a link to your desktop folder.

[Andrea Borman]

They might be there, but since you're not utilizing them in any way, it's basically the same as having them removed from the OS.

Nope. I would pin my most often used applications to the taskbar, as I have in Windows 7, but for the rest of my apps, I can still get to them via the same method that I use in Windows 7: Hit the Windows key on the keyboard, and start typing the name of the application. Hit Enter and it's there.

There is so much wrong with this quote. The quick launch does not serve as an area to store your desktop shortcuts. That's what the Desktop toolbar that you can put on the taskbar does.

In Vista and earlier OS's , while installing an application, it would ask if you wanted to make a Quick Launch shortcut. You can also open up the folder and add other files in there. I don't see how it's useless, but I still prefer Windows 7's Superbar to it.

As I said, what you're showing is the Dekstop toolbar. Hence the name "Desktop". If you have ever used Windows 98-Vista, you'd know that the quick launch toolbar is not a link to your desktop folder.

Well the truth is,I never figured out how to master the quick launch in Windows XP and Windows Vista.So I don't use it.

And I don't use the Windows search in the taskbar either. As that is not very good.

On Windows XP I use search Companion,you know the one with the animated dog. And on Windows Vista,Windows 7 and Windows 8,I use Agent Ransack. Which does the same search as search Companion. But no animated dog,or the other animated characters. Andrea Borman.

[pmrd]

Well the truth is,I never figured out how to master the quick launch in Windows XP and Windows Vista.So I don't use it.

Master the quick launch bar? Are you kidding?

And are you not using the W8 Start Menu because you don't like it or because you can't make it as ugly as your desktop?

[KRazpopov]

If by "not that good" you mean that it doesn't search everything, it's like that for a reason. When I'm searching for an application, I don't need the system to look through all my files, just my start menu shortcuts. If I need a full system search, I can always open up an explorer window and use the search field that's in there.

As for the quick launch bar-what's there to master about it? It's a straightforward concept. I didn't use it all that much, and yet I know what its' functionality was.

[FiB3R]

I didn't say "Don't modify it" I said don't use it. The people here aren't using the Start Screen are they? They found an alternative.

Sorry, I thought you were saying... If you don't like the start screen, don't use windows 8.

This thread has turned into pure gold. If it wasn't for the videos, I'd have laid money on the fact that we were being trolled. :rofl:

[Andrea Borman]

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.

[.beta]

This will be indeed useful to me, thanks I think I might switch to windows 8 when it releases thanks to the tool if they keep releasing updates of course.

[Dot Matrix]

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.

Do we even need to answer this?