The Classic Shell is a free and open source software tool to add the start menu and many other previous Windows features to Windows 8. Classic Shell is a collection of usability enhancements for Windows.
The main features are:
– Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
– Start button for Windows 7 and Windows 8
– Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
– Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer
If you want a Windows 8 Start menu replacement that looks exactly like Windows 7, StartIsBack is for you. You get the same Start button orb icon, the same Start menu search box, the same jump lists, and — for better or worse — even the same Aero transparency! As you can see in the screenshot above, StartIsBack even detects if your system needs to restart to apply some patches; it really is just like the Windows 7 Start menu.
Where StartIsBack diverges from the Windows 7 Start menu, though, is configurability: StartIsBack is fully customizable, and includes a handful of useful Windows 8-specific features, too. You can configure which hot corners are enabled, make your PC jump straight to the Desktop when it first boots up, and configure a key combo to show the Windows 8 Start screen (Win+Ctrl by default). If Start menu and taskbar transparency aren’t your thing, StartIsBack lets you disable it — and you can change the Start button orb icon, too. If you want a Windows 8 Start menu replacement that feels just like Windows 7, StartIsBack is for you.
Start Menu 8 is specially designed for Windows 8. It offers a perfect solution for users who work with Windows Start Menu all the time and are not accustomed to the new Metro start screen in Windows 8. This smart tool brings back both the Windows 8 start button and Windows 8 Start Menu, and offers the option to skip Metro start page, allowing users who only work on desktop to boot to Windows 8 desktop directly. It’s the best Windows 8 start menu replacement.
Enhance your windows start menu with Vistart 8. With cool custom start menu skins like the windows 8 start menu metro skin, start menu buttons and lot’s of extra features. The ultimate start menu for Windows 8 and compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP you can download for free. So get your start menu back in windows 8 or replace your start menu in windows 7, Vist or XP.
The main features are:
– Add the best Windows 8 start menu to your desktop
– Windows 7-styled start menu enhanced for Windows 8
– Pin Modern applications to the Windows 8 start menu
– Boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop
Thanks,
Morgan
Software Developer