A List Of Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

[mlauzon76]

I saw this posted on another site, looks like an interesting idea, so I decided to copy it and post it here:

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

FREE

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.com/free-windows-8-start-menu.aspx

Taskbar Classic Start Menu:
Fishy link redacted, thanks Iron Woode

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

BringBack 8:
http://www.revel-software.it/BringBack.aspx

Handy Start Menu:
http://www.handystartmenu.com/
Start Button 8:
http://www.startbutton8.com/index.html

Pokki:
http://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu

Win8StartButton:
http://www.quadsoft.org/moredownloads.php

Windows 8 Start Menu:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/w8-start-menu/

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

Start Button for Windows 8:
http://windows8startbutton.com/

8StartButton:
http://www.totalidea.com/8startbutton/index.php

StartMenuPlus8:
http://www.winok-msixray.com/

Viva Start Menu:
http://www.vivastartmenu.com/

Win8Starter:
http://www.win8starter.com/index-en.html

Wentutu Start Menu for Windows 8:
http://www.wentutu.com/

StartW8:
http://www.areaguard.com/startw8

Classic Start 8:
http://www.classicstart8.com/

Start Menu Reviver:
http://www.reviversoft.com/start-menu-reviver/

PAID

Start8 (30-day trial):
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

StartIsBack (30-day trial):
http://startisback.com/

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

8StartButton:
http://www.totalidea.com/8startbutton/index.php

RetroUI Pro (7-day trial):
http://www.retroui.com/default.asp

Win8Starter:
http://www.win8starter.com/index-en.html

 

[bigrash]

Thanks!

 

[jhansman]

Didn't take long for that list to develop. Someone should send it to MS.

 

[mlauzon76]

Added Classic Start 8.

 

[MtnMan]

Is anyone at M$ paying attention, or are they just playing with their tablets and masturbating over their latest turkey.

W8 should have the installation/setup option for tablet/touch screen OR traditional PC/laptop installation.

I got 8 free (legally) and the very first thing I did was after it was installed on a traditional laptop was to install Classic Shell. I will NOT run an OS that allows only one app at a time to be visible, and hides the controls. What were these idiots at M$ thinking. Even my Android phone and Kindle Fire have a friendly and more intuitive user interface.

 

[mlauzon76]

Changed it into two catagories: Free & Paid.

 

[xilience]

Thanks for this list. We're going to evaluate these for our business.

 

[mechBgon]

So far I've tried Start8, Classic Shell and RetroUI, and like Start8 best. It would be even better if it could run Metro apps in a window, which RetroUI can do. Maybe they'll add that eventually. RetroUI's start menu turns me off visually, and also lacks useful capabilities like, say, right-clicking Computer and choosing Manage.

What were these idiots at M$ thinking?

They were thinking that you'd really like a cellphone with a 27" screen, instead of a desktop PC. They were also thinking of themselves first... let's force this new UI on people so we can unify our UI across desktop, tablet and phone platforms and reestablish ourselves as THE industry standard.

Personally, after seeing the netbook fad come and go, I'm going to believe the tablet hype when I see it, and not before. Phones are phones and there's no reason a desktop PC needs to operate like a phone does, particularly not to stroke Microsoft's self-serving agenda. If they want to throw that option out there, that's fine, but they shouldn't be arbitrarily forcing it on us. [/soapbox]

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Any defacto standard people use?

MechBGon,
You forgot your opening soapbox tag

 

[mlauzon76]

Any defacto standard people use?

There are two, the first being Start8, and the second being StartIsBack, you'll have proponents for both!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

There are two, the first being Start8, and the second being StartIsBack, you'll have proponents for both!

Thanks!

Can both be installed at once? Do they uninstall easy?

Do they hook into the OS deeper than a typcial application? Just curious as to how these tie into the operating system.

 

[mlauzon76]

No, you cannot install both at once.

StartIsBack actually uses the remenants of the Start Menu code, etc. that was left over from Windows 7, so using StartIsBack you basically get what amounts to a native Start Menu.

 

[JBT]

Startisback is great so far. Seems like I never left Windows 7, except one game that I play often is MUCH smoother. (Lord of the Rings:Online)

 

[Meractik]

oh man, just saw this now after already paying for startisback! blah, oh well tagged!

 

[homebrew2ny]

I've been using classic shell for my start button needs. It's as simple or as customizable as you want it to be. Also, I use a program called 8gadgetpack for my gadget needs. Looks like there are several good free and paid options, but for me classic shell is perfect (as well as completely free)... Both work flawlessly well without hiccup or bloat what-so-ever.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've been using classic shell for my start button needs. It's as simple or as customizable as you want it to be. Also, I use a program called 8gadgetpack for my gadget needs. Looks like there are several good free and paid options, but for me classic shell is perfect (as well as completely free)... Both work flawlessly well without hiccup or bloat what-so-ever.

Does that gadget pack thing allow you to run any win7 gadgets?

 

[Crow550]

I've been using classic shell for my start button needs. It's as simple or as customizable as you want it to be. Also, I use a program called 8gadgetpack for my gadget needs. Looks like there are several good free and paid options, but for me classic shell is perfect (as well as completely free)... Both work flawlessly well without hiccup or bloat what-so-ever.

I dig Classic Shell too. I wish I knew about it sooner. I would have used it on previous versions of Windows.

Restores a lot of cool features they removed in updates: http://www.classicshell.net/features/

I may check out the others too. However I like the Classic stuff restored.

I also was use to the new Modern UI but either way I don't mind as I usually have a Browser or Game open anyways.

Classic Shell & Explorer is pretty sweet. Just select All Settings and tweak to your Hearts content. I love the Modern Start Button too.

 

[WelshBloke]

Does that gadget pack thing allow you to run any win7 gadgets?

To answer myself, yes it does.

Just need someone to hack aero transparency now.

Edit : Google tells me that that's already done.

 

[john albert]

thanks alot...

 

[AMDZen]

Which one would you guys say is the best one of the free ones?

 

[WelshBloke]

Which one would you guys say is the best one of the free ones?

I'm not going to quite answer your question as I tried a few and found that the paid option was better. Startisback worked best for me but it costs $3 for 2 licenses so nearly free.

 

[mlauzon76]

Added Start Menu Reviver.

 

[junosoftware]

That's awesome. I'm using Pokki at the moment but it seems a little slow. I'll be sure to try the rest

 

[OGOC]

Screw Windows 8. I use Start Menu X on Windows 7. No more of that endless scrolling in a little box to find a program nonsense.

 

[blankslate]

Can you add Ex7forW8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFYmCuqUctQ

http://microsoft-news.com/ex7forw8-windows-7-explorer-for-windows-8-hack/

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/35189-Windows-7-explorer-for-Windows-8

It looks interesting for people who just want as close to a win7 only interface on their win8 installation.