The original start menu--have your cake and eat it

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The start menu in Windows 95, was the greatest thing in interaction design since Xerox PARC developed the first GUI. With Classic Shell, you can install a more traditional start menu in Windows 8/8.1. That way, you can have the enhanced security and performance from Windows 8x--and a traditional start menu.

The design blends in nice and smoothly with Windows Metro--so you won't have to deal with the cheesy, gaudy, and out-of-fashion Windows Aero.


(Don't ask me why I have Macromedia Flash installed; I don't really use it for anything apart from drawing diagrams.)

You can download it here: http://www.classicshell.net/

All you have to do is install it; there's no need to resort to tedious workarounds--and there's no spyware, no annoying toolbars, and no registration (and thus no spam).

^ That's what I installed on my wife's Windows 8.1 computer... it was essentially a "brick" before putting that on. Can't believe Microsoft would release such a poorly thought out operating system. Shouldn't have to install third party applications to make a computer usable!

What a great idea. I don't like the new Windows 8 start screen.

Stardock - Start8 This is what I have.

Darn! I was downloading it when Norton butted in and said it didn't have enough info about it so it recommends not using it. And I've adjust 8.1 enough, I guess. Although I left it sit there for a year without use because it was a "brick", as you say.

Thank you. Downloading now

Tell Norton to go screw itself! This download is a lot more popular than Norton!

Windows 8 is MS's attempt to make all their products look and perform uniform...especially now that so many PC's and laptops can come with touch-screen functionality.

This is an attempt to copy the iPhone/iPad looks and feel as well as cater to the smart phone consumer who may have little to no experience with a real PC.

The problem is that you don't want a laptop or PC hamstrung by a GUI intended for a more limited device with limited screen space and no separate input device.

Poorly thought out. Poorly executed. Wrong direction. They could only have made it worse by making it only work with an on-screen keyboard so you have to touch-type on the screen itself.

Because it wasn't poorly thought out. If you use a touch screen. it's awesome. But your right. Microsoft should have just left the original start menu in there for those of us that still use a mouse. That tile interface is definitely not mouse friendly.

Not only is this good news for desktop users, but it looks so hot on that Windows 8 GUI.