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Classic Start Menu for Windows 7 ... for a price

Jun. 29, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

For you Luddites out there...

Classic Start Menu for Windows 7

Get all the features of Windows classic Start menu back into Windows 7! Seven Classic Start returns the convenience of Windows original Start menu to Windows 7 users, making the new system easier to master for users of Windows XP and Vista.

Oh, wait. There's a catch. They're actually charging (a whopping $25) for this utility. Unreal.

My advice: Get used to the real Start Menu and utilize Start Menu Search as often as possible.

Thanks to long time reader Rafael. :)

Discuss this Article 61

Saucy
on Jun 29, 2009
Who's charging? For what a utility? And what is Windows 7! Seven ?!?!question mark? Mr. Thurrott, please have a coffee before blogging.
DaveyJ
on Jun 29, 2009
It's time to let go people. It's like the change to Office 2007. After a few hours of using it, you'll get used to it.
Thunderbuck
on Jun 29, 2009
Sure. Why not. I hadn't realized that the Vista/Win7 Start Menu was that difficult...
Ocean
on Jun 29, 2009
There will be organizations that pay for something like this because it means they won't have to re-train their staff.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 29, 2009
Of course, just because they're charging doesn't mean anybody's actually buying.
LandonAB
on Jun 29, 2009
Personally, I can not stand the Win XP start Menu after a year with Vista. Every day at work I miss the search. I can't imagine paying for a regression like this.
meason
on Jun 29, 2009
@Ocean Retrain your staff on the new start menu? are you kidding? If you can't figure out the start menu in about 60 seconds..... your in trouble.
ropp29
on Jun 29, 2009
People need to move on. Microsoft shouldn't have to retain old stuff for years and years just because long-time users are to stubborn to get used to the new interface.
DarkSages
on Jun 29, 2009
@Ocean If one of my employees can not figure out the start menu just by poking around with it.... I guess they can: A- ask another coworker to show them in 5 minutes or less B- Go to youtube watch a how to video C- Find a different career that does not require you to think I applaud Microsoft for charging because it will force people to learn the new and forget about the old.
planetarian
on Jun 29, 2009
@DarkSages This is a third-party utility; MS isn't the one charging.
planetarian
on Jun 29, 2009
It should be noted that a skilled developer could probably create something like this in a matter of hours. Do they really expect people to pay $25 for this?
scur
on Jun 29, 2009
I'm still using the classic Start menu under Vista. The reason is that with one hand and two keystrokes I can do the following: 1. Press and release the WIndows Key - up pops the classic Start menu 2. Press a unique letter to switch to one of my favorite (usually already open) applications: a text editor (NoteTabPro), or a file explorer (Total Commander). Could someone please tell me how I can do that with the latest/greatest Start menu. Again, no mouse clicks, no multiple+simultaneous key sequences (e.g., while holding down the Windows key, press the 1 key, etc.) for what I tend to do numerous times per day? t
gorath
on Jun 29, 2009
scur, how is holding down the start key, and hiting 1,2,3,4,5 etc etc any more keystrokes than hitting the start key and THEN hitting a letter?
rr0de74@live.com
on Jun 29, 2009
"B- Go to youtube watch a how to video" Wow you let users get to youtube? I deleted my 7 RC vm after two weeks of playing around with it but I thought for sure that Classic was in it? Another reason to use classic is with VDI's. Classic cuts out all of the fancy GUI features and is faster. We have our XP VDI's setup with classic, and users dont care. We will use Classic with Windows 7 VDI's or whatever is the least hit on the GUI, when we move to 7, in 2011.
scur
on Jun 29, 2009
@gorath The keyboards I use have the Windows key far away from the numeric keys. My hand(s) is/are not big enough to do that *ONE* handed.
rr0de74@live.com
on Jun 29, 2009
I just googled it there is a Windows Classic theme in the RC. So is MS going to pull this for the RTM version and then charge for it?
tayme
on Jun 29, 2009
@rr0de74 - As planetarian stated above...it is not a MS charge...it is a third party utility. I have not seen the RC yet...haven't had time to mess with it. It would be interesting if they did remove features from the RC to the RTM. I am guessing that there are some here that can answer that part of your question, though. --tayme
Dipsh t Admin
on Jun 29, 2009
"So is MS going to pull this for the RTM version and then charge for it?" No, why would they? This is not MS offering this application. It's another developer charging a ridiculous price for a very minor "feature". scur, I think you can do that in 7. Since the new bar acts like Quick Launch, you can do that with incrementing numerals from left to right. And I think you can easily assign keyboard shortcuts to get the functionality that you desire.
kent909
on Jun 29, 2009
Lucky for MS that so many users want to cling to the past. If more users were open minded and looked for better ways to do things, MS would lose more users to the Mac.
FalKirk
on Jun 29, 2009
I guess Microsoft had three options each with advantages and disadvantages: 1) Employ only the new Start Menu. Advantage: Everybody's on the same page. Disadvantage: Criticism from traditionalists who want "choice". 2) Allow for both the old and new Start Menu. Advantage: Makes everybody happy. Disadvantage: Inconsistent user interface between computers. 3) Charge for use of old Start Menu. Advantage: Allows for choice but encourages users to adopt new interface. Disadvantage: Looks petty. Nickel and dimming people to death. Of the three options, I would have chosen option 1, but I can readily see why Microsoft might have decided to avoid the heat and select option 2. But option 3 is obviously the weakest option available. It doesn't unify the operating system and still subjects Microsoft to criticism. Microsoft is spending literally millions of dollars in an ad campaign to portray themselves as the most cost effective solution to one's computer needs. Why voluntarily paint yourself as costly and petty? I can hardly believe that someone in their corporate headquarters did not see this as the PR blunder that it is. It's just a minor thing. But as Paul said: "Unbelievable.
DarkSages
on Jun 29, 2009
@rr0de74@live.com Yeah but I also have a hardware firewall that can also tell me if a computer was in youtube and watch "girls gone wild". I don't block any sites at work there is no point. I do have deadlines and I don't think that they have time to watch Hulu but if they do good for them.
tayme
on Jun 29, 2009
@Paul - You may want to post an update, making it clear that this is NOT a Microsoft offering. Obviously people are not clicking the link that is in your article that takes them to a third party development site... --tayme
heran
on Jun 29, 2009
Lucky for MS that so many users want to cling to the past. If more users were open minded and looked for better ways to do things, MS would lose more users to the Mac. ============= It could be the other way around. People are so stupid and lazy that MS has to stick to the past. Just one example, some readers here don't even bother to check the link in this post to realize this utility does not come from MS.
Saucy
on Jun 29, 2009
I had an idea a while back and that is a "Tech Support" option - one that doesn't go away even if a style changes or a theme changes or a different menu system is used. That way people could run, say, a 'classic' style menu but a tech support person could ask them to right click on the desktop - or however it is implemented - and select 'Tech Support' which sets the various interfaces to a standard known way .. Just an idea.
Dipsh t Admin
on Jun 29, 2009
"I can hardly believe that someone in their corporate headquarters did not see this as the PR blunder that it is." MS is *NOT* the one offering this solution.
Waethorn
on Jun 29, 2009
Um, quick question for anybody: What happens if you disable the Themes Service in Windows 7? Therein lies your answer.
Webdev511
on Jun 29, 2009
Paul, your post isn't very clear about WHO is offering this. As you can see in the other comments, it's ambigous unless you click through. This type of add on isn't that much different than any other third party start menu enhancement.
Waethorn
on Jun 29, 2009
@rrode74: You can disable extra graphics effects with Microsoft's virtualization options already. It's designed to save on bandwidth. @all: Most people that used the old classic Start Menu haven't done so since Windows 98. If you can't get over it, then you shouldn't use Windows 7. It's just too new for you.
crankenstein
on Jun 29, 2009
... And I thought my mother was the ONLY one who still insisted on using the 'classic' start menu.
planetarian
on Jun 29, 2009
looks like someone beat me to the chase: http://lifehacker.com/5303510/csmenu-brings-the-classic-start-menu-back-...
planetarian
on Jun 29, 2009
Whoops, posted prematurely. The above link is to lifehacker's article on a product exactly like this, but free. I hate to promote the piece of trash that is the classic start menu, but I'd hate to see someone paying that kind of price for it regardless.
FalKirk
on Jun 29, 2009
Mea Culpa. I did not realize that it was not Microsoft offering the Menu option. If I could I would delete my earlier post.
Saucy
on Jun 29, 2009
The classic THEME is still in Windows 7 - but the old style Start Menu - you know - the one with cascading menus that fly out - is not there. Apparently this 3rd party utility provides just such a old style menu system. Have Windows 7 the way you want it.
realtestman
on Jun 29, 2009
A year or so after 7 is released, no one will care about the "classic" Start menu. After all, no one was going on about desperately wanting the Program Manager in Windows 95, 98 and Me.
Backup77
on Jun 29, 2009
For goodness sake haven't we moved on from classic menu's several years ago. Of course you can configure this to the way you want but paying money for it is ludicrous.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 29, 2009
realtestman "After all, no one was going on about desperately wanting the Program Manager in Windows 95, 98 and Me" Actually, Microsoft had to make Program Manager available as a download for many years after Win95 made it obsolete because some companies didn't want to migrate their employees to a new UI. You'll notice that the "edlin" line editor is STILL shipping in Windows 7 since some people have batch files that use it in automation and you don't break people's processes if you have a reasonable choice.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
$25 for that?!?! And Apple are only charging $29 for a minor update to the OS. Microsoft? $219.99 for their minor update. Microsoft tax at work.
Lindy
on Jun 29, 2009
@robertsjoe genius RUNS from your family. This product is not an offering from Microsoft.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
Microsoft copying and stealing yet again: http://gigaom.com/2009/06/29/bing-and-kayak-can-you-tell-them-apart/ Once Evil, always Evil.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@lindy: Thanks, I know! Obviously doesn't run in yours. Glad you noticed though.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 29, 2009
BobbieJo "And Apple are only charging $29 for a minor update to the OS. " Not so much. I understand lots of Mac people are confused by it so here's a summary again: If, AND ONLY IF, you bought a new Mac since late October 2007 do you qualify for the $29 point release price. If you bought your Mac before that you either can't run it at all (Macs from 1984-2005 and some sold as late as August 2006 are now orphaned technology) or you have had to pay a total of roughly $160-170 for this upgrade. Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.3 -> 10.6 (Not Possible, PowerPC is orphaned technology) Mac OS X 10.4 PowerPC -> 10.6 (Not Possible, PowerPC is orphaned technology) Mac OS X 10.4 Intel -> 10.6 (Either $158 [10.4->10.5->10.6] or $169 [Mac Box Set]) Mac OS X 10.5 -> 10.6 ($29) By comparison: Windows 2000 -> Windows 7 - $50-$120 depending on version wanted Windows XP -> Windows 7 - $50-$120 depending on version wanted Windows Vista -> Windows 7 - $50-$120 depending on version wanted And, of course, if you check out Ed Bott's latest table you'll see that the closes Windows version to OS X is Home Premium so that's probably the version you should be comparing to your $158 "minor version upgrade". (See: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1128 for his comparison)
jaxjaguar
on Jun 29, 2009
Lindy said: "@robertsjoe genius RUNS from your family. " robertsjoe said: " @lindy: Thanks, I know! Obviously doesn't run in yours. Glad you noticed though." ROFL!!! This is classic. I've never seen someone agree with an insult thrown at them and then proceed to give thanks for it. Robertsjoe is clearly IQ challenged.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@miguelgalos: Oh please, Bott's "comparison" is flawed. You can do the same in reverse and include things which are not in Windows 7, only in OS X, and you'd have the same amount of red boxes in the Windows column as you do in his current chart. So don't try and skew things. The all in one option for home users, Windows Ultimate is comparable to OS X (there is only one home option with OS X (which is better).
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@jaxjaguar: You obviously don't know what sarcasm is, do you? Look it up
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@miguelgalos: Still buying Snow Leopard FULL VERSION is cheaper than Windows 7 Ultimate UPGRADE.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@mikegalos: And no comment on Microsoft copying Kayak when implementing Bing? It's clear they copied it. Shameful, really.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Jun 29, 2009
bobbiejo You found a way to buy a Full Version of an Apple OS? Better tell Apple's lawyers. They say the only way to get it is by buying a Macintosh. That extra $1,000 you pay for a mediocre laptop has to pay for something.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
@miguelgalos: Funny how you have nothing to say on Bing ripping-off Kayak. We know why. It's blatantly obvious that Microsoft stole it. Wouldn't be the first time.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
Funny how Mike is quiet when he's face with the truth.
robertsjoe
on Jun 29, 2009
Funny how Mike is quiet when he's face with the truth.

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