A List Of Start Menu Replacements for Windows 8

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by mlauzon, Feb 19, 2013.

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  1. mlauzon

    mlauzon Registered Member

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    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:
    http://www.desktopapps.org/

    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/

    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
     
  2. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    LOL.. I guess a few people must miss the start menu after all... :)
     
  3. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I've really come to like Start8 (I had a Stardock subscription anyway). It brings a decent start menu while still allowing you to access the new start screen.
     
  4. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    I've used Classic Shell in Windows 7 for years. I missed the old Windows 95/98 start menu that was part of Windows up until Vista and an old dog shouldn't have to learn new tricks.

    Its a simple and effective Start Menu for Windows. :thumb:
     
  5. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    Microsoft by leaving it out went against human nature. People like working in a certain way and when Microsoft leaves out features people want and need, they find a way to get them back. Hence the popularity of Windows third party start menu replacements. :rolleyes:
     
  6. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    Everything MS did in 8 goes against human nature.... Lol... But let's not divert the thread's original intention... ;)
     
  7. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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  8. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    I'm sure they counted on that from the beginning....
     
  9. Dark Shadow

    Dark Shadow Registered Member

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    My wife is enjoying windows 8 with No start menu and For some reason she enjoys the multi step to the shut down.If I have not completely coverted to a mac user, I would have put a New start menu not mentioned in the above list and that would be Full version Windows 7 64 Bit going in the cd drive.:)The End
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2013
  10. Brian K

    Brian K Imaging Specialist

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    DS,

    My friends and I tried several of these menus but reverted to using Metro, which we prefer. Metro is nice when you learn to drive it. Each to his own.
     
  11. Dark Shadow

    Dark Shadow Registered Member

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    I learned to drive it the same as windows 7 the difference is windows 7 does not require a muti step process to everything.The dumb down metro IE is a joke, so we set that up to run desk top.The only metro I really like is the email setup to outlook.com very quick.

    Doesn't matter for me as IMO windows 8 don't hold a candle to OS X MT lion,Windows 7 is a different story and IMO its the best OS MS has put out to date.
     
  12. Venky

    Venky Registered Member

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    Start8 is my poison of choice,its the best 5 bucks ever spent. Thank you stardock for making windows 8 usable.
     
  13. Dark Shadow

    Dark Shadow Registered Member

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    I tried just a few but yea I liked Start8 the best of the few I tried.:thumb:

    Speaking of the devil, I just got email from stardock to get start8 now $4.99 with a video of Start8 in action. I cant get the video to work but I am sure you guys can find it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2013
  14. cruelsister

    cruelsister Registered Member

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    Although I'm only familiar with a few of the programs listed, it seems that there are two different ways that these programs operate. The Stardock solution and a few others (forget which) operate as addon Services, whereas StartisBack works by recoding explorer.exe, basically unlocking the native start menu functionality of Windows 8 which for some reason had been disabled. In essence it reverts Microsoft's Windows 8 hack.

    Personally I would prefer a solution without dependencies, which is a much more elegant solution.
     
  15. JeffreyCole

    JeffreyCole Developer

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    I tend to agree with you.

    but in this case Microsoft could remove it completely in an update at any time.

    so a total replacement is the only long term solution unless Microsoft reverses direction on this and gives us a choice.
     
  16. cruelsister

    cruelsister Registered Member

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    I can't see them taking the time to rework explorer due to its existing shared code and jumplists, so the reverse hack should be good until Windows 9 at the least.
     
  17. JeffreyCole

    JeffreyCole Developer

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    never under estimate Microsoft's contempt for their own customers.

    and their willingness to do the wrong thing whenever given the chance. ;)
     
  18. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    Microsoft isn't going to patch Windows 7. Haven't had an issue running Classic Shell on on 64X.
     
  19. JeffreyCole

    JeffreyCole Developer

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    I'm referring to Windows 8 only.
     
  20. aladdin

    aladdin Registered Member

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    Excellent thread.

    Best regards,
     
  21. cruelsister

    cruelsister Registered Member

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    "never under estimate Microsoft's contempt for their own customers"

    I see we are kindred spirits, Jeffery!

    Although I TOTALLY agree with you about MSFT's "you'll take it and you'll like it" attitude, it would take SO much work (ie $$$$$) to rewrite explorer I doubt that they will bother- and hopefully the days of Bonzo The Magnificent (Ballmer) are numbered so it won't be an issue in the future anyway (allow me to dream here).

    Until then I will happily give my 3 bucks to Tihiy.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2013
  22. chachazz

    chachazz Updates Team

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  23. Trespasser

    Trespasser Registered Member

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    Just a FYI,
    Start8 has an install limitation. Don't know exactly what it is but it must be in the single digits. No mention of it on their website. I didn't find this out until I was doing a fresh install of Win 8 Pro on my laptop. After installing Start8 then proceeding with activation I was informed via a popup that "Activation limitation reached" and it wouldn't let me register. I requested a reset thru support but have yet to receive a reply.

    I will add that Start8 is the best Win 8 start menu that I've tried.

    Later...
     
  24. Venky

    Venky Registered Member

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    Love it or Hate it but you can't live without it!
     
  25. Venky

    Venky Registered Member

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    Actually its only one copy per machine.

    Read this FAQ, I read it before buying the product.

    http://esupport.stardock.com/index....an-i-install-my-copy-on-more-than-one-machine
     
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