HOW TO: Get Start menu back and more in Windows 8

Comprehensive list of programs that can get the Start menu back, get rid of the annoyances in Windows 8 (metro start menu, charms toolbar, etc.)

First of all, I'd like to say Windows 8 rocks! However, if you are using Windows 8 like me, most of you would probably hate the fact that Microsoft removed the Start button on the lower left corner and added a couple of annoying features such as the "metro" start screen and the right bar they call "charms bar". I see no use in these features as well because these are made for tablets and touchscreen. Well, let's get started with my experiences with the ones I tried:

StartIsBack



StartIsBack is the second I tried. According to StartIsBack, Microsoft hid parts of their code that hold these features. So StartIsBack found a way to unhide these features by enabling the Start button, getting rid of the charms bar and metro start menu. The only thing is that StartIsBack is not free, and comes in a small price of $3 though.You can go to the official website for more info and give it a try for 30-days before you buy it.

Pros:
- Very small program
- Lots of customizations (both modern and legacy)
- Go to desktop on startup
- Start button icon customization to your own image (even oversized ones too)

Cons:
- Could use a better or cleaner interface for managing it
- Only one style to choose from for start menu (Windows 7 theme)

Pokki



I found this one while looking at possibilities--it is actually the first one I tried. It is FREE and comes with a different interface for the Start menu. I really enjoyed the sleek design and look of the Start menu that Pokki offers, but I am not used to the style.

Pros:
- Looks very legit (website too). I imagine it gets updated frequently which is a good thing
- Super clean and unique start menu
- Very similar to a smartphone interface (notifications, apps, etc.)

Cons:
N/A

Start8

This one is very much like StartIsBack, but looks much cleaner. I guess it is because it is from Stardock, a pretty well known company for making Windows programs for desktop screensavers, etc. I liked the really clean user interface for managing the options in this one. Very solid feel.

Pros:
- Looks very legit.
- Clean user interface
- Solid friendly interface
- Very customizable (more than one theme, style, transparencies, etc.)
- Lots of options (boot up to desktop, disable hot corners, etc.)

Cons:
- Cannot use oversized start button icon

And more...

There are so many more, free and paid programs to do the same thing. Of course all comes with different features, customizations, and flavors. Try them out and let us know which one you like. Here is a list of competitors (not exhausted):

• Classic Shell - Welcome to Classic Shell
• Power8 (free) - power8 - Yet another Start menu replacer for Windows 8 - Google Project Hosting
• Win8 StartButton (free) - Restore Your Start Button on Windows 8 - Free and Easy to Use Tool
• ViStart (free) - Windows 8 Start Menu, Windows 7 Start Menu
• StartMenu7 (free/paid for pro) - Start Menu 7
• StartMenu8 (free) - Windows 8 Start Menu

Or try this Tip : A Minimalistic built-in Start Menu on Windows 8 « Tech Currents guide.

Please report back on what you have tried and let us know your experiences. This will help people who are looking to do the same!

 

I made a quick research, it seems that there's even more than you listed Hanime.
Pokki Start Menu
Vistart
Classic Shell
Win8StartButton
Start Menu Modifier
Revel BringBack
Spesoft Windows 8 Start Menu
Power8
Start Menu X
IOBit StartMenu8

There's a review and screenshot of each of them here:
Windows 8: Get back your start menu

As for me, I'm using Pokki Start Menu

 

StartIsBack looks interesting, anyone know if it's legit?

 

Steven, PM replied.

We want to find what is best! Let us know your experiences!

 

Pokki looks very nice.

 

There's also Start8 by Stardock. That one appears to be the most polished and feature rich of the bunch and it's just $4.99 :thumbsup:

 

I'm trying StartIsBack now....it's very clean, and very well may be the best one, but truth be told, I'm not really using it. The Metro apps don't show up there, so I'm still going back to the start screen. I guess I can see why MS dropped it altogether. But if you want a start button, I can recommend StartIsBack. But I've removed it.

 

I think I am going to try Start8, I think it'd be worth the $5.

 

I really like Classic Shell. It is very customizable.
I do like the Modern UI start menu though but I still need a start button as I keep looking for i.

 

If you place the mouse cursor in the bottom-left corner and left-click it takes you to the start screen. The "button" (i.e., hotcorner) is hidden until you place your cursor in the bottom-left corner, but then it appears.

 

All these skinning applications are useful, but as they are third party UIs for the Windows shell, just remember that you're not "getting your Windows start button back". Also, be sure to do some research before downloading; some of these may be playing on people fervently seeking a workaround to reclaim their start button, and may contain spyware or viruses as a result.

A good preemptive measure is to use the W.O.T add-on for Firefox, Chrome, or Opera. It's not failsafe, but it may give an idea of the reputability of the vendor.

 

Classic Shell is safe. Has no spyware. They even say it on there site.

 

I like Start Menu X, restores all the old start key features and adds new ones, customizable skins to personalize look, it's free!
Start Menu X: Check updates

 

Start Menu X is not free well the crippled version is. Classic Shell is completely free and open source so I will be sticking with that.

 

I can tell anyone that is concerned about classic start that this really makes Windows 8 behave like a true upgrade to Windows 7. With the log to desktop feature, I rarely ever see the Microsoft Start Screen anymore. It's not as zippy as if it were a native start menu, but with my Sandy Bridge laptop, it's easily tolerable. I would like to try Pokki but having 2 start menus next to each other might be overkill.

 

Lol that doesn't count for much. Granted, that's fraudulent to advertise it and then it not be spyware/adware/virus free, but if they're putting malware in their download in the first place, it doesn't matter to them.

Wasn't Realplayer busted for that years ago? And Trillian I heard had Spyware in it. Downloading from the developer's site is safer than using an untrusted mirror most of the time, at least.

Although that makes me MORE concerned about potential malware, open source software is fantastic.

 

I'm casting my vote for Classic Shell as well. I use it - in conjunction with the Start Screen - and find that it works quite well.

 

Almost 1 week using Win8... somehow being missing the Start Menu... most here agree with the Classic Shell , I will try it too :thumbsup:

...can uninstall later is it ?

 

Yes, through your control panel, or by using Revo Uninstaller (preferred). Feel free to provide some feedback when you try it.