Comments on: Revert to the classic Start Menu in Windows 7

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 01 May 2010 23:28:56 +0000

Bill,
Thanks for your comments. This was the behavior of the start menu for a looong time and it is heads and shoulders above the new system for efficiency. I am always looking for keyboard shortcuts and can work circles around anyone who constantly mouses around. I am personally amazed that Microsoft took this away from us.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:29:37 +0000

For me the classic menu is better because I can add my own start short cuts and start all my favorites without using a mouse. The mouse is a slowdown and an interruption of mind flow. You have to stop thinking through your fingers, refocus on finding your mouse, move the tiny pointer to tiny targets, one by one, until you start your program.

Then get back to keyboarding. In the classic menu you can select a program by keyboard alone and if it is the only item starting with that letter on the menu, you can key it without looking, as selecting a unique first letter also starts it. Pre-7 I could create a personal folder (called Bill since no default programs start with b) in my user start menu (the user start menu folder is now completely hidden from me). In my Bill folder I would have a shortcut for each favorite and if each started with a unique letter, I could start a new program without taking my hands from the keyboard or breaking my thought integration with my keyboard. e.g. I would press flag-B-W and start up Word or flag-b-x for xExcel.

The “Improved” Vista and 7 menus don’t pick items by first letter, and instead attempt to search. My manual method takes 1-2 seconds and is done without thinking versus mouseing requiring 30-60 seconds plus a break of concentration. I can pin a folder with my short cuts, but there is little gain as I still have to use a mouse to open the folder, start the program and then close the folder. As The Onion put it, I use my computer for work and not to just dick around. The mouse is over-used and keyboarding is increasingly crippled in each new version.

By: love classic

love classic — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:25:36 +0000

FIX FOUND: USE THIS

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

It is free and PERFECT for getting back the classic Start Menu in Windows 7.

By: Tor

Tor — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:39:57 +0000

Answer to Ryan Dozier. The Classic menu is easier to navigate thats whay I want it back.

By: Ryan Dozier

Ryan Dozier — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:21:41 +0000

I don’t understand why so many people would want to go back to the old classic view in Vista or 7. I guess people just hate change thats all. No worries I suppose, good article.

By: bruce

bruce — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:17:04 +0000

You can get the classic menu and explorer for free at http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ Very good program.

By: Restore the Classic Start Menu in Windows 7

Restore the Classic Start Menu in Windows 7 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:01:10 +0000

[...] another option, check out my previous post on how to get the Classic Start Menu in Windows 7 using SevenClassic. AKPC_IDS += "5041,";Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Help Desk Geek via RSS Feed [...]

By: David

David — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:02:45 +0000

I was so stupid to upgrade my Vista to Windows 7. I’ve never felt so regret by trying to improve efficiency for another inefficiency.

If microsoft is not going to provide the more “mind” efficient menu, I will never buy their new OS in the future.

The new menu requires more thinking than before when your brain should be used for something more important. I do recognised that people usually work with no more than 5 programs frequently at work and from what I saw they usually put them on desktop. For seldem used programs without knowing the names, it’d best looking from the program menu.

I don’t understand how people define “advanced” and “out dated”. It reminded me when we have the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) here in Australia, the government was saying that we need the more “advanced” tax system. I guess it summarised the case — We are the one who pay.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:15:02 +0000

First thing I do when I get a new computer is set the taskbar for Classic Mode. I like to customize the menu with my most frequently-used document folders and documents instead of rummaging through the new ridiculous interface. This program might be useful when I get my new Thinkpad with Windows 7. Microsoft, newer is not always better.

By: Valieri Kyua

Valieri Kyua — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:31:20 +0000

THANK YOU! I hate the new Start Menu in Windows 7 and was avoiding upgrading from XP for the longest time! I was finally forced to by family and I like Win 7, but I really missed the classic Start Menu. Thanks!

By: Marin Computer Support

Marin Computer Support — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:24:14 +0000

Excellent tip. I like Windows 7 quite a bit but I’m sure there are people who will want to stay with the “comfortable” old Start Menu. Some people are just funny that way. Good to know about SevenClassicStart, thanks.