UPDATE: New version 3.2.0 released which comes with new setting to show the title in IE9 with no icon, a new "Sort by" command to Explorer to sort the folder by given property, support for F2, Del and Alt+Enter keys in the start menu and fixes for some minor problems.
The most annoying problem which Windows Vista and 7 users face is the removal of classic toolbar buttons e.g. Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, etc. Windows Vista and 7 Explorer doesn't provide these basic toolbar buttons and users have to use keyboard shortcuts keys or menus to perform these operations.
Another annoying problem in Windows 7 is the removal of Classic Start menu. Windows 7 doesn't contain the good old Classic start menu. It only provides Vista like new Start menu.
Today we are going to share an awesome free utility which brings back the Classic Start menu in Windows 7. It also adds good old Explorer toolbar buttons in Windows Vista and 7.
"Classic Shell" is a free small utility which provides:
- Classic Start menu in Windows 7
- Classic Explorer toolbar buttons (Cut, Copy, Paste, etc) in Windows Vista and 7
- Classic IE9 (titlebar text and progressbar in statusbar)
Following are a few screenshots of Classic Shell in action:
Classic Start menu in Windows 7:
NOTE: You can access the default Windows 7 Start menu by pressing "SHIFT" key while clicking on the Start ORB (Start button). You can also change Classic Start menu settings by going to "Settings -> Classic Start Menu" option.
Classic Explorer toolbar buttons in Windows Vista and 7:
Classic Explorer Navigation pane in Windows Vista and 7:
Its highly customizable, so you can select which buttons should appear in Explorer toolbar by clicking on the "Classic Explorer Settings" button present at last of the toolbar in Explorer.
If you don't get the Classic toolbar in Explorer after installing the utility, press "ALT" key to show Menubar, right-click on it and select "Classic Explorer Bar" option.
You can download it using following link:
Thanks to our reader "lohhw3" for the update...
This article was posted by VG in following section: Software, Windows 7, Windows Vista.
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rekadog
Thank you. After searching for 2 hours this is exactly what I was looking for. There are several other threads on here looking for it.
Drew
I miss my cut, copy and paste buttons in 7!!!! I hated Vista for this very reason too. I like the Windows 7 start menu though but I want my buttons back. Is there any way to use this tool to just get the buttons and not have to use the classic start menu?
Thanks for the write up on this tool.
Drew
Just answered my own question! This thing ROCKS! Yes you can have just the buttons and/or the classic start menu. I love it! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Windows 7 FTW!
yiannis
Thanks a lot, i was looking for something like that for far too long, to be honest i havent upgrade from XP cos i could not live without the toolbar.
Respect!!!
master
will it corrupt my systemfiles
VG
^^ No.
Prasad
Great utility / tool. Kudos to your great Job.
Vikezor
I right-click on the menubar, select Classic Explorer Toolbar but I still don't get the toolbar! I'm using Windows Vista.
Ivo
@Vikezor: There was a bug that was stopping the toolbar from showing on Windows Vista. It is fixed in the latest version 1.9.8. Try that one.
@Vikezor
thanks there was a bug that was stopping the toolbar from showing on windows Vista.