There is no doubt, Windows 7 comes with lots of new features but its also true that some important functionality have been removed from Windows 7 like good old Classic start menu.
Classic start menu was very useful and easy to use but for some unknown reasons, Microsoft has removed it from Windows 7. Now if you want to get it back, you'll need to take help of 3rd party software.
Today we are sharing a freeware "Classic Windows Start Menu" which can provide a similar Classic start menu in Windows 7. Following is a screenshot of CWSM in action:
As you can see, it looks very similar to Classic start menu. The most impressive thing about CWSM is that it uses Aero engine to render its interface so you get a glassy start menu which looks great.
Its a portable utility so you don't need to install it. You can also customize it for your needs. For example, you can modify the text of menus, change background image, change left-side logo, change icons, etc. You can do all these things by modifying files present in its folder.
You can also make it more glassy by modifying "strings.xml" file and set "<MENU BACKGROUND PRESENT>Yes</>" to "<MENU BACKGROUND PRESENT>No</>":
Once you do it, exit from CWSM by right-click on Start ORB (Start button) and click on "Yes" button in confirmation dialog box. Then run cwsm.exe again. Now it'll look as following:
There are also some BMP files in its folder: logoffback.bmp, ribbon.bmp, shutdownback.bmp which can be modified to change Log off dialog box, left-side logo and Shutdown dialog box background images respectively.
You can download it using following link:
NOTE: It also works in Windows XP and Vista.
Thanks to our active reader "Bryan" for sharing this utility via email...
NOTE: You can also check other free tools to get Classic Start Menu back in Windows 7 at following link:
Ultimate Collection of the Best Free Tools to Get Classic Start Menu Back in Windows 7
This article was posted by VG in following section: Software, Windows 7.
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VG
^^ No.
Wowa
Only when something lost, we understand the importance of it.
Thanks for good link.
Dustin
This is a good little app, but has some bugs. I'm sure they will be worked out in future editions.
sujit sudhan
hey!..i tried download the cwsm zip file..but it seems corrupted (from the server side). can anybody upload or provide alternative site for this software.?
master
How to remove?
VG! Where are u!
Gary
That seems to be a BIG Problem, How to REMOVE it, Help!!!!
Gary
To those who want to get rid of this program-- " Go to task manager, stop cwsm.exe, then delete all files". Gary
Nhat
How to make cwsm autorun every restart?
VG
^^ Check its Settings. There should be an option.
Ozcan
Hi Vishal,
Thanks for making the links to these software/freeware available on your site.
I've been trying to locate a bloat-free tool to do this for a while but did not have a chance to find it until now. Many thanks.
Classic Style start menu is by far easier and faster to operate than the new Windows 7 style uses. My productivity just went back up because of this tool.
When you're into speed of moving around in windows then it pays off to skip a few clicks here and there. It basically lowers your blood pressure too :).
Cheers!
Ozcan