What? There is no Classic Start menu in Windows 7? That's the most common question which Windows 7 users ask us. Actually Microsoft has completely removed Classic start menu from Windows 7 and you are forced to use the new Vista like start menu.
Although the new start menu is much better than the classic one, lots of people still prefer the Classic one. So what to do? Here is the solution.
"CSMenu" is a small application for Windows 7 which can bring the Classic start menu back in Windows 7. You just need to install it and run the application. There is also a portable version available so you can run it without installing.
Following is a screenshot of CSMenu in action:
You can Pin its shortcut to Taskbar so that you can use it similar to Start button.
You can also hide default Start ORB (Start button) using "Start Killer".
You can give it a try using following link:
NOTE: When we install it, it didn't create its shortcut in Programs menu or Desktop. If you also face this problem, you can run its EXE file from "%programfiles\CSMenu" folder.
PS: At the installation time, make sure to select "Custom Installation" option and uncheck "Install the Ask Toolbar" checkbox.
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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anon
Whenever I see Win7/Vista Style Start Menu, I just want to kiss that person ass (the one who disable/remove classic start menu). Seriously, who the hell is that person? If you ask Bill Gates, he surely prefer classic menu. And you know what is sucker than that? Vista style windows explorer. XP style windows explorer is the best, they should keep that. Man I hope Bill Gates come to Microsoft one last time and do something about it.... *sign*
Phil
The removal of classic menu's is the stupidest thing ever for a box which has thousands of programs installed.
The classic XP menu is the best menu ever created for managing thousands of programs.
I separate applications up by groups.
(There are many applications installed under these sub-groups)
audio
games
graphics
MAGIX
network
office
programming
security
utils
video
This way we don't have to search alphabetically from Accessories to Ztree!
Take games for example
Games -
|-Bethesda Softworks
|-Impressions Games
|-Tremulous
etc...
But no with win 7 this has to be mixed up alphanumerically.
This is complete illogical nonsense, I hate the win 7 menu system
How do I even know the game Cesar 3 is even under Impressions Games?
Wouldn't I just be better off with ZTREE going straight to the damn file!!!
These non classic menus may look good, and I do like the search feature so you can search an executable--BUT...YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE NAME!! or again it's back to alphanumeric guessing games!
Why does my bitching matter?
I'll tell you why. I'm the guy who fixes your broken box. When your box has a crap menu system that I can't find anything on, it's going to waste my time and anger me. Anger me enough, and I'll simply no longer support win 7 and hand you a UBUNTU disk!
Honestly I don't have nothing against win 7. I use whatever OS works to get the job done. You don't run protools on linux in wine! Just the same as you wouldn't run a LAMP server on win 98! I don't really care about the linux vs win charade, you use what works, you lock each one down, you tweak and tune each one.
But ask yourself this, how much longer do you think I will support your OS when I despise using it in the first place. I mean I Literally have more fun on a headless fbsd box. The eye candy doesn't do it for me. But alas, new computers seem to come with Win 7 Home now...
My advice is head out to secunia and do an advanced scan on you win 7. I bet you forgot a zillion things.
WinXPAllTheWay
the classic start menu rules - its clear
why would you want a million shortcuts to the same program
to the people who like the vista like start menu - learn to use a computer!!!!!!
and if youre reading this and you think anything to do with "user friendly" - read the above line and also how about learning how to customize youre computer and youll eventually agree
Luke
I !@#$!@#$!@#$ hate the new start menu with a passion. Been avoiding it for years and organizing it is impossible as far as I can tell.
Hate it!
Coldy
@ Jagannath
What, to start programs you guys actually type in the name of them? Jesus. How about a nice simple start menu like windows classic style where you add all your favorite programs (like word), above the "all programs" section. That way when you click Start, those most popular/favorite programs are directly visible with ONE click. Dont tell me that was not the most perfect start menu, because it always has been and always will be. The new ones they created since to try and "simplify" things, only made them more convoluted and ridiculous to access things. Please, stop, Microsoft. Or at least include the option for what has been tried and proven in the past.
Power User
The "new" Windows 7 start menu is terrible.
The XP start menu was perfect.
The Windows Explorer is also a joke.
Why do they keep "fixing" what isn't broken?
Mike Maxwell
Count me as yet another person who misses the classic start menu.
With the old menu, I could launch Firefox by typing ESC P F (F being the first letter of "Firefox"--I deleted "Mozilla" from the name for that reason). Or if I needed s.t. down in a sub-menu, I could use a couple keystrokes to get there. I could (and did) organize the menus any way I felt. (BTW, I refused to use Vista's menu system, choosing the classic menu instead.)
The new menu seems to be designed for mousing only. If you want to use the keyboard, then the only choice seems to be to use the search mechanism; there are no hotkeys, afaict. But it searches slowly and badly. I now have to type ESC FIREF before I can get to the item I want, wait for it to find matches, and then choose between two (Firefox, and Firefox safe mode). (If I just type FIRE, then I get my firewall program, which I *never* want to launch by hand--it automatically loads at startup. In fact, i get about six firewall things, including several control panel applets. If I want the control panel, I'll ask for it.)
"Pinning" something to the start menu has zero effect, unless you're using the mouse.
As the previous poster said, why fix what isn't broken? Actually, I know the answer to that question: because "New and Improved" is supposed to sell things.
Aaargh!
bruce
For those who want the classic start menu and classic explorer, find Classic Shell for Windows 7 on Sourceforge.net. You will be happy. It's it THE reason I now use Win7 as my default OS rather than XP. And, it's free. For those who miss the quick launch bar, just do some research on google and you will find a way to create it in Win 7. Much better than having icons that you pinned to the task bar jumping all over the place.
Mohammad Elsheimy
what I was looking for, thank you very much :)
yiannis
Hey while we are at it changing things so that they are more laborious to use; We can make car wheels SQUARE. This will make them perfect for parking without the need for a handbrake and a gear in place!
Windows 7 is fast, stable, BUT!: Unfortunately it was designed for console gamers.