Start Menu Selector for Windows 8: Toggle Between New Start Menu and Old Start Menu Using Desktop Context Menu

We all know that Windows 8 Developer Preview doesn’t come with Windows Vista and 7 style Start Menu. Microsoft has removed it from Windows 8 Developer Preview. There are high chances that Microsoft will add it again in Windows 8 Beta, RC or final version.

We have posted a detailed tutorial to enable old Start Menu in Windows 8:

How to Enable Good Old Windows Vista and 7 Style Start Menu and Disable Metro UI in Windows 8 Developer Preview?

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Using the same registry trick and tutorial to add program shortcuts in Windows context menu, “MBOSSG” @ DA has created a small and portable utility for Windows 8.

Start Menu Selector” is a free utility for Windows 8 Developer Preview which adds its entry in Desktop context menu (right-click menu) and allows you to easily and quickly toggle between old Start menu and new Metro Start menu.

Start_Menu_Selector.png

Just right-click on Desktop and select “Start Menu Selector” option and it’ll enable old Start menu. If you want to restore new Metro Start menu, click on the option again.

PS: To remove the option from context menu, run the “Delete Start Menu Selector From context menu.exe” file present in the downloaded archive.

UPDATE: This utility no longer works in Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Release Preview and RTM versions. You can check out following useful articles to enable Start Menu and Start button in Windows 8:

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Published in: Software, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. finally I can remove it,
    it has different location : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
    and the cmd was c:/windows/help/sms.exe

  2. ^^ Check in following location:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellEx\contextmenuhandlers

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