I recently installed windows 10 on an old notebook and for some reason the start menu looks like this:
I don't want it to show the alphabetical list of all the apps by default. On all my other computers the start menu looks more like this one.
http://home.bt.com/images/windows-10...0929103327.jpg
How do I change it? Its really bugging me.
Well, this is the new post-Anniversary Update Start Menu. Yes, it is supposed to have the alphabetical list of all apps on the front page. It is a major feature.
And yes, we all agree that it is a terrible idea. Windows 10 Start Menu structure is disorganized. And bringing anything disorganized to the front is always a design error. But apparently this is what we'll have to live with until Microsoft has the next terrible idea to replace this terrible idea.
Or just use a Start Menu replacement program.
Last edited by AndreyT; 03 Aug 2016 at 23:56.
Start 10 from Stardock works well. It's a pay program (after a trial period), but it's only $5 if I remember correctly.
The Win 10 start menu (pre or post anniversary) is a disgrace in failing to usefully express a traditional start menu organised in folders.
Classic Shell (free) is great.
"And yes, we all agree that it is a terrible idea. Windows 10 Start Menu structure is disorganized. And bringing anything disorganized to the front is always a design error."
I couldn't disagree more and please don't include everybody in "we all" that agree that it is a terrible idea. That may be too presumptuous that everybody has to agree with you.
I happen to like it this way and as a matter of fact ever since XP I organized my programs that way and now with tiles added it's even better. Being somewhat conservative, I also make folders containing shortcuts to programs on desktop as well as quick access menu.
Only things I would like to see are smaller spacing between lines in the menu and to include Start menu opening on mouseower start button. There's also a quick search at Win+S if you remember at least first (few) letters of a program you want to start.
+1 for Win10's Start menu.
Actually I hardly ever need the 'All apps' section anyway (so don't care if it's expanded or collapsed). I hardly see much of it anyway, the far more useful 'Recently added' and 'Most used' sections occupy most of my Start's real-estate. Likewise the Tiles area has my custom groups and tiles at the top, the default sections being off the bottom and a scroll away. What I don't already have on Start, I find with the Win+S method (works a treat for settings as well as apps). Actually, that habit has fed back into how I now use my other Win7 machine (works well there too).
But I wouldn't want to force my opinion on others. When a poster expresses dismay at Win10's Start I point them to one of dalchina's posts (preferably one with a screenshot of the Classic Shell's Start).
Live and let live :)
Last edited by Bree; 22 Sep 2016 at 22:55. Reason: add screenshot
When installed the AU on one of my PCs I decided I's better take a screen capture of what I consider a good start menu from another PC.]
For me, the expanded App list creates useless clutter.
Right. My point was all users HAVE to default to the app list, which is not exactly egalitarian, and since your preference is the new method we all have to use it the way you and probably a few thousand other people find reasonable. It's part of the Microsoft culture to implement changes because they know better than users how users can best do their work, without any avenue to turn off the option. The latest maintenance changed our shared folder machine at the church where I geek to turn password protected sharing back on. I don't really know how Microsoft developers know how I work. Oh, yeah, the Win 10 install defaults to send a copy of just about everything one does to Microsoft.
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