Windows Classic Shell - Free Download

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  1. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #1

    Windows Classic Shell - Free Download


    Asking for opinions of anyone using this software that purports to place an older classic Windows interface over Windows 10. Most of the reviews I've seen of this software look like media hype, except for one Inc. Magazine article that was scant on details. Said you could overlay interfaces going back to XP.

    My O.S. upgrade was from XP so I had to do a new clean install.

    I am a small business user who, like most others, regard Win10 as a disaster. By small biz, I don't mean companies with 500 or less employees - that is not small by any reasonable standard. I mean just a few, like under ten, who usually cannot afford professional help. If we can't do it ourselves, we are fundamentally screwed. The constant OS changes by Msft makes our lives difficult and we regard Win 10 as a bloated pig.

    So, on that note, something like Classic Shell seems attractive but I have my doubts that it could make 10 look anything like XP, the last Windows I had any respect for. Seems to me the overlays it does are pretty limited and probably not worth the effort. I also fear turning an already bad situation into a disaster.

    What do you think?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #2

    It works as far as anything can that purports to change the look and feel of an OS - the OS is not changed so will still have all the many advances in modern OS compared with obsolete systems such as XPired.

    You should of course take the time and effort to learn to use a modern OS as XP is never coming back
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #3

    Install it and see how it effects your business efficiency..
    Easy to Un-install too....

    You have several "Start Menu" options available
    Classic Shell
    Start 10
    StartIsBackPlusplus
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #4

    I have Classic Shell for Windows one of my test machines, works just as good as it did in Win8 and Win8.1. It's a third-party software such as the others mentioned so one can't expect much support, if any, from Microsoft.
    Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements
    [Don't use classicshell.com, went to something else.]
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    Classic Shell works as you expect, and is highly configurable, as is its search box. You also can launch universal apps from it, and still use the Win 10 menu as well. It supports drag 'n drop, missing in Win 10's menu where you can't add items readily.

    You don't have to struggle with it, and it correctly expresses a large complex start menu, categorised with sub-subfolders, which Win 10's start menu can't - it extracts the shortcuts from the sub-subfolders and lists them alphabetically. E.g.
    Help
    Help
    Help
    Help....
    where each one belongs to a different program.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 2,068
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    I setup Classic Start on my work computers. Makes everybody feel comfortable. Give it a try, it installs and uninstalls very easily.

    I have also used Start8 and Start10 from Stardock. It costs like $5, but it's a little closer to the real Microsoft setup. There is a 30 day trial.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 856
    Windows 10 Pro 21H2 build 19045.2193 Dual Boot Linux Mint
       #7

    Another Classic Shell user here, been using it on two Win10 PC's since Win10 arrived, works faultlessly, uses very little in the way of resources in fact as I added the Win7 Start button it looks pretty much like Win7, the Win10 Start menu which IMO looks awful, is easily accessible.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #8

    I prefer CS to the Start Menu. You can configure CS so mouse hover opens CS and left click opens the Start menu so you can use whichever menu you want.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    I used to use StartIsBack when 8 and 8.1 were the primary OS. They were dirt cheap and work great. I think a 5 user license cost me $5. Now, with 10, I haven't had a reason to use anything like this, as Windows is back to using an actual Start Menu again.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 42
    Windows 8.1 x64, soon Windows 10 1903
       #10

    Go for Classic Shell, the best one.
      My Computer


 

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