POLL: Classic Shell for Windows 10 ... whos using it?

[storm-chaser]

Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it. The main features are:

-Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
-Quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs
-Find programs, settings, files and documents
-Start button for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
-Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
-Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I like the Win 10 start menu too much

 

[rtwjunkie]

Why is this a poll for only Classic Shell? Wouldn’t you really like to know who is using what?

I use Start10. It’s cheap, and has continuous updates from Stardock to cope with ever changing W10.

It is customizable menu and incorporates better search parameters than default. Also widely used.

 

[storm-chaser]

Updated to include an option for another application. Thanks rtwjunkie.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Why is this a poll for only Classic Shell? Wouldn’t you really like to know who is using what?

Agreed. And I also use Start 10. In fact, to avoid potential compatibility issues, nobody should be using Classic Shell anymore anyway. Sadly, the developer of Classic Shell decided to cease development almost a year ago because of the time challenges to keep it compatible with Windows 10 changes (of which there have been two major updates since). See: Classic Shell no longer in development

 

[sixor]

open shell it is called now

but i never had any issue with the old classic shell

 

[Deleted member 158293]

If I have to use windows I use it.

 

[Bill_Bright]

open shell it is called now

Thanks for that.

but i never had any issue with the old classic shell

I never did either. But I tried both Classic Shell and Start 10 extensively and I have consistently felt Start 10 (beginning with Start 8) always felt more polished and professional - as I would expect from a paid (even if only $5) product. CS works well, but it just seemed to me that it was trying to do too much and as such (to paraphrase a common expression) it was "A jack of all trades but a master of none." Whereas I felt Start10 did fewer things, only better.

 

[Kursah]

I like the Win 10 start menu, it works perfectly fine for my needs and I hate losing the management menu (Win+X works regardless, but as I like to do, right click on the start button) to the Classic Shell properties menu.

I do still install Classic Shell for family members, friends and clients that are hamstrung by anything that isn't Windows 7's start menu. But I warn them that at some point they may have to get used to the Win 10 start menu, and really if you click Start and type a few letters for what you're looking for, odds are it'll be found. It isn't bullet proof by any means.

Open Shell does pick up where Classic Shell left off, but Classic Shell is on ninite, so if I'm prepping a system with ninite, CS gets installed and has had 0 issues yet. Works exactly as it needs to for everyone I deploy it for.

 

[newtekie1]

I picked yes, but I actually use the now open source version OpenShell. Though it seems Openshell hasn't really received much development either. Mainly all that has been done is work to replace the words ClassicShell with OpenShell everywhere. Even the built in updater still references the ClassicShell website, and the url for support still takes you to the ClassicShell website.

Really, I would have been much happier if the original developer had kept going with just the Start menu portion of the program. The rest I can take it or leave it, it doesn't really matter to me.

 

[bonehead123]

I have been using it for a long time now, neveranottaproblemo on many, many builds

 

[SomeOne99h]

The new OpenShell: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases (last version till my post date is 29 sep)
Backup link: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/classic_start.html (It does say classic in the link but the page will explain it to you. It is actually OpenShell)

 

[eidairaman1]

Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it. The main features are:

-Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
-Quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs
-Find programs, settings, files and documents
-Start button for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
-Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
-Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer

As long as it doesnt have its own TSR

 

[storm-chaser]

Agreed. And I also use Start 10. In fact, to avoid potential compatibility issues, nobody should be using Classic Shell anymore anyway. Sadly, the developer of Classic Shell decided to cease development almost a year ago because of the time challenges to keep it compatible with Windows 10 changes (of which there have been two major updates since). See: Classic Shell no longer in development

Classic shell still works fine even with the latest MS updates... Just fyi

As long as it doesnt have its own TSR

What do you mean by TSR?

Another question. Who else restores the quick launch toolbar? I certainly do on all my rigs.

 

[eidairaman1]

Classic shell still works fine even with the latest MS updates... Just fyi


What do you mean by TSR?

Terminate and stay resident, (running background service)

 

[Bill_Bright]

Another question. Who else restores the quick launch toolbar? I certainly do on all my rigs.

Always.

Classic shell still works fine even with the latest MS updates... Just fyi

I know. But with development in question, its future is too.

If the idea is to bring back the familiar W7 start menu and desktop, I say go with Start 10. It is still in regular development, it is very affordable (one time $5) and most importantly, it works.

 

[newtekie1]

If the idea is to bring back the familiar W7 start menu and desktop, I say go with Start 10. It is still in regular development, it is very affordable (one time $5) and most importantly, it works.

If that is the most important thing, then I see no reason to not go with the free OpenShell/ClassicShell. I have 8 computers, at $5 a pop for Start 10, that's $40 for something that OpenShell offers for free.

As long as Openshell continues to work, there is no good reason to spend money on Start 10. Maybe down the road, if OpenShell stops functioning, Start 10 will make sense, but not now.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

I voted no, since win 98 and my 1st experience with Windows outside of a school room I have just used whatever is in the lower right corner. I never used win 8 but I've not had issues with 10 and as others have said it's pretty handy on its own

 

[GoldenX]

I barely use the start menu, so I don't have a need to modify/replace it.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Yes.

I found that classic shell helped me transition into Windows 10 from win 7 a lot easier. Its more a 'set&forget' piece of software that doesnt really need touching once the initial configuration is done.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it.

There is a direct replacement for Classic Shell, which is a canceled project. Open Shell takes the Classic Shell source(which was released by the author) and continues development;
https://open-shell.github.io/Open-Shell-Menu
https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases
A release for the 1809 update is incoming.

 

[Bill_Bright]

If that is the most important thing, then I see no reason to not go with the free OpenShell/ClassicShell.

I cannot speak to OpenShell because I have never used it. But ClassicShell development was stopped because the developer did not have the time to maintain compatibility with all the changes Microsoft makes to W10. That alone, IMO, is reason to consider not using CS.

But to me, another reason is CS has many other features that most users never need. More moving parts means more possible points of failure. Now of course, if you use those extra features, and compatibility is not (at least for now) an issue, then great.

The idea (to me anyway) is not which is the better alternative. The idea is options to avoid W10s UI. I note there are other alternatives to consider as well.

StartIsBack is also good.

FTR, I have 6 computers here but have Start 10 on just 3. The other 3 computers are not used that often to put any alternative start menu on them.

 

[lexluthermiester]

As long as Openshell continues to work, there is no good reason to spend money on Start 10.

Not to mention that it's open source, Start10 is not. I would have no problems if Open Shell opened a patreon or Paypal for donations.

I cannot speak to OpenShell because I have never used it.

Give it a try. You might like it.
https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases/download/v4.4.131/OpenShellSetup_4_4_131.exe

 

[rtwjunkie]

Not to mention that it's open source, Start10 is not. I would have no problems if Open Shell opened a patreon or Paypal for donations

Why is open source important? Just curious, because it isn’t to me.

I have no problem paying a paltry sum of money for a professional piece of software actively supported by a professional company. Stardock is obviously working WITH Microsoft to get it right, because the new version is ready for download before each seasonal update is released.

 

[Valent117]

i used it on windows 8 and 8.1
but now on w10 i use the new start menu and i pin everything on it