[Herra Tohtori]

Classic Shell @ Sourceforge

Classic Shell is a collection of features that were available in older versions of Windows but are removed from Vista and Windows 7. It has a classic start menu for Windows 7, it adds a toolbar for Windows Explorer and supports a variety of smaller features.

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Very nifty. If you ever had any problems with Windows Vista or 7 having removed some useful features of the interface, this probably fixes that for you.

Adds the classic start menu completely seamlessly to the Windows 7 interface, allowing customization to keep the best of both worlds (the search bar from Win7, customizeable menu groups from Windows XP, and a cascading "All Programs" menu instead of the scrollable monstrosity of Win7, ability to adjust menu icon sizes...)





So far, I'm loving it. The search bar in classic menu doesn't work quite identical to the proper windows start menu - but, you can use both! By default, clicking the start menu or windows key opens classic menu after installation, while shift-clicking it opens Windows 7 start menu.

I've set it to open Win7 start menu with Windows key, and classic menu with mouse click; this way I can use the full extent of the search bar when I can't bother reaching for the mouse, but can actually use menus that make sense if I want to.

[BloodEagle]

I am most happy over the existence of this project, and will be grabbing it very soon. 

Now if only you could get rid of that damned ribbon in Office. 

[FlamingCobra]

Now if only you could get rid of that damned ribbon in Office. 

 
I can't wait until Hard-Light adds either a thumbs up button to keep track of the number of thumbs ups to a comment (like youtube) or adds a facebook "like" button. so we can like comments.

[The E]

Now if only you could get rid of that damned ribbon in Office. 

 
I can't wait until Hard-Light adds either a thumbs up button to keep track of the number of thumbs ups to a comment (like youtube) or adds a facebook "like" button. so we can like comments.

Never, EVER going to happen. We do not track Karma either.

[MP-Ryan]

I've actually come to like Win7's UI a fair bit, especially Jump Lists.  In fact, I don't really use the Start Menu all that much (by contrast with my work PC and XP's quick launch bar, which is nowhere near as functional).  And I'm pretty sure my control panel expands already....

Herra, is there any way to add the folder-sorting feature with this utility without cutting off the Start Menu sidebar?

[Herra Tohtori]

Yes, you can set it to Two Columns option, which looks like this:



And you can make it show a lot more than I do (I don't need Pictures, Documents, User name etc...)


EDIT: And, like I said, you can make it behave differently based on whether you use mouse or Windows key to open the Start menu. So, you can keep using the Win7 start menu while also being able to use the classic start menu, so you can keep the cake while eating it.