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Draginol
Draginol
Join Date 03/2001
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Getting the Start menu back in Windows 8

March 5, 2012 1:52:07 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

 

The lack of a start button and start menu in Windows 8 has made using Microsoft’s new OS a non-starter for me and a lot of other people. 

I like Metro, I really do – for tablets. But as a desktop user, I need a consistent work flow that lets me have my windows together on my desktop and don’t want to be jerked out of that environment every time I want to start some new program.

So here’s a free utility we put together that brings the Metro start menu onto the Windows 8 desktop:

https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

image

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Draginol
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #1 March 5, 2012 2:15:21 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

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Draginol
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
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Reply #2 March 5, 2012 2:18:12 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Sweet!!  I'll take it!

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Draginol
IROKONESS
Join Date 04/2007
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Reply #3 March 5, 2012 2:45:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

This is so great.      It's bookmarked.    Thank-you

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Draginol
ransagy
Join Date 04/2009
+1
Reply #4 March 5, 2012 3:58:13 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Very interesting.

I hope i won't have to "have"/"see" the orb though - I kind of like my taskbar cleaner as it is now.

Maybe a configurable option? Otherwise just hook the win key press, or mouse hovering over the bottom left corner (which shows the start screen thumbnail right now).

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Draginol
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #5 March 5, 2012 4:18:33 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting ,
quoting post

 
The lack of a start button and start menu in Windows 8 has made using Microsoft’s new OS a non-starter for me and a lot of other people. 
I like Metro, I really do – for tablets. But as a desktop user, I need a consistent work flow that lets me have my windows together on my desktop and don’t want to be jerked out of that environment every time I want to start some new program.
So here’s a free utility we put together that brings the Metro start menu onto the Windows 8 desktop:
https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/


Damn...now no excuse to avoid checking out 8 ....

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Draginol
Island Dog
Join Date 06/2003
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Reply #6 March 5, 2012 4:27:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting ransagy,
reply 4
I hope i won't have to "have"/"see" the orb though - I kind of like my taskbar cleaner as it is now.

I'd like to think it's going to be customizable.

 

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Draginol
ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #7 March 5, 2012 4:35:29 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting ransagy,
reply 4
Very interesting.

I hope i won't have to "have"/"see" the orb though - I kind of like my taskbar cleaner as it is now.

Maybe a configurable option? Otherwise just hook the win key press, or mouse hovering over the bottom left corner (which shows the start screen thumbnail right now).
Start8 has a few buttons pre-installed.  Making your own is not a problem.

[Please forgive the resolution, I'm remoted into my Win8 machine through a tablet at the office]

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Draginol
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
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Reply #8 March 5, 2012 4:59:18 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

[e digicons]:')[/e]

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Draginol
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
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Reply #9 March 5, 2012 7:45:14 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Jafo,
reply 5
Damn...now no excuse to avoid checking out 8

Since the start menu app came out...nope.

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Draginol
Neilo
Join Date 04/2006
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Reply #10 March 5, 2012 10:11:06 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Quoting Uvah,
reply 9
Since the start menu app came out...nope.

Yup, downloading iso now. I want to see the goodies under the hood of 8 that i will likely miss out on since i can't see myself ever being able to live with metro....

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Draginol
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
+1153
Reply #11 March 6, 2012 4:01:43 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Uvah,
reply 9

Quoting Jafo, reply 5Damn...now no excuse to avoid checking out 8

Since the start menu app came out...nope.

Are you telling me, Uvah, that you're going to install Win 8 now SD has done this app?

Hmmm, dunno whether to call you curious or just soft for toeing the Win 8 line.

Quoting Neilo,
reply 10

Quoting Uvah, reply 9Since the start menu app came out...nope.
Yup, downloading iso now. I want to see the goodies under the hood of 8 that i will likely miss out on since i can't see myself ever being able to live with metro....

Yeah, this is the way I'm feeling at the moment.  I don't think I could ever live with Metro being the default UI, but I sure would like to see the under the hood improvements for myself.  Hmmm, will I or won't I?????   I do have a spare partition, and I have plenty of quota left, not to mention the speed for a fast download, so it's not like I can't... and the SD app would make it more user friendly, wouldn't it?

Oh heck, I jight must as well give it a whirl... just to see what I'm missing when I decide not to buy it later on.

PS, oh, and Uvah.... you're curious.

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Draginol
martin41
Join Date 03/2012
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Reply #12 March 6, 2012 4:41:04 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

The current problem i have with Windows 8 is that the Metro Startmenu is only displayed on 1 monitor. Can Start 8 be setup to work on my second monitor or is it not (yet) compatible with that?) If it works: will it replace Metro completely or is it just a button and sliding your mouse all the way to the bottom-left will still trigger metro?

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Draginol
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
+874 moderator
Reply #13 March 6, 2012 4:41:26 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Yes I am Mark. I read all the hype and comments and to be honest this may be a waste of time but, even though its temporary, having it to play with and getting to know a little bit more from hands on experience could justify whether or not I recommend it to people. I managed to get some to upgrade to Win 7 and so far they like it. I'm not holding that out for 8 though. With this app to bring the start menu back...methinks when others see it they'll get curious too now that they won't be stuck. Besides if i want to complain some more it'll help to know what I'm talkin' about. lol

BTW - I started downloading the ISO yesterday at 3pm. So far I got all of two gigs downloaded and its 4:36 in the a.m. I had to pause it a couple of times.

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Draginol
Neilo
Join Date 04/2006
+128
Reply #14 March 6, 2012 5:45:20 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Quoting starkers,
reply 11
Yeah, this is the way I'm feeling at the moment. I don't think I could ever live with Metro being the default UI, but I sure would like to see the under the hood improvements for myself. Hmmm, will I or won't I????? I do have a spare partition, and I have plenty of quota left, not to mention the speed for a fast download, so it's not like I can't... and the SD app would make it more user friendly, wouldn't it?


My sentiments exactly. I'll likely merge the partition back in a few days once i have checked 8 out.

Quoting martin41,
reply 12
The current problem i have with Windows 8 is that the Metro Startmenu is only displayed on 1 monitor. Can Start 8 be setup to work on my second monitor or is it not (yet) compatible with that?) If it works: will it replace Metro completely or is it just a button and sliding your mouse all the way to the bottom-left will still trigger metro?


Here's a thought for SD, and MS as well. Can you (those of us running duel monitors) Have Metro in mon1 and the desktop in mon2? That might make metro that much easier to live with...

Food for thought?

Quoting Uvah,
reply 13
Besides if i want to complain some more it'll help to know what I'm talkin' about. lol

hehe...yup, can justify hating metro that much more when i have checked cpu usage on a 1920 x 1080 gadget!!! (or whatever we are to call them in metro....)

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Draginol
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #15 March 6, 2012 5:50:27 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'm just about to install on a spare partition... took all of 26 minutes to download... so we shall see what we shall see.

I'll have a play with it and get back later with a verdict.

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Draginol
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
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Reply #16 March 6, 2012 6:05:01 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

2.6 gigs dl'd. So sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!

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Draginol
Neilo
Join Date 04/2006
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Reply #17 March 6, 2012 6:12:45 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

I'll mess with it tomorrow, it's after 10pm (AUS) now and i cannot be bothered.

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Draginol
c242
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #18 March 6, 2012 6:19:38 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Ist it out already or are there just people who got it in advance ? Didn't get any mail...

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Draginol
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
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Reply #19 March 6, 2012 6:27:58 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Go here and click on the external link. Its still available.  https://forums.wincustomize.com/418827

 

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Draginol
c242
Join Date 03/2001
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Reply #20 March 6, 2012 10:36:47 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Not 8, that one is installed as a virtual machine already. I was reffering to the stardock tool.

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Draginol
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
+1153
Reply #21 March 6, 2012 1:39:42 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting c242,
reply 20
Not 8, that one is installed as a virtual machine already. I was reffering to the stardock tool.

Yeah, up top, in the OP... the link to Start8 is there at bottom of page.

Anyhow peoples, I have Win 8 installed and have had a little play with it.  I'm not too impressed so far, but it may have potential with this Stardock app and the Nextstart component of Winstep Xtreme... though Workshelf will have its place also, to create access points to my programs, files and folders, etc.  Hopefully there's no problem installing the Winstep apps, because I believe they will give Win 8 greater functionality from word go.

Oh well, we'll see.  Later!

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Draginol
Uvah
Join Date 05/2006
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Reply #22 March 6, 2012 1:47:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I got it and trying to get it installed. Its not going to the partition I want it to.

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Draginol
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #23 March 6, 2012 1:57:50 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Uvah,
reply 22
I got it and trying to get it installed. Its not going to the partition I want it to.

Uvah, you need to boot from disc to select the partition/drive you want to use... then select Custom Install.  In the next dialog box there will be an option to select the drive/partition, whether you want to format it, etc.  Once you've done that Win 8 will install as directed.

Hope this helps.

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Draginol
Uvah
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Reply #24 March 6, 2012 2:15:26 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Tanks  

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Draginol
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
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Reply #25 March 6, 2012 2:48:15 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

And you need to be sure that the second partition is ready in advance.

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