Add Start Button and Start Menu to Windows 8 with Classic Shell

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If you are using Windows 8, but missing the Start Menu and the Start Button, you might want to check out Classic Shell, which adds the start menu and several useful classic explorer features back to your Windows 8.

Classic Shell is a popular software many use on Windows 7 to get the classic start menu back or to add Up button, show title bar, get classic feel, etc, in Windows 7 explorer. Those who have not heard of Classic Shell, let me tell you that it is a collection of features that were available in the older versions of Windows, but were removed from Windows Vista and Windows 7. It has a classic start menu for Windows 7, adds a toolbar for Windows Explorer and supports a variety of smaller features. There are 3 major components – Classic Explorer, Classic Start Menu and Classic IE9.

On Mar 31st, 2012, version 3.5.0 was released, with a support for Windows 8. According to the developers:

Classic Shell adds a new customizable start button and some of the features have been disabled because they are not possible on Windows 8 or no longer make sense – like the status bar enhancements, the copy dialog replacement, and the Up button.That said, Windows 8 is still not final (as of March 2012), so it is possible that version 3.5.0 will not work with the final Windows 8 build.

Add Start Menu to Windows 8

image6 341x600 Add Start Button and Start Menu to Windows 8 with Classic Shell

If you keep the start menu option selected it will add the classic menu to Windows 8.

Add Start Button to Windows 8

windows 8 start button Add Start Button and Start Menu to Windows 8 with Classic Shell

On Windows 8 you can also add and customize the Start button using Classic Shell.

When you right click on the Start Menu you their settings where you can change couple of settings and skins.

image7 400x279 Add Start Button and Start Menu to Windows 8 with Classic Shell

image8 400x280 Add Start Button and Start Menu to Windows 8 with Classic Shell

Skip Start Screen

UPDATE. The latest version 3.5.1 also allows you to skip the Metro screen. To do so, open Settings and click on the General Behavior tab. Check the box to Skip Metro screen.

I would say Classic Shell is a must-have application for Windows 8. It’s a open source application so it won’t cost you anything, though the developers definitely deserve a donation.

If you want to test it out, go to Classic Shell’s Official website.

Go here to check out some more freeware to add Start Button to Windows 8.

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Shyam aka “Captain Jack” is a Microsoft MVP and a Windows Enthusiast whose area of expertise is Crash Dump Analysis and Advanced Windows troubleshooting. He has developed Windows based Tools like SF IE Restorator for troubleshooting Internet Explorer issues and SF Diagnostic Tool for collecting Crash dump files for troubleshooting purpose. He blogs at captaindbg.com.

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  • costs of surgery

    Thanks for sharing. Yes it is popular and we will use it on our pc.

  • Phrozencrew2020

    I’ve been using this excellent Classic Shell Menu since Windows 7 and until now Windows 8 CP it works great. The new version 3.5.0 is cool it works on Windows 8 CP. Love this. I highly recommend this to all Windows 8 CP user and Next Release of 8.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542996522 Joe Lawrence

    Windows 8, the new Windows Vista, or is it Windows ME???