Windows 7 Classic Start Menu

[whoosh]

maybe vlite ?

Maybe you meant to say vlite not nlite ?

 

[techgorilla]

Maybe you meant to say vlite not nlite ?

No, I meant to say N-Lite, please read. That is what the person I was quoting claimed to have used to enable a classic menu in Windows 7. Besides, vLite wasn't/isn't able to configure a classic startmenu in Vista either and there hasn't been a new version of vLite released since summer last year. Now if you'd stop ripping your replies to my posts out of the thread they were placed in then you might not have felt the need to mistakenly reply saying that maybe I meant vLite. I didn't.

 

[whoosh]

No, I meant to say N-Lite, please read. That is what the person I was quoting claimed to have used to enable a classic menu in Windows 7. Besides, vLite wasn't/isn't able to configure a classic startmenu in Vista either and there hasn't been a new version of vLite released since summer last year. Now if you'd stop ripping your replies to my posts out of the thread they were placed in then you might not have felt the need to mistakenly reply saying that maybe I meant vLite. I didn't.

Ok Ty got the message and enjoy your stay on this wonderfull forum " Ok do I exit stage left ? "

 

[techgorilla]

Microsoft is moving everyone into the 21st century with a new start menu. They have made this decision for the betterment of all of us. Once a user learns how to use the new start menu 99% of the time he/she likes it better.

If that would be true then somewhere, in the past 8 years, I should have started preferring the new menu and stopped using the classic one. But that didn't happen. Does that make me belong to the select 1 % ? Besides, if that were true then why did Microsoft include the classic when they released Longhorn in the first place. It would have been more logical to drop it back then and not now with [quote Bill Gates]: "an incremental upgrade to Vista".

 

[whoosh]

If that would be true then somewhere, in the past 8 years, I should have started preferring the new menu and stopped using the classic one. But that didn't happen. Does that make me belong to the select 1 % ? Besides, if that were true then why did Microsoft include the classic when they released Longhorn in the first place. It would have been more logical to drop it back then and not now with [quote Bill Gates]: "an incremental upgrade to Vista".

Dont know but you got a way of making yourself known As said b4 welcome and happy daze

 

[unawave]

Does that make me belong to the select 1 % ?

No, this makes you to belong to one of 30%. See this poll: Link Removed

 

[whoosh]

No, this makes you to belong to one of 30%. See this poll: Link Removed

Thanks good post So busy on this forum hard to keep up with latest posts

 

[techgorilla]

No, this makes you to belong to one of 30%. See this poll: Link Removed

Thanks a lot Una ! It's good to see some real figures. 1 % would make me a niche user. 30 % isn't a niche !!

It may have hurt.
The biggest complaint. In fact, almost the only complaint, which subsquently led to other issues, was that Vista was a resource hogger. It was Microsoft's deliberate intention, when cleaning it up into its new form - Windows 7, to make sure there was no superfluous or uneeded items which led to that problem.
If they now bowed to the wishes of all who were requesting small additions, which had existed in legacy OS's, they would be heading back toward square one.

As I said very much earlier, I had avoided entering this very controversial thread. There is no real answer as it is most certainly a matter of taste. The classic menu will not be returning. I prefer the \"new\" menu. Having said what I wished, I am now cowardly backing out of this thread!!

If it was Microsoft's intention to clear up resource hogging useless stuff, they would have started with removing aero and glass effects. They didn't. And all the software necessary to make a classic start menu work is still there, only the option to switch to it disappeared. If the classic start menu is such a resource hog, how come it was there in Windows 95 when Windows could run in 16 Mb of memory ?

 

[whoosh]

Thanks a lot Una ! It's good to see some real figures. 1 % would make me a niche user. 30 % isn't a niche !!



If it was Microsoft's intention to clear up resource hogging useless stuff, they would have started with removing aero and glass effects. They didn't. And all the software necessary to make a classic start menu work is still there, only the option to switch to it disappeared. If the classic start menu is such a resource hog, how come it was there in Windows 95 when Windows could run in 16 Mb of memory ?

The aero is so true . How more resource hoggin can you get then to have a movie running as a wallpaper .

 

[techgorilla]

The aero is so true . How more resource hoggin can you get then to have a movie running as a wallpaper .

I never even tested that one LOL Even without the running movie turning off aero (but keeping a pretty wallpaper) displayed a 50-100 Mb drop in memory use.

 

[whoosh]

I never even tested that one LOL Even without the running movie turning off aero (but keeping a pretty wallpaper) displayed a 50-100 Mb drop in memory use.

Yes a bottle of vodka still dont make a deference to aero hoggin stuff

 

[techgorilla]

Well to jump in on this topic I should point out that I have a great number of clients over the age of 65 including a wonderful little old lady who used to shoot down enemy aircraft in England during WWII. A number of them use Vista but prefer the classic menu style because it is what they are used to and DO NOT like things to change simply because they are having a difficult enough time remembering what they have already managed to learn.

As technically savy people we sometimes forget that although we love cutting edge technology there is still a part of our population that is not so comfortable with change that deserve better then to be left behind or left out in our ever demanding need for change.

I have often told these people that there is always more then one way of doing things in Windows and none of them are the absolutely correct way of doing it. You do it the way you can remember to do it. Taking away those options does not take into consideration those of use who will be very uncomfortable with the change.

Personally I like the new menu but that little old lady from England freaks when a desk top icon is not where it is suppose to be.

It isn't about not wanting to keep up with cutting edge new technology. The default start menu isn't new, it's about 10 years old and was introduced with XP. The problem with it is that it's inferior in every possible sense when compared to the classic style menu. It opens as a huge thing filling up half the screen with 70 % of it consisting of ... nothing. Plain white/gray space. Let's say I want to open the "Windows imaging interface reference" in the WAIK.

Classic menu:
CLICK Start. Move mouse to programs -> Microsoft Windows AIK -> Documentation -> SDK and then CLICK a second time on "Windows imaging interface reference". Got it ? 2 clicks.

Default menu:
CLICK start, Then CLICK All Programs so that something appears in the huge grey/white space. CLICK on the scroll bar and move down until Microsoft Windows AIK appears and CLICK on that. Then CLICK on Documentation so that SDK appears and CLICK on that so that, finally, "Windows imaging interface reference" appears and CLICK on that. Got it ? 7 clicks.

You really must love clicking to call that improvement.

 

[whoosh]

It isn't about not wanting to keep up with cutting edge new technology. The default start menu isn't new, it's about 10 years old and was introduced with XP. The problem with it is that it's inferior in every possible sense when compared to the classic style menu. It opens as a huge thing filling up half the screen with 70 % of it consisting of ... nothing. Plain white/gray space. Let's say I want to open the "Windows imaging interface reference" in the WAIK.

Classic menu:
CLICK Start. Move mouse to programs -> Microsoft Windows AIK -> Documentation -> SDK and then CLICK a second time on "Windows imaging interface reference". Got it ? 2 clicks.

Default menu:
CLICK start, Then CLICK All Programs so that something appears in the huge grey/white space. CLICK on the scroll bar and move down until Microsoft Windows AIK appears and CLICK on that. Then CLICK on Documentation so that SDK appears and CLICK on that so that, finally, "Windows imaging interface reference" appears and CLICK on that. Got it ? 7 clicks.

You really must love clicking to call that improvement.

Yes ? What

 

[evilresident0]

wow, there's some serious hostility in this thread... is this fuel to the fire? ha, perhaps..but here's my take

i'm a sysadmin and i'm a fan of function over form. i use the classic start menu and despite it's grey dullness (i wouldn't mind changing it to a black block...) it's speedy and does everything i need. that said, i put most everything i use into categories in quick launch, so my start menu usage is kept to a minimum.

i've just installed the newest win7 rc on a vm and while it's probably better than the heap of uselessness that was vista (i'm an xp fan - one of the best desktop os' imo) i have hope for it... however misguided it may be...

i agree with advancement of technology and progress, but when a company strips out functionality for the sake of 'the betterment of mankind' or whatever, i get seriously annoyed. the only reasons i've stuck with windows as an OS is games and the company i work for is 95% windows.. if M$ released a customizable explorer shell, that would be something. but to make the start menu double size (i've managed to make win7 start menu actually say start - not like i care) but i can't make it sit low. did i mention i always use autohide?

like software bloat is to increasing processing power, larger/cheaper monitors doesn't mean we should increase the size of the menu system.

i'm glad we can dig out quicklaunch, because without it i might have to resort to hostility... but a large and obnoxious taskbar? give me a break...

and whoever said that M$ is listening to their users, i find similarity to the census' they do when they preview new movies to a group of 'randoms'... every movie doesn't need a happy ending! eg: the descent - the US cut the last minute or so off the end to make it happier... or butterfly effect... directors cut makes much more sense however disturbing...

anyway, M$, if you're listening, please don't make us 'conform' to rediculous business descisions and give us OPTIONS to customize. i know you can't pelase everyone, but the ability to customize is KEY to targeting mass scale especially when talking about a possible global standard for desktop operating systems...

suggestion: release a powertoy for us more-in-depth users that lets us customize the shell: from the start menu size and function to context menu additions (like kde) imagine an option not to have a taskbar? wallpaper imbedded or floating time/date, right click on desktop menu for all programs (still linked to the windows key of course), etc...- because that would be cool.. and frankly, some of the decisions you're making...so uncool.

</rant>

- e

 

[whoosh]

Yes sorry . Peace etc

All that will surely come to pass . Do I fall on my sword now or do I get a chance to do a runner ?Link Removed due to 404 Error

 

[reghakr]

whoosh,

Where's the book on WINDOWS 7 FOR DUMMIES, been released yet?

I can always call the library I worked for and request they get a copy (as soon as possible)

 

[Quill]

I wouldn't mind the new start menu if there was a way to make it smaller, as it stands it looks like it's been designed for people with vision impairment.

 

[HaloFX]

Not opposed to change, but progress needs to be forward

First, I am not opposed to change. Been a Windows guy since Windows Dos Executive! (v1). Every version has been a welcome change over the last, except for ME and Vista, and now probably 7. I have ran every version, I have to at least have one machine loaded with the current OS, whether I like it or not for testing and client support. I also have been through all the MAC stuff, and have a very nice G5 foot stool!

I have read most of the posts here, and don't want to beat a dead horse, but I really hate the new menu also. It works great for my Mom, but is horrible for me. While I would be happy to just use the Classic Menu, my real beef is why didn't MS make it MORE customizable? It seems like it is just a matter of "here is what we like, you should too". I do a lot of UI work, and it is always function over form. A search is usually a sign that the UI has failed in my opinion. "We can't figure out a logical way to organize it, so put on a search". I have been through all the Beta stuff before, but now wait till the RC stage, so I just recently jumped in with a new i7 workstation.

So I do have a couple questions:

-First are there any tutorials that explain what the Start Menu is really capable of? Maybe I am missing something?
-Is there a way to make the left side of the Start Menu default to "Show All Programs"? Removing the Search is probably too much to ask for.
-Is there a way to make the shortcuts in the Start Menu sort in a custom order?? In XP you can drag and drop the order, doesn't seem to work in 7. Alphabetical doesn't work for me.
-Is there a way to move a group of shortcuts from the Start Menu over to the Right and replace one of the Fluff buttons like Pictures??

I do UI development, design work, and a touch of IT support. I don't have a porn collection for Pictures, an MP3 library for Music, or a Divx library for Movies. I do have Terrabytes of Data, Audio, Video and Graphics files that are organized by client and project on a file server. I also have a separate media server for my music collection. None reside on my Workstation. There is also a separate server for personal projects and files. I need to keep biz and personal separete, I do this with mapped drives. I also have 50-60 various applications I use routinely and have developed a method to carefully organize everything to make it quick and easy to find on the Classic menu system. The fly out menus worked great, because it was a simple way to visually isolate the items in that particular group of programs, and is quick and easy to access with the keyboard. I hate the idea of typing an application name.

Thank you.

 

[reghakr]

I found it.......................... coming October 2009

Link Removed


Link Removed due to 404 Error

 

[Billy]

Ok ive read some of these posts and got tired of reading
Here are some words for the classic menu die hard fans
Noone is making you use Windows 7 at all
Dont like it dont use it!