The Classic Shell did work great for all versions of Windows 7 and even Windows 8/DP,
but does NOTHING on Win-8 Public Preview.
It did install OK, but makes NO difference in the way that Windows 8/PP works. I'd just love to have a real Start menu and Programs Menu again. Without that ability, I can't see Windows 8 ever replacing Windows 7 or its predecessors.
Just like the two tweaks to turn off the Metro UI, that worked OK on the 8/DP versions, do nothing on the Public Preview.
I was so depressed after a couple of hours working with the new Win-8, that I had to get away from it. That was two days ago and I've not gone back to it yet. Right now I'm on my old reliable Windows XP-Pro-SP3 and still loving it.
I keep each OS on a separate HD and only power up the one I want to use. That prevents any OS from seeing the other one and wanting to muck about with it. There was a reported interaction between XP and Win-7, when both OS HD's were alive on the same PC.
(and never the trains shall meet...... old railroad saying)
To be able to start a program quickly, I just went into Windows Explorer, found the .exe file for the program I wanted and sent it to the desktop as a shortcut. Well, at least that function has not been 86'ed in Win-8.
Buried deep within Win-8 are many things reminiscent of Win-XP, but you really have to dig for them. (like Mining for Gold)
The City Lights theme is working great on my Classic Desktop.
Some other things that seem to be working on win-8 are "Grant Admin Full Control" and "Disable UAC".
The script to "Toggle Hidden Files" (ON or OFF) seems to work too.
A few other tweaks I've tried seem to do nothing.
I'm going to investigate the "Disable Metro UI" script to see if its maybe just trying to change a registry key that no longer exists.
Creating the key might fix that problem. I suppose someone will fix that if I just wait long enough. Eh?
Cheers Mates,