Solved Do You Use A Third Party Start Menu?

Stigg · Jul 4, 2023

Windows third party start menus have been around for many years, but they gained in popularity following the release of Windows 8. Many people have continued to use third party start menus with successive Windows releases.

Do you use a Windows third party start menu? In particular, do you use one with Windows 11?

LeLibran · Jul 4, 2023

I have never used a third-party start menu with Windows and, whilst I accept that some users prefer to maintain some familiarity with previous iterations of the OS, I don't personally see the point of avoiding working with an OS in the way that it was designed to be used. I have used Windows since version 3.0 and, prior to that, CP/M and DOS, so have been through numerous changes over the years and the only Windows interface that I really could not live with was Windows 8.0. An ill-conceived change, in my opinion, that seemed to be based on the strong assumption that users would immediately abandon conventional desktop/laptop use and switch overnight to touch screens. The need to avoid RSI drove me to make the switch to Apple macOSX as my primary OS, but still continue to use Windows Virtual Machines and I still use both Apple (Intel) and Windows hardware on a regular basis, tho' Apple's decision to move away from 'Intel' based hardware to a completely ARM-based future now makes maintaining full cross-system compatibility a relatively short term proposition.

If I really want to experience different interface styles then there's always Linux which offers almost infinitely variable interface (desktop) variations without any need to 'hack' the existing interface design and still offers the possibility of maintaining a near complete level of Windows compatibility via either Virtual Machines, or through the use of WINE-based application installs.

DigitalGoat · Jul 4, 2023

No 3rd party start menu for me either, tbh I don't interact with the start menu at all anyway.
I use blender & Gimp a lot and that is nearly all keyboard shortcuts for an efficient workflow, the habit continues into Windows so the start menu is pretty redundant for me for the most part.
Most of the software I use runs in full screen mode so what Windows looks like doesn't matter much to me.

jvickers · Jul 4, 2023

I use ObjectDesktop's Start 11. It doesn't change things too much from the Windows 11 start menu if you choose to go with that option. It does change the Start Button a lot, though. I Start 11 for the skins. You can also switch to a Windows 10 start feel using Start 11.

Ghot · Jul 4, 2023

TraderGary · Jul 4, 2023

I've used W11 since it was introduced and I've never felt the need to make W11 look or act like an earlier version of Windows.

Alex__ASSR · Jul 4, 2023

I just use startallback to change the taskbar, the start menu I leave the windows standard.

Pirilampo2 · Jul 4, 2023

TraderGary said:
I've used W11 since it was introduced and I've never felt the need to make W11 look or act like an earlier version of Windows.

Just like me. If I install Windows 11 as a personal choice, why would I want it to be the same as Windows 10, 8, 7, etc...
It doesn't make sense to me. Whoever does this will have their reasons, which I respect.

GadgetBuilder · Jul 4, 2023

I use Open-Shell because I'm used to accessing a specific group of programs via the menu that pops up along the left edge. Win11 provides a bonus group of programs that now pop up at screen center. Best of both worlds.

James · Jul 4, 2023

I use explorerpatcher at the moment for the taskbar, as I like the small taskbar icons. With the windows 10 taskbar the w11 start menu didn’t look right. I will use the windows 11 start menu when I can have small taskbar icons with the windows 11 taskbar!!

TraderGary · Jul 4, 2023

James said:
I use explorerpatcher at the moment for the taskbar, as I like the small taskbar icons. With the windows 10 taskbar the w11 start menu didn’t look right. I will use the windows 11 start menu when I can have small taskbar icons with the windows 11 taskbar!!

I don't spend much time looking at the taskbar icons. In fact I don't see them at all unless I move my cursor to the bottom of the screen. That's because I hate using up all that screen real estate just to have a constantly visible task bar. My default is to keep the task bar hidden unless I actually need to see it. :hug:

James · Jul 4, 2023

TraderGary said:
I don't spend much time looking at the taskbar icons. In fact I don't see them at all unless I move my cursor to the bottom of the screen. That's because I hate using up all that screen real estate just to have a constantly visible task bar. My default is to keep the task bar hidden unless I actually need to see it.

Completely forgot about the feature where you can hide taskbar

I used to always use the small icons in windows 10 and I just got used to it I suppose

MilesAhead · Jul 4, 2023

Alex__ASSR said:
I just use startallback to change the taskbar, the start menu I leave the windows standard.

I have been using it for a few months now. So far no reason for annoyance. The main thing is now I can drag shortcuts to the taskbar. Making it transparent is a bit of icing on the cake.

neves · Jul 4, 2023

No. The Start Menu from W11 is more than good enough (for my practical needs: smooth, fast, simple, easy to stack all the apps I use, the search engine is better too - visibly improved - even if not perfect).

Up till Windows 10 - i used ClassicShell & RocketDock.

TechnoMage2021 · Jul 4, 2023

WOW! I never would'a thunk it!
Not one person, who would at least admit to using the "Classic Shell".
I started using it with Windows 8.1 and found it even worked OK for Windows 7, but not really needed.
However, even though Windows 11 seems to be retrograding back toward Win-7 as far as the GUI is concerned, I still find a few things in the Classic Shell that I like. For instance, I can make the tastbar Opaque, and change its color to anything I like.
Also, I use the WinAeroTweaker, to adjust a few things in Win-11, to make it a bit more user friendly. That makes it really easy to install my own custom Startup Music. And, make the scroll bars wider. And, shut off Cortana.

Programs like that are all about allowing a person to customize Windows to their own preference. Windows 11 is already the most customizable OS I've ever used.

oldschool · Jul 4, 2023

neves said:
No. The Start Menu from W11 is more than good enough (for my practical needs: smooth, fast, simple, easy to stack all the apps I use,

Same here. It took a little while to get used to the UI, as one would expect, but with familiarity now I've no desire to go back to W10 or use 3rd party customization apps.

TairikuOkami · Jul 4, 2023

I do not use Start since Windows 8.1, it is too annoying either way.

ChucklesNZ · Jul 4, 2023

I Did. All the way to Win10. But have no need on Win 11.

Alex__ASSR · Jul 4, 2023

it's cool?

MilesAhead · Jul 4, 2023

neves said:
No. The Start Menu from W11 is more than good enough (for my practical needs: smooth, fast, simple, easy to stack all the apps I use, the search engine is better too - visibly improved - even if not perfect).

Up till Windows 10 - i used ClassicShell & RocketDock.

I had RocketDock set up the same on XP, Vista and W7. I even wrote a little utility to change the Desktop work area so that maximizing a window would not cover it over. But by W8 I just got tired of duplicating the folders full of shortcuts etc.. It was fun for a while though.