Some questions on alternate Start Menu programs for W11


Compumind

Senior IT Consultant
MVP
VIP
Local time
4:59 PM
Posts
41
Location
USA
OS
W11 Professional
HI all -

On Windows 10, I am using Open-Shell with the XP fly-out menu and it serves me very well.
Curiously, does it work on W11?

One other item - does Stardock Start 11 have a fly-out menu option?

Thanks!

:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W11 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Various
    CPU
    Various
    Motherboard
    Various
    Memory
    Various
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD and Nvidia
    Sound Card
    Integrated on Motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Ultrasharp, ASUS
    Screen Resolution
    1080P, 4K
    Hard Drives
    HDD and SSD
    PSU
    500-1000 Watts
    Case
    Various
    Cooling
    Fan and/or Liquid (Preferred)
    Keyboard
    Various
    Mouse
    Various
    Internet Speed
    500/100 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox and Edge
    Antivirus
    Various
    Other Info
    Wireless - AX and 6E

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz 4th Gen
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F398 27" Curved
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1.0TB Samsung QVO 860 SSD SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000NM0011 72K SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM006-2DM164 72K SATA-6GB
    PSU
    CoolerMaster MasterWatt 550 Watt Semifanless Modular
    Keyboard
    Dell USB (KVMS)
    Mouse
    Logitec USB (KVMS)
    Internet Speed
    484.75MB Down, 23.59MB Up
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge - eM Client Pro for E-Mail
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Premium
    Other Info
    Purchased December 2013, many upgrades since then
havhEverything you need to know about Start 11 (It's really good by the way) with pictures Stardock Start11: Restore the Classic Start Menu in Windows 10 and 11.

The developer of Open Shell for 11 is still working on some of the bugs but it seems people are using it anyway. OpenShell working on replacement for Windows 11's Start menu
I have used Start 11
Everything you need to know about Start 11 (It's really good by the way) with pictures Stardock Start11: Restore the Classic Start Menu in Windows 10 and 11.

The developer of Open Shell for 11 is still working on some of the bugs but it seems people are using it anyway. OpenShell working on replacement for Windows 11's Start menu
I have used Start 11 as soon as it became available and am very pleased with it. What bugs are you taking about
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Fedora 39 Silverblue and Rhino Linux . Kernels 6.6x and 6.7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Eight-Core Processo
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    4 2 in Linuz raid0
    Keyboard
    Eluktronics
    Mouse
    Eluktronics
    Browser
    Firefox and Chromium
    Other Info
    Gnome 45
Read my post again. I said Start 11 is very good and Open Shell for 11 is still in development.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
I've used Start10 since it's initial release and am still using it. Definitely my Start Menu of choice for Windows 10.

I will try Start11 at some point but right now, Open Shell works very well on Windows 11, whether it's in development or not.
It's worth trying Start11 too since it has a 30 day free trial.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz 4th Gen
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F398 27" Curved
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1.0TB Samsung QVO 860 SSD SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000NM0011 72K SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM006-2DM164 72K SATA-6GB
    PSU
    CoolerMaster MasterWatt 550 Watt Semifanless Modular
    Keyboard
    Dell USB (KVMS)
    Mouse
    Logitec USB (KVMS)
    Internet Speed
    484.75MB Down, 23.59MB Up
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge - eM Client Pro for E-Mail
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Premium
    Other Info
    Purchased December 2013, many upgrades since then
Just installed the 30 day Start11 trial. Looks a lot like Start10 :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz 4th Gen
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 780
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F398 27" Curved
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1.0TB Samsung QVO 860 SSD SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000NM0011 72K SATA-6GB;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM006-2DM164 72K SATA-6GB
    PSU
    CoolerMaster MasterWatt 550 Watt Semifanless Modular
    Keyboard
    Dell USB (KVMS)
    Mouse
    Logitec USB (KVMS)
    Internet Speed
    484.75MB Down, 23.59MB Up
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge - eM Client Pro for E-Mail
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Premium
    Other Info
    Purchased December 2013, many upgrades since then
I use OpenShell, in fact it's the older version ClassicShell, I have done for years and it works a treat(y) Every time you upgrade it reconfigures it'self for the new OS. and of course you can back up most of your settings
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
HI all -

On Windows 10, I am using Open-Shell with the XP fly-out menu and it serves me very well.
Curiously, does it work on W11?
I have been using it on Windows 11 without having had any problems with it. The Windows 7 style Start Menu has my preference. It also works perfectly together with ExplorerPatcher, Battery Mode, TranslucentTB (UWP app downloaded from the Microsoft Store) and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker. I actually use all of these combined, in addition to a few extra tweaks from both Winearo Tweaker and Ultimate Windows Tweaker. Still not had any troubles with it, always running on the latest official build of Windows 11 like this since mid October last year after I had upgraded from Windows 10 version 21H1 (by using the official Installation Assistant from Microsoft).
One other item - does Stardock Start 11 have a fly-out menu option?

Thanks!

:)
I never bothered looking at Start11. I was an early adopter of Classic Shell, the predecessor of Open-Shell, back in late 2009 on Windows 7 x64 Ultimate so, basically, this translates to a whopping 12 years and a half of still not feeling the need to look back in spite of the fact that I have a pretty strong tendency to be a bit of a perfectionist sometimes.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
Yes, Classic/Open-Shell is a bit like the Energizer Bunny.

Even though it lacks any new code to take advantage of Windows 11 super blurry noisy menu looks,
it keeps on working for the most part.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win XP, 7, 8.1, 10. Windows11 only for test driving with non compatible hardware.
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Socket FM1 with qty2 noctua NF-P14 FLX fans
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE A75M-UD2H
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    APU or Geforce GT 1030 Silent
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG, Asus, HP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Many hard drives and SSDs.
    The front of the computer has slide-in
    drive bays qty 2 HD, qty 2 SSD
    PSU
    500 watt
    Keyboard
    Perixx Periboard-317 with a physical on/off switch soldered in for the backlight
Yes, Classic/Open-Shell is a bit like the Energizer Bunny.

Even though it lacks any new code to take advantage of Windows 11 super blurry noisy menu looks,
it keeps on working for the most part.
It has rounded corners tho... :p

Open-Shell.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
Very nice menu skin. Rounded corners have come full circle.
I don't recall seeing that skin on the old Classic Shell site.
You must have skinned it yourself?

That's the good thing about CSM/OSM,
one can modify any of Ivo's (original developer) skins
to their heart's content.

Edit: I figured it out. It's the "Metallic" skin with your image inside
and modified inside parts with square corners.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win XP, 7, 8.1, 10. Windows11 only for test driving with non compatible hardware.
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Socket FM1 with qty2 noctua NF-P14 FLX fans
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE A75M-UD2H
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    APU or Geforce GT 1030 Silent
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG, Asus, HP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Many hard drives and SSDs.
    The front of the computer has slide-in
    drive bays qty 2 HD, qty 2 SSD
    PSU
    500 watt
    Keyboard
    Perixx Periboard-317 with a physical on/off switch soldered in for the backlight
Very nice menu skin. Rounded corners have come full circle.
I don't recall seeing that skin on the old Classic Shell site.
You must have skinned it yourself?

That's the good thing about CSM/OSM,
one can modify any of Ivo's (original developer) skins
to their heart's content.
It's not an actual skin, just a few color selections, a custom Start button and a background pic which is (a darkened variant of) the wallpaper that I created myself based on a different, much more plain looking version of it that I had found someplace on the internet several years ago.

QLPV2r2.png


Win11 button.png
EDIT: here's my link to the 'full quality' .png version of my wallpaper, that I uploaded on imgur:
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom