Desperately seeking the classic start menu in Windows 7

Post date: May 18, 2011 11:25:28 AM

I recently saw this in the archives of the Microsoft TechNet Forums, post date January 2009

I´m very very sad, that Windows 7 has no more classic start menu. If I can kindly ask, does anyone know if there is any tweaks, etc. regarding the Classic Start Menu on Windows 7?

Yes!

Fortunately, there exists a (mostly) Windows volunteer and enthusiast website, Seven Forums, devoted to bug fixing and user-run user support for Windpws 7. And from MS TechNet, there was a link to this Seven Forums #Post 41112 customization of classic start menu,

Being bi - using the best of two worlds

  • Windows 7 start menu with "last opened programs" and "jump lists" AND

  • "Classic menu emulation"

"Excuse me for my bad English" [German language-speaker, see his long version at his own *.de website]

  • Right mouse click on taskbar -> Toolbars -> New toolbar

  • Point to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Startmenu\Programs

  • Right mouse click on taskbar -> unlock taskbar

  • Right mouse click in taskbar on dotted delimiter -> disable "Show text" and disable "Show title", enable "Big symbols"

  • Right mouse click in taskbar on dotted delimiter -> Open folder

  • Choose a link and change icon; e.g. change "Send feedback" link into green symbol out ofc:\windows\ehome\ehres.dll

  • Drag dotted delimiter to the left till changed icon appears

  • Drag changed icon to the most left position

  • Drag dotted delimiter to the right till only one icon remains

  • Drag left dotted delimiter beside the start button to the right site till new symbol bar suddenly jumps to the left.

  • Drag dotted delimiter to the left till only one icon remains

  • Right mouse click on taskbar -> lock taskbar

Open Windows Explorer. Move all links and folders from

C:\User\[Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Startmenu\Programs

to

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Startmeni\Programs

Because the first folder includes the "User menu" links while the second folder includes "All user menu" links.

For more details about this "back-modification", see the illustrated step-by-step instructions on the original poster's (German language) website.

From Windows Vista Classic, on a Medien PC in 2008 or early 2009, converto

to Windows 7, now with Classic menu!