I don't have the required knowledge to fully understand the things surrounding this (messing deeply with the Registry, reverse engineering, programming, etc.) but since the resources seem to be there, would it be possible for someone to create a program that basically opens the Windows 7-style Start Menu? Sorta like Classic Shell but with the advantage of the resources being available built-in onto the OS. I'm just curious about an idea of duality between the Start screen and the Start menu because I'm still not keen on the Start screen (and this without having to compromise in favor of one over the other). I'm not against it but I would very much like the option to use it or not. I believe that in the final release of Windows 8, there should be an option for this, so that Microsoft allows us to access the Start screen for using the Immersive UI apps whilst using the "classic" Start menu for the Desktop UI and shell stuff we're already used to do. It could even extend to the point where one could "pin" the Start screen onto the taskbar for easy access (if feasible).

What do you guys think about this?

The tool already exists. Just use that if you want to switch back and forth and Microsoft doesn't include a built-in tool.

Source: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-ti ... rt-screen/

Of course, such tools and registry keys are intended for the Windows 8 Developer Preview. They are not guaranteed to work in the Beta or RTM release.

Indeed. I should've added that disclaimer. Thanks, linuxlove.

You wont know if those resources will still be there for the RTM.
But I think you could always access the app list in the Start Menu from some 'Folder.{GUID}' tricks, forgot the actual GUID now.

You're missing the point. I'm not talking about tools that automate the changes in the Registry that I could manually apply, because that "depills" the OS and what I want is to access both the Start screen and the Start menu without having to lose one or the other and have them accessible at the same time. I'm aware that this is currently not possible but what I'm asking is if there's a chance of being possible to achieve this, whether now on the DP or in the more recent builds, including the final one.

As I said in the original post, I'm looking to something akin to Classic Shell, which allows me to have the regular Start menu in Windows 7 whilst accessing the classic Start menu using a combination of clicks and/or keys, only applied to the case of the Start screen and the Windows Vista and 7 Start menu in the case of Windows 8.



The GUID of the Applications shell folder is [Any folder name].{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}. And the Immersive UI apps themselves are located at %ProgramFiles%\Applications (the folder is hidden), whether on 32-bit or 64-bit versions (there's no Applications folder in %ProgramFiles(x86)% in 64-bit versions).

Furthermore, we all know the Start menu's code is still there, for now. Even the Start menu folders remain available and shortcuts keep being added to them all the same. Check out %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu to see what I'm talking about. So there must be a way to emulate the Start menu, somehow and that's what I'd like to know: is it possible?

I believe canouna wrote somewhere at MDL that the registry tip doesn't work in pre-beta builds.

Btw, why not to use a 3rd party apps? There were plenty of apps that added classic start menu to Win7, I believe there gonna to be many to emulate Win7 start menu in Win8.

Ah, {4234D49B-0245-4DF3-B780-3893943456E1} is the 'Apps' folder, but
the 'Programs and Fast Items' folder is {865e5e76-ad83-4dca-a109-50dc2113ce9a}.
It's a mix of All User's Start Menu and current user's Start Menu, so you still need to filter it, but its pretty close.

The simplest way is creating a taskbar toolbar (or DeskBand) and point it to a folder that contains a {865e5e76-ad83-4dca-a109-50dc2113ce9a} folder, resize the toolbar to the minimum size and you can use the overflow menu as your start menu

Okay, I see what you're saying now, SatoMew. All I can think of is that when the beta or RTM come out, somebody's going to have to play around and see if they can add in a "Shift+click" setting for the Start button or something to open Classic Menu instead of Metro Screen.

There was a tutorial on YT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CAuvlmP ... re=related

THIS

What he's ACTUALLY asking is impossible AFAIK, since both menu styles use the same button. If you'd read my NEXT reply, you'd see that I suggested the only way I could think of to use one or the other as you desired, without disabling one or the other.

It will be good if in final Windows 8 will be function on disable Metro because who wants it on PC?

I wouldn't mind it, actually. I've used it on a PC and found it quite simple and handy when all I wanted to do was browse the Web or something. What I'd like to see is an option like you have on many Linux distros. On these distros, you can choose which of your installed desktop managers (GNOME, KDE, LXDE, etc) you can use when you log in, and to switch between them you just have to log out again. It'd be nice to see something like that for Metro/Classic Shell.

If they've removed the old start menu code, then the registries won't work anymore.

I believe the official stance for right now is that BOTH desktops (Metro and Classic) will be available, so I don't think that's a worry.

I have Build 8102, and have just changed the Registry to provide Win7 style Start Menu and functions. Still has Win 8 Login Screen, however that is ok.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
Double-click on RPEnabled
Change the value from 1 to (zero)

Whilst this works for me, it does put the following Watermark on the Screen which you can't remove.

"Microsoft Confidential Unauthorized use or disclosure in any manner may result in disciplinary action etc. Small price for a workable version of Win 8 Build 8102"

Source: http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/ ... -20110914/

Then you want ViStart. The Windows 7 style start menu and the start screen working at the same time!
If you want to get to the start screen use the charms. ViStart works anyway like usual.

Thanks for that. I will try that. However I have already activated the Windows 7 Style Start menu by changing the Registry entry which is what I was after. I don't like the Metro Menu option. Apart from that this version of windows is looking to be very good, hopefully Microsoft will not make any bad changes for RTM version. Even this version of WIN 8 Build 8102 AKA Windows Developers Preview out performs Win 7 Home Premium on my PC.

I've searched about ViStart and it appears to be somewhat limited. Thanks for the suggestion anyway, though. I think that if the Start menu ends up completely removed in the final release, then probably Classic Shell will have it added to its repertoire of features.

I've also stumbled upon this: http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supers ... s-8-141886
While I don't fully agree with Paul Thurrott's view, I believe that using the Immersive UI from a perspective of the desktop by allowing users to run Immersive apps as floating windows and live tiles to serve as Gadget replacements, plus keeping the Start menu and a taskbar button or toolbar that calls the Start screen (similar to the Touch Keyboard already found in the DP), would make Windows 8 a whole lot better. And this without having to ditch the work they've done but that should obviously be kept for touch-oriented machines.