Pros
1. Customizable & skinnable
2. Works perfectly with Windows 10
3. No problems with installation
4. No messing with other programs
5. Free
Cons
Not a single thing!
Summary
Don't miss it! This program really rocks!
Pros
Replaced clunky Windows 8 Start Menu with Windows 7 style Start Menu.
Cons
None so far.
Pros
Its free, easy to install.Love it.
Cons
None I love it.
Summary
I had a new windows 8 pc 5 months ago.Hated the pc without the classic start menu.Found this on a forum, downloaded it and saved my Windows 8 pc.Its now similar to using my older Windows Vista. I am now sticking with Windows 8 and not wanting the free upgrade to Windows 10.Thank you developer!!
Pros
I was one of those who hated Win 8s stupid interface with a passion. Then came Classic Shell, which makes Win 8 / 10 instantly invisible ITS MAGIC!!! No more metro screen or useless apps and a great retro start menu. ((sings)) Its Windows 7 once more ... :)
Cons
None at all, its one of the best programs I ever downloaded
Pros
None. Simply does not work.
Cons
Lasted about 15 minutes before it royally hosed my PC. Installed it, pinned native Calculator the StartMenu, and then lost all menu functions. Several reboots later still no functioning StartMenu. Removed - reinstalled the utility ... no change. Had to permanently remove it before I had a useable PC again.
Summary
DO NOT INSTALL ON WINDOWS 10
Read reply (1)
Reply by HelenTaylor58 on January 26, 2016
Weird because it is optimized for Win10 and I have had no trouble with it at all. Maybe you downloaded the wrong version. Its a great program. Suggest you try again.
Pros
Works on Windows 10.
Eliminates ALL the junk from Win10 Start Menu
Easy to customize with intuitive set up
Works flawlessly
Cons
None that I can find
Summary
This is a great piece of software. It was indispensible for Windows 8. When I saw that Windows 10 resurrected the Start Menu I thought I wouldn't need this. WRONG!!
I immediately hated the tile section of the Win10 menu. There were also some things I couldn't seem to get into the position I wanted them. Overall, Win10's Start Menu was a huge disappointment for me.
I decided to check and see if my old friend Classic Shell was compatible with Win10. Lo and behold, it was!! I quickly downloaded and installed it and now my Start Menu looks just the way I want it to. No annoying oversized and clunky tiles with ads or features I'll never use; just a simple list of the programs and tools I need to access on a regular basis and configured in a way that makes sense to me.
If you are a fan of the old Windows Start Menu, this program is for you!
Pros
Works well with Windows 10 to look and act more like Windows 7.
I tried to uninstall Windows 10 but no matter what I tried, it won't go back to Windows 7 (yes, the Windows.old file IS there but the Recovery process in Windows 10 refuses to find it) so this Classic Shell® is a very nice feature to have.
Cons
As a previous reviewer commented, it is a tad sluggish.
Windows 10, without Classic Shell®, seems to run a bit faster than Windows 7.
I noticed after installing Classic Shell® that Windows 10 slowed down a bit.
Summary
One of our HP Pavilions updated to Windows 10 using the Windows Update (vs downloading via Microsoft to a flash drive) and now cannot go back to Windows 7.
The Windows.old file is in my C:\ drive but Windows 10 Recovery states that it has been deleted. It has not (I've since changed the file name so Windows doesn't automatically delete it at the end of the month).
I really don't like anything off the Start button in Windows 10 nor do I like the Edge Browser, so I tried to uninstall it. I'm stuck with it on my main PC that I use daily, but the other three computers running Windows 8.1 & Windows 7 will stay as they are.
I actually did install Windows 10 to one of the Windows 7 PCs using the download from Microsoft to a flash drive and was able to uninstall it. But the PC that was updated using the Windows Update, is stuck with Windows 10 so Classic Shell® has eased my Windows 10 anxiety a bit
Updated on Aug 23, 2015
Update:
Right after I had installed the latest version of Classic Shell, a newer version was available (version 4.2.4), which does not appear to be sluggish at all, so I would now rate this as "5 stars" if I could change my review.
Pros
-Makes windows 8 feel like an improved OS rather than making you feel like you would do anything to get 7 (and I tried)
-You can easily customize the start menu, there are a few main options that give a range of styles. I'm sure you can go more in depth.
-You never have to see the horrible windows 8 tablet style start screen (unless of course you are on a tablet...but little old Microsoft being a small operation can't afford to make two separate, optimized operating systems ; )
Cons
-Maybe a tad sluggish (I notice this more the first time I click on the start menu).
Summary
This makes windows 8 feel great. I hated using it and was desperately trying to find a way to download 7, but this actually makes me happy to have 8. Its sad that Microsoft won't listen to its customers and just offer this simple option built-in. I specifically have 8.1 and it does allow you to choose something closer to the old style (having a desktop, avoiding the new screen with randomly shaped squares), showing that they could customize. But, the built in option is still bulky and random looking. I tried one other, Pokki, and this just feels more like the original and allows me to totally never see the new 8 start screen!!
Pros
No problems
Clear instructions
Easy download
Does not interfere with other programs
Cons
None I can find!
Summary
Makes Windows 8 and 8.1 almost acceptable!
Pros
Restores all the functionality lost with windows 8.1. Why MS offers Win8 as a paired down tablet OS for PC's is beyond my understanding. No fear, with classic shell I can play/work the same (better) way I always have.
Cons
Sure classic shell adds a few milliseconds to each navigation just as windows would if those features were included.
Summary
Go ahead! Buy a new PC with windows 8, with classic shell you'll think you had a full featured desktop OS.
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