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Make Windows 10 Look Like Earlier Versions of Windows with Classic Shell

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Experience Level: Beginner
5:14
Joe Winograd
50+ years in computers
EE FELLOW 2017 — first ever recipient of Fellow award
MVE 2015,2016,2018
CERTIFIED GOLD EXPERT
DISTINGUISHED EXPERT
Windows 8 came with a dramatically different user interface known as Metro. Notably missing from that interface was a Start button and Start Menu. Microsoft responded to negative user feedback of the Metro interface, bringing back the Start button and Start Menu in Windows 10. However, even though there are widespread reports that users like the Windows 10 interface better than the Windows 8 one, many users still prefer the interface of earlier versions — Windows 7, Windows XP, and even (my personal favorite) Windows 2000. This video Micro Tutorial explains how to achieve the W7, XP, or 2K interface on your Windows 10 computer with an excellent, free product called Classic Shell.

Video Steps

1. Download the installer for the software


Visit the Classic Shell website at:
http://www.classicshell.net/

Click the Download Now button.

Save the downloaded installer (ClassicShellSetup_latest_version_number.exe) wherever you want.

Step1

2. Run the installer


Locate the downloaded installer in Windows/File Explorer (or whatever file manager you use) and run it.

Step2

3. Select the options


There are four main options: Classic Explorer, Classic Start Menu, Classic IE, Classic Shell Update. It defaults to installing all four, but you may select whichever ones you want.

Step3

4. Complete the setup wizard


You will now have a Start button and Start Menu.

Step4

5. Right-click on the new Start button and select Settings


There are many tabs in Settings. Click each of them and select whichever settings you want. Examples are the Start Menu Style tab, where you may select the Windows 7 or Windows XP or Windows 2000 interface, and the Windows 10 Settings tab, where you may select options specific to Windows 10.

Step5

6. Left-click the new Start button


You will now have whatever interface you selected, i.e., W7 or XP or 2K.

Step6
That's it - you're done! If you find this video to be helpful, please click the thumbs-up icon below. And if you're interested in using Classic Shell for your Windows 8/8.1 computers, take a look at this video Micro Tutorial:
Make Windows 8 Look Like Earlier Versions of Windows with Classic Shell

Thank you for watching, Joe
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18 Comments

Comment

by:Marianne Floor
Thanks, that worked like a charm.  Never liked the Windows 10 start button organization.
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
You're welcome, Marianne. I'm glad that it worked like a charm for you. If you wouldn't mind taking a moment to click the Good Video Micro Tutorial? button above, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Joe
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Comment

by:Marianne Floor
Don't see any such button :(
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
Look underneath the video window and you should see this (without the big red arrow, of course):

Good Video Micro Tutorial button
Thanks!
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Comment

by:Manny Cepeda
Thanks, great option to have. I'm waiting for my windows 10 right now.

Best Regards,

Manny
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
Hi Manny,
When you move to W10, I suggest reading this EE article:
Windows 10 uses YOUR computer to help distribute itself

Many users I've worked with have decided to disable the peer-to-peer updating feature. Regards, Joe
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Comment

by:Manny Cepeda
Hi Joe,

Thanks! I will.

Best Regards,

Manny
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LVL 4

Comment

by:Mark Olsen
Joe,

Thank you for this video and I appreciate the good transcript that you included. (upvoted!)
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
You're welcome, Mark. And thanks to you for the compliment and the upvote — both appreciated!
Regards, Joe
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Comment

by:tanney
Awesome, thank you!
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
You're welcome, tanney. I'm glad you found the video to be helpful. Regards, Joe
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LVL 15

Comment

by:aravind anche
Hello Joe,

Great post!
I just downloaded classic shell and start menu look good. I want to capture this and deploy on n number of machines. So how can I make this menu locked and set in default profile, so if any one logs into machine gets the same start menu

Thanks in Advance
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
Hi dj,
Thanks for the compliment — I appreciate hearing it! I've never attempted to lock dock down the settings, but maybe this thread at the Classic Shell Forum will help:

Lock down Classic Start Menu Settings for All Users

I haven't tried that myself, and am very curious if it works, so please post back here if you give it a spin. Will be helpful for EE members to know if it does the trick or not. Thanks much, Joe
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LVL 15

Comment

by:aravind anche
Thanks for the reply Joe,

I am working on it now.i will post the results.
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
Thanks, dj. Looking forward to seeing your results. Regards, Joe
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
I just noticed that in an earlier post in this thread, I explained how to "Upvote" this video by clicking the Good Video Micro Tutorial? button. However, EE no longer uses that method, but now has an "Endorse" button, which is the thumbs-up icon at the end of the video steps, currently looking like this here:
endorse thumbs-upIf you find this video to be helpful, I'll appreciate a click on that (not the image in this post, but the "real" one at the end of the video steps). This lets me know what is valuable for EE members and provides direction for future videos and articles. Thanks, Joe
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LVL 24

Comment

by:Ramin
Very Good Tutorial.
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LVL 76

Author Comment

by:Joe Winograd
Hi Ramin,
Thank you for the compliment — I really appreciate it! Regards, Joe
0
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