" "Classic" menu option does not exist in Windows 7" Yes it does, but MS denies it!
by Error: Unknown
There has been much backlash about Windows 7 beta and the complete lack of a "Classic" Start Menu. In just about every single forum or blog about Windows 7, there is one topic that is a much debated one, and has frequently resulted in flaming wars. On the one hand, you have users who are very happy with the new style start menu, boasting the "search" ability, and not having a huge pop-out of a directory tree, and in their eyes, making it "better". Most of this is due to people who would rather type (yes, type...) in the "search.." panel to find their programs. Some others also approve of the "all programs" being listed in the size constrained panel on the left in the start menu. Sure, that is fine and all for some (and obviously ideal for "touch" monitors), but to some, this size constrained panel/search is far less efficient. I am one of those such people that find the current forced method to be more time consuming, and more wear-and-tear on the peripheral device known as the mouse/track-ball. More clicks, and far more mouse scrolling than is needed, on top of the amount of time wasted scrolling through the list.
Because of these more time consuming and added peripheral abuse "changes", many people have stuck with the classic start menu since the new start menu was introduced back with XP SP0. It is familiar, you see ALL the items in your list at once, and is far quicker to spot an item than having to scroll through the size constrained panel list. Because there are just as many people that want to keep "classic" start menu, MS should put it in when Win7 is RTM. However, Microsoft and it's primary developers and coders feel that you should not have the choice of the old way, forcing the new way onto users. Microsoft's retort to people who wish to keep classic start menu is
"Upgrade to Vista if you are XP, or stay on Vista if you already are and forget Windows 7"
or
"We're not forcing anything on anyone. Feel free to stick to your existing Windows XP. We're not going to prevent you from using it. Similarly, you can move to another platform."
What is the reasoning behind such a statement? Well, Microsoft claims that the old "shell" that allowed the "classic start menu" is not coded into Windows 7, so the option for classic does not exist. These claims come from MSFN, and also has been stated far to many times in the forums deep inside Microsoft that are not available to the general public.
That's because classic start menu does not exist in Win7, at all. You can't force it if it doesn't exist. All the old Win9x-era start menu and shell code is finally gone. Look, eventually you have to either manage two codebases for two different start menu and shells, or you cut ties with one. Windows 7 cut the ties, as Vista did with the program manager from Win3.x. I know that Microsoft will not make some people happy with the removal of classic, but the decision was made that the superbar and searchable menu is the new "classic" going forward.
-Cluberti
But, you know what? All that is not true. You can indeed get back the classic start menu style.. sort of. You see, even though the dev's for Windows 7 claim that the old style pop-out menu system does not exist in Windows 7, it is actually still there. And, you can get your "programs" to tree out like good old classic style from the start menu. This leads me to believe that Windows 7 will indeed include the "classic" start menu. I could be wrong. Only RTM will say for sure if it is there or if MS is going to force PC user's into something they do not like. No choice, no freedom.
Now, I imagine there are many of you out there reading this news article and thinking or even saying aloud: "How!?!? I must know!!" Today is your lucky day. This is how you get to have some sort of classic start menu.
1: Right-Click on the task bar, choose "properties", then choose "Start Menu" from the available tabs up top.
2: Click the "Customize..." button, a new window will popup, navigate down to "Documents" and select "Display as a menu", then click "ok" then on previous windows click "Apply" then "OK".
3: Now, click the "Orb" Start button, and on the right hand side you will see the Documents choice with a side arrow now, with My Documents and Public Documents available as popouts. Almost there!
4: Right-Click "Documents" and choose "Properties". Now you will see "Library locations:" Followed by the two default choices: "My Documents" and "Public Documents", with "My Documents" having a check mark next to it. These can be left as-is. If you prefer to have them, skip to step 5, if not, simply select the item(s) you do not wish, and select "Remove".
5: In this panel, click "Include a folder..." and a navigation window will pop-up. On the left via "computer" Navigate to "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\" and select "programs" folder and click the "Include Folder" button. You will now see it in the list in the "Document Properties>Library locations:"
6: Now you will see the old style of XP/Vista "classic" as far as a real directory tree.
7: This step is optional: Click Start/Orb, right-click "Documents" and choose "rename" and rename it to what ever you prefer, I choose "Programs"
And there you have it, classic start menu... sort of... Now, to get rid of that stupid empty white panel to the left.. so I get this instead:
As you can see by the steps above, and the resulting look, I think it is a safe bet that the "classic" start menu will be in the RTM version of Windows 7 and that only the Beta and RC are only neutered by Microsoft to, as usual, force their idea of what things should look and feel like.
Enjoy.
Error: Unknown of Win7Vista.com
