Great start menu software

There are 2 i use
Classic Shell which is free
http://www.classicshell.net/

And Startisback which is dirt cheap and will allow you to put the taskbar and start menu on the metro screen
http://www.startisback.com/

 

I do believe these have been discussed on the board, but in my opinion, the best software IS the Start Screen.

 

There are, indeed, a number of threads. But, as the subject has been raised again, I posted this on another forum,
So far, I have found these, there could be others lurking around.

Free. Top two IMO
StartisBack (free only whilst in beta)
Classic Shell
and:
Start Menu X
Start Menu for Windows 8
Pokki
Power 8
Windows 8 Start Menu
StartMenu8 (IOBit)
Free Windows 8 Start Menu (SPESoft)
Taskbar Classic Start Menu
BringBack 2012 (Revel)
Handy Start Menu

Paid
Start8 - Approx $4.99
Classic Start Menu $19.99

 

StartMenu8 (IOBit) does not work in Win 8.1.
It works great in Win 8.
A shame it's no go in 8.1
IOBit.com forum says the new 1.2.1 version is fully supported by Win 8.1
Well, 2 members there said it did not work. Neither did mine.
Had to switch to trial version of Start8. It is good. $4.99 is dirt cheap. I'll buy it if IOBit cannot fix the compatibility issue.

 

RE : IOBit StartMenu8 not working in Win 8.1

I wonder if it has something to do with the Enhanced Protected Mode being enabled.

I found out mine was enabled. I unchecked it, but by that time I had already uninstalled IOBit and switched to Start8.

 

thank you for the feedback, David. Obviously the list was for info, I have only tried classic on 8.1. But, ref yr observation, I did find this?

http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage...g-on-Windows-8-1-Preview-Photo-Gallery-9.jpg/

 

It works perfectly on Win 8.1 PREVIEW. I know because I used it when I had the 8.1 Preview.
But, it does not work on the rtm version.

http://forums.iobit.com/showthread.php?t=15885

 

Just been reading up on iobits. It looks like they are working on the problem, whatever it is

 

I have now switched to ViStart, Windows 8 Start Menu.
Perfect.
I have both the New win 8.1 Start button AND the good old Win Orb side by side. Weird.
Even more weirder.... I can use upload a file option this time using win 8.1 pro.

 

Updating:
FREE
Power8:
http://code.google.com/p/power8

StartMenu8:
http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

Start Menu X:
http://www.startmenux.com/index.html

Classic Shell:
http://classicshell.sf.net

Spesoft Windows 8 Start Menu:
http://www.spesoft.com/free-windows-8-start-menu.aspx

Taskbar Classic Start Menu:
http://www.desktopapps.org/

ViStart:
http://lee-soft.com/vistart

BringBack 8:
http://www.revel-software.it/BringBack.aspx

Handy Start Menu:
http://www.handystartmenu.com/

Start Button 8:
http://www.startbutton8.com/index.html

Pokki:
http://www.pokki.com/windows-8-start-menu

Win8StartButton:
http://www.quadsoft.org/moredownloads.php

Windows 8 Start Menu:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/w8-start-menu/

Tweaks.com Start for Windows 8:
http://tweaks.com/windows/63691/twea...-start-button/

Start Button for Windows 8:
http://windows8startbutton.com/

8StartButton:
http://www.totalidea.com/8startbutton/index.php

StartMenuPlus8:
http://www.winok-msixray.com/

Viva Start Menu:
http://www.vivastartmenu.com/

Win8Starter:
http://www.win8starter.com/index-en.html

Wentutu Start Menu for Windows 8:
http://www.wentutu.com/

StartW8:
http://www.areaguard.com/startw8

Classic Start 8:
http://www.classicstart8.com/

PAID

Start8 (30-day trial):
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

StartIsBack (30-day trial):
http://startisback.com/

StartFinity:
http://www.winability.com/startfinity/

8StartButton:
http://www.totalidea.com/8startbutton/index.php

RetroUI Pro (7-day trial):
http://www.retroui.com/default.asp

Win8Starter:
http://www.win8starter.com/index-en.html

 

DavidHK, I'm just curious. How long did you give the Start Screen before you couldn't take it and bought these various programs?

Not an argument or judgment, just curiosity.

 

Good question, Sugar*, and one often asked.

personally I make good use of the customised "Modern" screen as my start menu - one click away!

 

I hate to keep asking the same questions, but this is the first 8 forum that I've been on to really get to the people behind these complaints, so I want to know what am I missing?

I cannot believe how much I love 8. I'm not a computer geek of any sort, but I just love what I've been able to do with this with my incredibly limited knowledge.

 

Keep asking. The best way to get info!
Nothing at all wrong with Windows 8 or 8.1.

 

RE : IOBit's Start Menu 8 not compatible with Win 8.1

Has a reply from IOBit.
This is the reply..............

 

RE : Start Menu 8 from IOBit.

Not compatible with Win 8.1 RTM.....

 

So, Davidhk, what happens now? Do you hold back from moving forward with 8.1? Or, do you take another look at the Start Screen to see how it really can improve your Windows experience?