These replacement start menu's are a step forward,not backward. They not only replace the absurd vista/7 menu but move us into the future with a properly evolved,nicely improved version of the xp menu. I use it and I can't imagine going backwards.Don't be afraid to move forward.

@ Fubar... If you have things to do why do you waste your valuable time posting here?

Do yourself (and us all) a favor and refrain from playing every day the (self-appointed) GAOTD sheriff.

@ for everbody how takes the time to read

Many people who had a computer from the beginning.
First Dos,later microsoft 95,98 etc t/m XP, and you
always could follow what it does.
Microsoft reached the top with XP, every change is not
by definition better.
I both try vista and windows 7, and i find XP the best.
google i do on internet, and i don't like the google on
vista and windows 7,you can find what your looking for,
but you loose the grip how it's works.
Don't forget that by every windows, dos is still present,
white dos you can still do many things, what is still not
possible under microsoft.

for people how just get there first computer, this knowledge
will be lost.

I'am Duth, i hope the meassege is clear.

#23, BrainGel, those are the most ridiculous statements I've ever read. The XP-lovers are like classic car lovers. They just like something old even though the facts indicate that newer is better by far. The Vista-haters know nothing, absolutely nothing, about Vista. It amuses me when XP-lovers try Windows 7 and proclaim it the best OS ever. Internally and externally, Vista and Windows 7 are very much the same, but Windows 7 does have some very useful improvements.

I'm not even going to waste time responding to your individual statements, they're all so ludicrous. Microsoft doesn't know anything about operating systems, never has, never will. But I'm not going to get into that.

Microsoft makes numerous improvements to their operating systems. People used to complain that IBM couldn't market anything, but Microsoft is much the same. You won't find much of anything, anywhere on the Microsoft websites which will tell much about the improvements in Vista and Windows 7. Sure, they'll tell you about a few new features, but not many of them, neither those which are visible to the user or under-the-hood. The fact is, Microsoft doesn't have to put much effort into marketing their operating systems. Computer manufacturers and Microsoft have a common interest, selling new products. Microsoft generally needs more powerful computers to showcase their new OSes, and manufacturers need new OSes to showcase their new hardware. Consumers don't lose, though. Yes, there's an occasional upgrade expense, but you're getting improvements in software and enormous improvements in hardware.

UAC prompts were about the only really annoying thing about Vista, but the Norton UAC Tool took care of that. In Windows 7, Microsoft actually reduced security somewhat by limiting the number of UAC prompts, but it's far less intrusive for the user. Of course, UAC was a ridiculous way to handle security, but that's because Microsoft doesn't know how to design an OS (at all).

There's so much that's been improved over XP, I'm not even going to attempt to cover very much of it. Vista is more stable, more secure, and higher-performance than XP on newer hardware. While you can download Windows Search for XP, it's integrated into Vista, and really improved in Windows 7. Windows 7 supports SSDs, which will seriously boost performance in all areas, including Windows Search. Vista and higher support ReadyBoost, but Windows 7 won't use it if you have an SSD since ReadyBoost is slower. There have been all sorts of improvements everywhere, multi-user support, Parental Controls, networking, USB, drives, newer hardware in general, etc.

Different people have different interests. I especially liked the enormous and long, long overdue improvements in Windows Explorer in Vista. Windows 7 has continued to add improvements such as the greatly improved Windows Search and Libraries. Media Center was improved in Vista, and greatly improved in Windows 7 (but not the bugs, Microsoft never fixes bugs).

Aero is more than just eye-candy. While the glass and highlight effects are nice, they don't add function. Things like Aero thumbnails, including live video, add function. This is especially true in Windows 7, which finally utilizes the full power of Aero (changes were made to the Desktop Window Manager yet again). Aero Peek is great, and IE9 makes good use of Aero for thumbnails and Peek. You'll need at least Vista to run IE9, you'll need Windows 7 for all of the features. As usual, Microsoft let the artists have too much input. The size of the title-bar buttons was reduced because it "looks nicer", at some expense to usability. Incidentally, Google improved the Google Toolbar for use with IE9. For those who complain about anything with the word "toolbar", most of the features of Google Toolbar are integrated into Chrome, so you're already using it if you use Chrome.

There's just so much that's been improved over the years, I'm not going to spend any more time on it.

As for going back to XP menus, you don't gain anything. Vista and higher generally use Search rather than mousing around, but you can use the mouse if you want to. Using those useless "cleaners" will generally destroy useful features in Windows, especially Vista and higher, where keeping track of what you do and use will give relevant menu and list options, especially useful when using the mouse. I've talked numerous times about using Desktop folders and the Desktop toolbar to give you XP-like cascading menus. You don't have to scroll in lists. In Vista and higher, most support leading-string search, the usual keyboard operations like page up/down, home/end, etc. The Desktop toolbar menu is the old Windows style (should keep XP users happy) which only responds to the leading letter. For general use, Listary 3.01 is great.

I have things to do, I've wasted too much time on this already.

Could not manage to get it working on Vista x32.
The uninstall didn't work, so had to erase registry and disk items manually.
Not impressed at all.

this give away just reminded me that there's already thet option as native in Vista

just go to:
right click on [Start Menu] >> Properties >> [Start Menu] tab
select: (.) Classic Start Menu

and that's all :)

Classic Shell already does all this and more, as #12 and 16 said. On top of that it's free and open source. It can change the "All Programs" menu to a cascading menu without changing to the classic start menu if you want (it's in the options under "Windows Start Menu", and just change the controls so the standard menu opens).

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

It also fixes the status bar in Windows 7 Windows Explorer.

@ #13, Keith Alston, who alleged that WIndows XP is no longer supported. Wrong. Microsoft support for XP SP3 will continue into 2014.

I like the menu in Ubuntu Gnome. When you install apps, they even put themselves in the right category - office, accessories, games, etc.

#4: "Not bad, but needs to add ‘drag and drop’ reorganisation and ability to delete entries using right click context menu."

I agree, but then I say the same thing about Windows! ;-)
I know Windows has those features, but they just don't always work, or work consistently, or always work accurately, & on & on... Besides letting you more easily add something to the Start Menu, Start Menu XP Pro is at least consistent. :-)

* * *

#20: "My computer is xp os and I am definitely an old xp diehard fan. Some of us old people hate having to learn something new to accomplish the same task we have for years. "

NOT disagreeing, the difference Start Menu XP Pro would make is that rather than just having your categories expand out to the right, groups you set up expand downwards... if you look at the 2nd image on their site, what they don't show is that the "Office" group would collapse to a single line. There's really nothing to learn, though it will take some time & effort to set up the groups the way you want/like [how much depends on how many apps your Start Menu has]. At any rate, if you can delete or disable the registry entry to prevent it from starting with Windows, almost as harmless to try as a portable app. FWIW, Personally I think more patient people will not see as much benefit to saving such small slices of time when the look for & start an app.

* * *

***OT*** To anyone who's sometimes asked: "Why did anyone bother developing this app?" you would probably get a grin or two [or three...] heading over to dilbert.com.

I agree with those who hate Win7/Vista menus. I still prefer XP for more reasons than I have time to list and we still use it at work, Try this you may like it. I also will give "classic shell" a shot. I hope Windows 8 will go back to what more people like.

I'm using True Launch Bar and for me, its such a superior product that I have no desire to try this or any others at this time.

This is nice software that attempts to fill a need, but the best solution seems to be elsewhere - and it's free.

One of the advantages of GAOTD is this discussion, in which users suggest (usually tested, often freeware) alternatives to the daily offering. Today, the prime alternative is CLASSIC SHELL, which to me seems clearly superior to Start Menu XP Pro, is supported well, and meets my need. CLASSIC SHELL began as a Luddite return to XP, but it's apparently evolved to include some niceties that XP didn't have - or I didn't know about. Very nice, very useful, and freeware!

I would never have known about that lovely utility had it not been mentioned here by Chris Gordon.

Start Menu XP is a cute app that (when it's running) replaces Windows Start Menu program list -- the result is a set of drop-down categories [Start Menu XP calls them Groups] that work basically the same way as win7's Start Menu, but with a bit of a more utilitarian look to it. Installation adds the shortcuts already in your Start Menu to its default set of groups -- groups themselves are edited, created, or removed using a 2nd app, TidyStartMenu.exe, with the results stored in an editable text file in a new folder under User App/Application Data [7/XP]. While Start Menu XP gives the Start Menu's list of shortcuts a different look, it's not fancy enough IMHO to call it Eye Candy, & the only practical benefit I can think of at the moment is if you wanted to customize your Start Menu *sometimes*, say when you're working with graphics or office apps or video, it's a simple matter to turn it on/off. And while there's no way to save multiple versions, it shouldn't be that hard to create a script or .bat file etc. that swapped out the text files so you could have several, interchangeable menus... if you're running XP it might help make up for the lack of proper multiple profile support that way too (?).

Installation isn't bad at all, though setup.exe is a bit bigger than it has to be due to the included YandexPackSetup-ordinarysoft-20110411.exe, which setup did not run -- Wikipedia on Yandex: http://goo.gl/yFaY . The only notable dependency I saw with SysInternal's Process Explorer was the use of Internet Explorer, though the app does use a *hook* to monitor what you're doing so it knows when to display its program list -- some AV software may object. The program's folder itself holds 36 files, 1 folder, taking up ~6 MB -- install adds a key for uninstall, & a Run entry's created in the User portion of the registry so by default it starts with Windows. Start Menu XP doesn't use many resources, though they'll climb when it displays its menu, then slowly drop off again -- in the resource limited XP Mode VM the max CPU was 11%, the max RAM 13 K, so it *might* be noticeable in some netbooks etc.

It has a pretty large footprint for an app that does so little. Was this written in Visual Basic?

@ BrainGel # 23

If you were a girl I would ask you to marry me... You're not a girl, by any chance, are you? :D

Such a great post is clearly written by a superior brain (you could really be female in fact)... I totally second your point of view.

I looked over this program, and was tempted to get it. But, well, I thought the Start menu in XP was the greatest thing, way back wnen I had XP, but now that I have Vista, well, it has many features that XP did not have. Also, got used to the Vista Start menu. So why go back, when being progressive is better!!

After un-installing it, messed up my original win 7 and had to use repair disk to fix some messed up register keys.
Not worth even trying it, waste of time.

@14: Calm down. I don't see the installer hijacking anything. Yes, it may be annoying to have pages popping up, but it's not by hijacking, only by the regular ShellExecute.

I think today's program is a bit limited. That is, in options. No way to change the appearance of the Start menu, no about boxes, and the groups manager is minimal (which could actually be a good thing). The way it looks, this program might as well be freeware. As #7 said, the only extra in PRO is the unlimited groups. I don't think that is worth $20.

And I'm using XP. So this program makes absolutely no difference. I could just drag and drop my shortcuts into groups.

I will also have to pass on this one as I am already using another of their programs, StartMenu 7 for Windows 7.

I'm currently running Aston from a previous GAOTD and it has it's own start menu which seems to take over.

This would be useful for those who work on various versions of Windows because it would allow one to standardize the menu system and make it less confusing. Those use to Windows XP might also prefer it. But there has been enough time for those use to XP's start menu to get use to Vista's or Win 7's.

It might be more useful as part of a package that allows one to make their Windows 7 look like XP.

#2. If you restart your Pc then run the program before anything else with admin rights it should install, I have been getting this a bit now will have to look into it, gets on your nerves.

@Keith Alston "XP is dead and gone. It is no longer supported. Vista was a huge improvement, and now Windows 7 is another great step forward."

You are entitled to your opinion ofcourse and so am I (Iguess you can agree with that). Your statement will only be a private opinion to me and others, even when yours might be shared with others, but the truth has to be supported by facts. None of your reaction were facts and so you can not claim any truth or factual reallity with your words (I would call it a matter of expression of personal taste).

Please grand me the arrogance to differ in opinion with you and enlighten you with my "truth". It might just be an eyeopener.

XP is by far the best product Microsoft made. But after most people wanting to have XP, already had it, they had to move on. That is great ofcourse especially when moving on means making improvements. No OS is perfect, so I would be in for that even though XP is still my OS of choice.

Vista is together with Win ME the biggest mistake ever made. The system only grew heavier and Microsoft was not ready yet to introduce Win 7. It was only an "in the middle we can sell anything" OS with lots of annoyances like the introduction of UAC.

Win 7 is a more mature product. Microsoft learned from their mistakes (like UAC became more flexible). They even planned to stop Vista support before XP-support (really lots of people like to go on working with XP even though there is Win 7 now). Fact: XP is still supported with security updates.

Microsoft started out by selling an OS with the most features neglecting security (something that didn't sell in the starting days) Missing features were quickly build in in the next releases (like the browser-wars), sometime by just buying the leading company that started that particular feature. This created a huge marked ofcourse.
Windows had it all, no need for something else, just have Windows, right? No more Amiga, C64, Atari.

From XP on they focussed on capacity (huge HDD, FAT32 and much later NTFS) and performance (multi-threading) to conquer the businessmarket aswell (bye bye IBM. But business ofcourse demanded security aswell.

They had to radically change a few things which would take some time.
To have something to sell, the sold the halfproduct Vista (which they like to forget like Win ME once).

Win7 was the product with featuers (home-market), capacity and performance (business-market) and security (by now everyone, because of all the accumulated threads on the internet, like malware and spam).

When Win7 is compared to XP (lets not talk about Vista anymore) you get lots more eyecandy (like aero, much better for selling, but you cannot really use it) and security aswell. But a large part of the added security is security for Microsoft and not for the homeuser. You are forced to do all kinds of genuine-microsft-test, activations etc.
To make it appear a much different (but really not much more advanced, except for the 64 bit-architectuers) product they rearranged (and renamed) also annoyingly everything in a not so meaningfull manner (the cause that todays giveaway has some future for some people that like XP like I do).
Win7 will have improved certain things ofcource, but to me it is merely a package of expensive bloat, hyped and crazed up by the "look at me"-show-offs.

Well it's just my opinion ofcourse, nothing to factual, but at least this proves there is another world of taste and opinion then yours. You've got te deal with that, hang on and keep a stiff upperlip now.

I must have gotten a special version of Vista on my computer because it already has the option to set the start menu to classic style.

Right click the task bar, select properties, select the Start Menu tab, and select classic start menu. It isn't pretty but neither was XP.

@Keith Alston
XP is far from dead & gone, IT'S STILL SUPPORTED and the preferred OS for many people. Vista was a big step nowhere and the biggest abortion since windows ME, I feel sorry for the people stuck having to use it. The only thing I agree with you is about windows 7, I love the new UI and refuse to step backwards....

A year or so ago I probably would have grabbed this one for my wife. She regularly uses two computers working with music arrangements and composing. One computer is xp os which she has been using for years and the other Vista os. I ask her if she would like this and now she is very comfortable with vista and declined my offer to install it on her vista os. My computer is xp os and I am definitely an old xp diehard fan. Some of us old people hate having to learn something new to accomplish the same task we have for years. LOL Thanks gotd this does sound like a great option for people like me that are most comfortable with xp os.

@Keith Alston XP is far from dead. First it's going to be supported till 2015, second many businesses still use it because of custom programs that only work in XP. Third I still have people ask me to help them load XP on their new laptop. & Finally Many still like the "Look" of XP over "Aero".


Kudos to "OrdinarySoft" for making this app! If Microsoft was smart they would make more "XP Themes" to get more people off of XP and onto 7...

One of best things about W7 is the search box. Looking for a program and forgotten what it was?! It happens... Just type a few letters into the search box and Bingo There it is! It's great! For once a freebie from Microsoft! No doubt it will be outsourced in the future, as an third party add on for $10. This is the Microsoft way. To be fair, not just Microsoft!

This idea is good and seems ok, but i use dual monitors and my regular windows start menu doesn't seem to go to my right side monitor very well. since i have over 150 programs...i use Aston 2 which can be customized and has a lot on different looks (skins).
but as always..Thanx GAOTD

I have to agree with #12. I have been using "Classic Shell" for a while now. When I first started using Windows 7, the first thing I noticed was the horrible start menu. So I started to look for a replacement and sense I like Open Source programs, this is where I looked and found "Classic Shell" and have never gone back.

Give "Classic Shell" a try. I think you will like it. It is fully customizable and FREE! http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ And if you don't like the tool bar, just disable it like I do all toolbars.

This is the #1 pet peeve that I've had with Vista and 7, I hate the start menu layout! There is no reason why you can't have more "classic" options in an OS. I mean I don't mind upgrading and learning a new OS, but the "option" should always be there to customize the UI to ANY previous OS made by the same company!...

Utttttterly useless program!

And (I take this opportunity to forward) A MESSAGE TO ALL DEVELOPERS: Please understand that the fact that you literally hijack the activity of the users who install your programs and force their browsers to open your webpage at the end of the installation it is perceived as a VERY NEGATIVE fact!

I sincerely hope that other members who share my point of view will also express their opinion in this or future threads in order TO HELP DEVELOPERS UNDERSTAND that we (the users) would really prefer to visit (the developers) websites at our convenience and NOT at theirs!

XP is dead and gone. It is no longer supported. Vista was a huge improvement, and now Windows 7 is another great step forward.

Windows 7 can do everything with a Start Menu and more that XP ever did. Why is there this obsession to write programs that take a step backwards?

Sorry - waste of time - thumbs down.

Do a search for "Classic Shell". It's a free project and does everything you could ever want your start menu to do in Windows 7. It's much more developed than this program. Has drag and drop, delete, rename, open all users etc. Just like a proper start menu.

I’ll have to agree with the earlier statement that this program is basically offering a feature from the past, at least in style, but since I have never much liked to way Windows 7 start menu looks or operates, I’ll keep this program. It loaded and started as required without any malfunctions, so it gets thumbs up from me! Thank you once again to GOTD!

I already have something like this. It is called Classic Shell. 5.8 mb

I started using the Start Menu XP free version years ago. It worked great, and when I discovered the GOTD version of Start Menu 7, I switched to that. I've been using it ever since. I have a lot of programs installed, and this is much faster than having to scroll the normal Windows 7 Start menu. I highly recommend this. Start Menu XP isn't much different from Start Menu 7 functionally, so you might want to try it if you hate having to scroll through a long list of programs to on the Start Menu.

Can we install Start Menu XP PRO side by side with Start Menu 7 - just so that we can see how each of them works, individually ?
That way we could decide which one we liked better, and we could then offer some informed feedback.
What would happen if they both ran at the same time..?

upon going to their site i see we can download it for FREE..
below are the so called benefits to getting the pro version.

"Upgrade to Start Menu XP PRO

Purchase the PRO version and get these benefits:

Unlimited number of Virtual Groups
Free minor 4.x updates
One key compatible with all our programs (Start Menu 7, Classic Start Menu)
Also you will facilitate further development of the project."

looking you will see that the only benefit GAOTD memebr will get outta the pro version is "Unlimited number of Virtual Groups" since gaotd doesnt allow updates etc...

anyways like the others have said above why xp? why not 7 or vista at least..then it might be worth the download..
saying that heres a windows 7 start menu also for FREE http://www.startmenu7.com/ with the option to go pro as well..

i will pass on todays giveaway as i like my win 7 start menu the way it is...
thx for the offer tho gaotd

On vista this program affects "All Programs" -section showing all installed items just as advertised. Very good and useful if you have plenty of progs installed (GotD...:). I recommend this for Vista users like me!

Have tried other version of the startmenu from them and I must say eventhough someone may judge these as eyecandy they did better compared to window$ original. btw if you fancy or prefer portable apps (couldn't help noticing the comments on this here) you should really do a google on ojoj56. you can find some good ones on the tweets from time to time. Anayway the instal went fine, I'happy with this one, thanks gotd!

Not bad, but needs to add 'drag and drop' reorganisation and ability to delete entries using right click context menu.

Appeared to take over my machine by modifying my start menu, however on closing it reverted back to normal. It looks promising as it appears to allow the user to have control and has a pleasing interface. A pleasant change, as I appear to have let user have control, worth a shot!

ARGGGGHHHHH! It's saying process cannot access the file because another file is using it! Help!

seems like a pretty good program, I would have loved it a year and a half ago. By now, however, I've gotten used to the way Win7's programs menu looks and works so I'm not going to download it at this point. Matter of fact I'd prefer to have gotten the Start Menu 7 for my XP machine. I'm not a Luddite so I prefer to move forward rather then backwards. If my Dad or old boss(both hate how tech changes as it moves forward) had just bought a new machine, I'd defiantly recommend this program. Thanks anyway GOTD and OrdinarySoft.