I've been using Start Menu 7 for a couple of days now. Love it. Am not going to use the Vista Start button again. No way. Thanks!

I too had a computer lock up shortly after installing this software -- just as totally as the previous poster described. Good concept, just needs more work.

I installed this program on a desktop PC I have been using for 6 years and now it's leaking memory like a sieve. Overnight the PC memory usage jumped up by 1GB (I only have 0.5GB installed on this XP machine) and became unusable. I rebooted and it happened again. I stopped Start Menu 7 and my machine is no longer chewing up memory. For whatever reason it's Outlook's memory usage that goes up. I like the program so I'll be looking for a fix.

I found it interesting that the first day I ran Start Menu 7 I had two computers lock up with all available memory full. I couldn't even shut them down normally, and just had to turn the power off. Over the last five years this has never happened before, and normally the memory runs between a third and a half full. I cannot prove that it is due to Start Menu 7, but it seems more than coincidence. It would be interesting to learn whether anyone else has experienced the same phenomenon.

I put up a post about my virus protection popping up saying that this software contained a trojan and that post has been deleted

I've used Vista Start Menu for some time now and would recommend it to anyone that has a large list of programs. Start Menu 7 is the same program.

Not sure how it could be described as "having a bloatware feel to it". There is certainly nothing bloated about the software. Norton and Adobe are notorious for bloatware, but this product is small, fast and compact and does exactly what it says on the tin with no fuss.

I hate having to use any machine without it now.

Really good giveaway! I never liked Vistas or Win7 start menus, so this way of customizing is super! Prefer "Vista" skin rather than "Aero" or the too bright & boring "Classic" one.
75) It's not about which OS you have a.t.m, it's more about how you want your startmenu to look.

@15 BuBBy:

Thanks for pointing this out.
Pressing SHIFT when you left click on the start button/orb does display the original windows start menu.

@60 windowsexplorer:
That's where "Tidy Startmenu" comes in handy...

Downloaded and installed fine. Reminds me of the menu I love in Novell SUSE Linux... except that this one confuses the hell out of me!

Trying it out, it does provide more options for customization than the Windows Start Menu. You can create the tabs and point to which folders to show... meaning that I can create a group of quick folders, place shortcuts to my programs manually, then point to the folders. Nice. Requires a bit of work but that's ok since I customized my classic & vista start menu too (with separators).

You can also use the Windows Desktop Search engine with this... If you're on XP, that's a better UI than the search bar of Desktop Search on the taskbar. Save some taskbar space.

What I don't like, though, is that it insists on being dual pane and it adds a lot of stuff there... from where, I don't know. But I can remove them (delete). Deleting the items don't seem to affect the original Windows Start Menu. I can sort of hide it but still some buttons shows. What I don't like most is that when you resize the menu, the left pane reduces its font size! So, to be able to view the text comfortably, I will still have to use the menu at such a big size... or remove the items.

Well.. my original start menu is much neater than this, actually. And more visual... I can just click click without looking in order to start a program. This one... hmm.. can be done but with lots of customization. I wish it gave an option during install to import start menu or start blank. I would like to start blank.

But here's one thing which makes me decide to remove it: the skins just suck. The placements are just wrong, things overlap... etc etc. I use my start menu a lot... and I don't want to see bad looking out-of-place User pic there... Doesn't really look good in Windows Classic look..

It first launches in Windows AERO mode with a font that is nearly unreadable. I was about to uninstall when I found the "options" button on lower right side and changed "skin" to "Windows Classic" which is much better.

So far, i like it.

this s/w is sweet! Using it on Win XP and works a treat. Loving the power control options look also. All the different skins work well also. Gotta change that cat though, hopefully just a case of changing avatar.bmp. Recommend this s/w.

NICE !!!
I'm always digging into a massive file / folder structure ...
this definitely is is light years ahead of XP explorer
nice software ... will buy

I have been using this program all day now and I can say I like it very much. It automatically organized all the apps in the start menu in alphabetical order, which is something I appreciate very much. Now my start menu expands to the right of my screen which means no more scrolling up or down trying to find those apps that I rarely use. It is very light on CPU/RAM resources. Nice look and feel to it. A definite keeper. Many thanks to the developer and to GAOTD.

I downloaded this and it is a nice programme. I have Win7 64bit and it works with it. I do like that you can add tabs just like the "All Programs" is. I have two folders that have programs that don't install. One games and the other utilities. I can add these two folders as tabs to the menu bar. I now have quick access to them all. There is alot of options with this programme. Well worth the download. If you don't like it... delete it.

epic, Thnx.

hey, cool program.
how to enable the transparency menu effect on XP SP3?

Tried installing it several times, each time it locked up and took my machine with it :(

quite useless. The Windows Vista and 7 start menus are already quite good, there is no need for this bloatware to clog down your system!

I'm pretty impressed, actually. Looks professional, is functional, and is pretty creative.

Tried the free version last week and it locked me out of my DVD drive (WinXP Sp3). Disabled it from loading at start-up and got the drive back. Was also getting complaints about Java from the system. This was either using it or tangling with it.

Only use it now when I have to access a program that the Windows menu won't scroll to.

Definitely not worth installing this on windows 7. It is going one step back in looks, icons and functionality. The windows 7 start menu is just perfect as it is.
Now, if you have windows XP, this is a MUST. Tried it in both OS (XP and 7) and it works perfectly on both of them, it can be easily uninstalled if you do not like it, and still, there is no need to uninstall it, as it can be turned off from the assistant.

Verdict;

If you have XP, DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!
If you have Windows 7, do not even try.
If you have VISTA, try it, you might keep it.

#41 - Tek Neek: Thanks for the suggestion about TidyStart Menu for Windows 98. I did take advantage of that fantastic offer and I installed it on the Windows 98 computer. It works great.

Thanks BuBBy for the info that Start Menu 7 Pro will not work with WIN98. Just checking with the expert! Thanks again.

To whoever asked about the difference between today's offering and TidyStart Menu: Today's offering can replace your menu system with one the developer claims is easier to use. TidyStart Menu is a program that only runs when you use it to combine programs of a type, like Utilities or CD/DVD programs or Photo Programs so you have a few groups instead of dozens of scattered programs. It only "runs" while you are forming the groups and when you exit it is gone, except for the results which are permanent. You can, of course, do that by hand which is slow and tedious, or you can use TidyStart Menu which can do it all in a few minutes. Therefore, you should never uninstall TidyStart Menu unless you never intend to have to rearrange your programs into groups. If you uninstalled it, you can use their free version which offers limited categories until the PRO version is offered again on GAOTD unless you want to buy the PRO version for $19.95. The PRO version allows you to create and name as many specific sub-menus as you desire which the free version does not.

Hope that's helpful.

I found out what those letters and numbers mean! Turns out the start menu is for keyboard lovers too! When you press "start" from the keyboard, it has those letters and numbers for the menu. Press them and they go. (Ex. 11 = Calculator) And when you press "start" from the keyboard and press F11, it goes to the power options. Very convenient for those keyboard users.

The registration is in the options in wizard and you will see a PRO registration tab. I use windows 7 Ultimate x32 and when I clicked start it would show me the start menu without A, B, C,... and 11, 22, 33,.... but when I pressed "start" on the keyboard it would show me those. Any idea why?

A good concept allowing for complete access from a start menu. The only thing is with out the transparency facility that is shown in the advertisement image aren't you effectly replacing one desktop with another? I mean after all you have a desktop full of icons and you download and use this program, you have a start menu covering your desk top full of icons instead. With out being able to see the desk when the new start menu is in use, what is the point?

Very helpful and intuitive! Was a pain trying to open a file in a large folder from the Start Menu using single-column submenus. This fills the whole screen with column after column of files.

@ Janet
you can use tidy menu and this one, but to me this one is much better than tidy menu, think I will get rid of tidy menu now.
this one has power buttons which I like it has a hibernate button.
it also has enlarge fonts in menu, or you can make them smaller.
you can customize this in many ways, you just have to tweak it to your own needs. very good program.

Very nice utility. One can tune any of four attached skins by manually editing the file skin.xml in the %programdirectory%\skin\%nameoftheskin%.zip archive. For example, I've changed the font style, in which the items of the menu are displayed, also the color & the size can be changed. You can even edit graphics, if you have any creative abilities.

A great improvement for XP users. I still switch it on and off (In Customize Wizard, uncheck "Replace system Start Menu"), but am leaning toward defaulting to StartMenu. It solved my problem of too many "Programs" listed. If you exit back to regular Start Menu, changes are lost, but if you start and stop by clicking task bar icon, changes remain.

I like the look and feel of this and started to add tabs so I could group sets of programs logically, only once you make the tab there doesn't seem to be any way to add your existing programs into the tabs.

Am I just missing something obvious? Because this seems to defeat the whole object of the program. This was doable manually in XP but I haven't gotten to grips with Win7's installation process, so nothing's organised and I was hoping this would be useful.

This software is kinda unusual. I will use if for a couple of days and see if it fits me.

I say give it a try and see if you like it. Like I said, its unusual

I have been running the free Vista Start Menu for a few years now and it is a great program with few issues. To get the Pro version for free is a great thing. Thank you Denys.

I'm not saying this isn't a great offer, but to easily access your programs, you can create a toolbar that sits on your task bar. Right-click on the Task Bar, Click Toolbars, New Toolbar, Make New Folder. Put all the program shortcuts you use in this folder. The toolbar will show up on your Task Bar with the named folder. You can also create another toolbar for programs, folders and files you use all the time, (which I call "My Tools".) It gives you one-click access to the programs, folders, and files you use all the time. This allows me to access my printer, program files folder, backups folder, downloads folder, Net Library folder, the C:\ , D:\ and DVD drives, internet options, etc without a lot of clicking.

I too have used the Pro version of this for a couple of years.

In addition to the features Down The Shore mentions, I came to this program using a dock program and had "stacks" developed for my work habits.

IF it suits the way you work, you can quickly create your own tabs. My work day is greatly enhanced by Start Menu tabs that mirror the way I work. My tabs are:

Favorites, Trade Specific Software, Utilities, Photo (manipulation), Audio and Programs.

In addition, I have vision issues and this is absolutely the easiest thing I use on a daily basis - so easy to read.

Cheers

Pogo

I am concerned by the statement earlier in the post "The giveaway doesn’t include support or updates/upgrades". Upgrades I can understand and I have no problem with that. But I interpret "updates" to mean bug fixes. Having to pay to get bug fixes seems real wrong. You would be better off using the free version that does not have this limitation.

Bubby or whoever can tell me--can this start menu display more programs than Windows XP does? I have so many GAOTD programs installed that it is no longer possible to show them all on the XP start menu page. TX

ALSO ...

#11. Comment by jstick "Well, yeah, but what does it DO?"
- IF AFTER READING THE DESCRIPTION and ALL OF THE COMMENTS and viewing the screenshots - you still have to ask - this AIN'T the app for you !
#15. Comment by BuBBy "@13 – Dan – Will it work on Windows 98? LOL. You sound hopeful, I hate to disappoint." - Typical BuBBy - straight to the point - in a friendly way - I had to laugh :o)

#35.Comment by aRenegade "There is nothing different or unique about this program. Take for example the launching programs with a single click (a major selling feature):

**In Windows to change the number of mouse clicks required to open items ... And then there’s another built-in Windows feature that allows for faster starts of frequently used applications. It’s called “Quick Launch”.

- Harsh BUT TRUE - there's no question that it's quite amazing just how much CAN BE DONE - 'Under The Hood' in Windows if you're prepared to spend a little while getting to know what's what. I'd recommend downloading a FREE e-book - there are hundreds available - just search in Bing or even that old one ... Erm ... Google :o) just kiddin' ! STILL - you can't beat a proggy like this or other apps like Win Utils etc. that bring all of that Windows goodness together into one easy to find location.

Even though I also do use Windows 7 on a couple of machines I mainly use XP Pro - SP2 . . . and so - Another Software I'd seriously recommend for ALL XP users (there are still PLENTY OF US left !!!) is WinBoost 4 avalable as promo from http://www.magellass.com/down0101.html and to buy from http://www.magellass.com/prod-wb.html. Even though it came out in 2005 - it'll let you do stuff with windows that you never thought possible ! Pages & pages containing undrewd of Windows Tweaks & SECRET SETTINGS !!! I Purchased it YEARS AGO & I've had my money's worth ten times over - easily :o) WinBoost is fully compatible with Windows XP And also 2000, Me, 98, 95 !!!! I'm going to recommend to COMODO that they create an up-to-date version of this sort of software - because they do it FOR FREE !!!!

37. Comment by john connor "Hey BuBBy , I see you use xplorer2 pro, in your Screenshot, wish they could offer that here. I have the free version." - Although he gote voted down for being off topic - I have to gree that I'd love to see Xplorer2 Pro on here !


& - this one REALLY INTERESTED ME . . .

#34. Comment by john connor I want to comment on another comment from yesterday.

“Giveaway of the day is so popular, I just want to warn users that the links provided for promotional software at dottech . . . Comment by Lisa — April 19th, 2010 at 3:30 pm" - I have to confess I missed this yesterday or I'd have commented then !

Lisa - either your machine is infected or you have a really weird problem with your browser - I FREQUENTLY visit Ashraf's DotTech site (I guess he slept in today :o) . . . he's almost ALWAYS @ No.1) & I've downloaded tons of software Freebies & Promos & not once have I had the slightest issue with the site or the software from it - I regularly recommend his site to others !

Cheers for now :o)

-M!ke-
-Macs-PC-

Hi Folks

Just a few points you may be interested in

I too have tried this software today & I have to admit it does have an ease of useability to it - with a couple of good & bad points -

Bad points - Graphics - I'm running '7 Transformation Pack' on XP SP2 (links below). When I switch from the standard Vista Classic which looks 100% ok - to Aero skin (although 95% of the graphics are perfect - Black Not Clear) the area around the User's ID Gif / Jpeg Picture is a big white outline - it's not the worst thing in the world BUT because everything else is Black / Dark - your eyes are instantly drawn to the white box !
Also - WHY does the AERO version not emulate the Vista / Seven transparency effect for XP ? While XP does not support AERO - I also use ViStart (link Below) - which is completely faded to transparent exactly as Aero does ! IT CAN BE DONE ! Granted this would require replacing a couple of system files but this could be an optional "Yes / No" in install as it is in the 7 TP installer.

GOOD Points - Intigration

#24. Comment by StrayCat. "To revert back to the old menu, just uninstall the program. (and maybe reinstall with the option not to replace the system startmenu…)"
It's FAR SIMPLER than that Robert - simply select Options -> Wizard & the ability to Auto Start with Windows & Replace Windows Start Menu are both on the First Page . . . NICE !!! (Although instead of Wizard - I think Config would be a better header as it's more obvious what it does - I tried Wizard AFTER Menu because I was assuming there'd be a config option in Menu !)

I DO LIKE the way it doesn't waste space - I have a Txt, Rtf & Docs Folder within the main Documnets folder - movement to it was easy & straight forward. It displayed almost all of the 203 documents in that folder on the '1280 x 800' Laptop screen (the ends of the last files were 50% cut off) so I could see everything WITHOUT going into explorer first ! Again NICE !!!

It's a great little app & I will be keeping in on my Laptop :o)


Finally . . . As I Promised above - Those Links FOR XP USERS . . .
ViStart - Windows Seven Start Menu featuring the AERO EFFECT is available FREE from - http://www.lee-soft.com/vistart/
AND
Windows Seven Transformation Pack - This includes the above ViStart ! STP is also FREE avalable at http://www.windowsxlive.net/seven-transformation-pack
On the DOWNLOAD SCREEN - Don't click the registry scan "Recomend" ADVERT
In the STP Installer - UN-TICK the change default browser change

ENJOY :o) !!!

I hope this has been of help to some of you !

IF you have any questions & I spot them time (it's now 18:20 here in the UK) - 'll try to help further - IF I can !

Cheers for now :o)

-M!ke-
-Macs-PC-

@49 BetterStartMenuMyAss:

Learn how to use it before you make a fool of yourself!

Click that folder with the + sign below your picture or press Ctrl+2, then click folders in menu, then click recent items in sub menu. Now do you see it in the list. Now mouse over it. Whalla!!

Anyone have the problem & know solution: programs not showing in this programs start menu? Thanks for any ideas.

I've used the Pro version of this program for years on all my computers and to me it was worth the price, especially if you have a lot of entries in your start menu. What I really like about it is the ability to designate a menu entry as "Main in folder", so that you don't have to go through submenu after submenu just to access the .exe file to run the particular piece of software. I like being able to enlarge/reduce the menu size. The keyboard tips feature is very handy, much easier for me than using the touchpad on my laptop.

I've had to contact Dennis in the past regarding a question I had about the program and he responded promptly and helped resolve the problem I had quickly. I would definitely recommend this program.

#28 - Thanks for the Classic Start Menu recommendation, works great. The options are plentiful (imo) and fits in with my tastes. Runs good on win 7 64 home pro.

@46 Tim:

There is no deal to kill, this is being offered to you free with no catch! You can also use both this and Micro$oft start menu if you choose not to replace it in options.

If your so concerned about notepad wouldn't it be easier to pin it to the superbar and then you can left click on it to select recent docs without having to go through start menu.

I couldn't stand the newer type Vista/Win7 start menu. Classic Shell is what I finally settled with. All I ever wanted was the classic start menu back, and that's what it gives you. I don't want something that's going to change it any further than that, since I set my own menu up the way I like it. I appreciate the effort, but if you get too used to something completely non-windows, you're going to be confused when you find yourself trying to use a standard machine, or trying to explain to someone else how to maneuver the standard menu. If that's important in your job or something, you may not want to stray too far from classic. I do categorize things in my start menu. This program sounds like it would just screw that all up for me.

I find this one looking extremely cluttered and much less overview than the Windows start menu, which one can organize however desired, sorting into categories etc. I don't think the programmer really knows how the "human brain works" - at least my brain works the way that it loves a neat and clear overview, the way my start menu looks, made with Windows own board tools, 1000 times better than this thingy.

And for the quick access to frequently used apps, files etc. one can easily and quickly create an additional menu. Here is a little tutorial:

http://www.mindpowerjewels.com/tutorials/quickmenu.html
Enjoy!

I have two monitors running XP64. The monitors were changed after installation, including swapping the primary and secondary (1&2) screens and resolutions, after that the default "start menu - programs" would open some off screen.

If this program does nothing more than show all the programs on screen it is a big help.

No, the default MS UI does not does not

This corrects that problem.

Thank you Start Menu 7 and GAOTD!

Sorry, but long as this program takes this retro attitude and doesn't have a column for recently used programs and favorites, it isn't worth me downloading it.
Also, what's the point of sorting items by alphabetical order for the user to find them quickly, when just typing the name of the item to launch in the Search bar is so much faster?

so far haven't got any problem using this software.i like it.It makes everything fast by a click.great

In the Microsoft Win 7 Start Menu you can directly open previously opened documents. It creates a little arrow to the side. This software does not do that. That alone may make it a deal killer, as that was handy. Especially for programs like notepad that don't have native previously opened files functionality.

Been using the free version and its great. Now I'll get to try the Pro version, always wanted to get the aero feature.