Start menu replacements for windows 8.1

The app, which takes less than 30 seconds to install, gives you a Start menu that looks just like the one found in Windows 7. You can also hide the Windows 8 Start screen if you really want to kill the Windows 8 experience. The app also conveniently separates Windows 8 apps and desktop programs into two different menu lists.

More: Classic Shell: Full Review. If you want a slightly different take on the Windows Start button experience, check out Pokki. This alternative offers a slew of slick features including alerts for incoming emails and tweets for apps downloaded from the Pokki store.

You can also map up to 16 of your favorite apps to one-click buttons for quick, easy access. Here are two of the best—with very different approaches. I figure that if these programs fail to work with the update, the problem will be fixed quickly.

StartisBack behaves like the Windows 7 Start menu, too. Recent and pinned programs take their same place on the left panel, with recent file lists for each application. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. By Robert Kingsley Robert Kingsley. Robert Kingsley is a former Lifewire writer who specializes in technology. He has worked as an IT support engineer, installing, configuring, and maintaining Windows computers. Tweet Share Email. What We Like. What We Don't Like. Download ViStart. Download Start Menu 8. Download Start Menu Reviver. Download Classic Shell. Extended Explorer integration means you can pin any application to the menu by right-clicking it and selecting 'Pin to Start Menu 8'.

In theory, this is all very configurable. You're able to choose your preferred Start button, menu style standard or Start Screen-like 'Modern' , the menus to be displayed, power actions, hotkeys and more. The package also now runs on any version of Windows from XP up. Verdict: Windows 8.