OpenShell has been working on a classic replacement for Windows 11's Start menu
- Reference: 1643203025
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/01/26/openshell_windows_11/
- Source link:
Windows 11 is an interesting release, given that [1]Microsoft once said there wouldn't be any more versions . One might be forgiven for thinking that to reverse that major decision, it would have to be something pretty epochal… but it isn't. It is a bit prettier and does polish off some of the rough edges of Windows 10, but it's mostly a facelift. In one way, it's a functional downgrade as there's a big loss in the customisability of the Taskbar and Start menu, which are the centres of Windows' UI.
Help is coming, though, in the form of [2]OpenShell . OpenShell is the continuing development of [3]the old Classic Shell for Windows 8 . Its developers have been [4]discussing the impact of the new Windows, and a new build has snuck out that will install and run.
[5]
It hasn't been promoted to a full release yet, so you'll have to hunt. On the main OpenShell GitHub page, under Releases on the right hand side, click "+ 7 releases". This should take you to a new page, and under Periodic update at the top, a new build is lurking. Click "Assets" and there is OpenShellSetup_4_4_169.exe .
[6]
Changes to the desktop in Windows 11 have not set the world alight
We tried it, and with some limitations, it does work. Until we picked a custom button, it only opened in response to the Windows key; clicking Microsoft's Start button got Microsoft's Start menu. A custom button does what you'd expect, but the snag is that they don't line up with the integrated button. The Aero version is too small and the Microsoft button peeks out from underneath, whereas the Classic button is too big and overlaps the Search button.
We also experimented with the tweaks that modify Explorer's sidebar, and they work well – but they don't pick up Windows' dark mode, which looks weird. We just [7]disabled dark mode. (While you're in there, you can disable the Chat button, too. Unless you use Teams, in which case you have our sympathies.)
[8]Saved by the Bill: What if... Microsoft had killed Windows 95?
[9]Running Windows 10? Microsoft is preparing to fire up the update engines
[10]First they came for Notepad. Now they're coming for Task Manager
[11]Microsoft patches the patch that broke VPNs, Hyper-V, and left servers in boot loops
But by all means give OpenShell a try, leave some feedback, and encourage the team in its efforts.
It's a proprietary OS, and for now, a proprietary tool remains the more complete solution. Stardock's [12]Start11 rides to the rescue, as [13]Start10 did seven years before it . There's a free one-month demo to give you a taste. As you might anticipate, here on The Reg's FOSS desk, we try to use Windows as infrequently as is possible, but Start11 does help.
[14]
What neither offering can help with just yet is moving the taskbar. Ever since Windows 95, it's been possible to arrange this vertically – and since Windows puts scrollbars on the right, on the left edge is the best place. It's not just me. Others [15]agree .
Xfce, LXQt, LXDE, and PIXEL all do vertical taskbars just fine. Cinnamon makes a noble effort, and it works, if not perfectly – [16]as it does in UKUI and the Deepin desktops . It breaks fairly badly on MATE and KDE, though. Sadly, today the functionality of Microsoft's own desktop has dropped lower than the FOSS desktops it inspired.
[17]
Come back, [18]LiteStep . All is forgiven. ®
Get our [19]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2015/07/31/rising_and_ongoing_cost_of_windows/
[2] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2012/08/23/classic_shell_gives_windows_8_a_start_button/
[4] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/discussions/745
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YfF@POGDPJcQmX24HpiXlQAAAIc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[6] https://regmedia.co.uk/2021/06/15/screenshot_windows_11_leak_c.jpg
[7] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-11/how-to-enable-windows-11-dark-mode/m-p/2701189
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/25/windows_95/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/24/windows_10_updtae_incoming/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/20/windows_11_build/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/18/patching_patch_tuesday/
[12] https://www.stardock.com/products/start11/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2015/08/13/stardocks_start10_windows_10_addon/
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YfF@POGDPJcQmX24HpiXlQAAAIc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://www.howtogeek.com/706245/why-your-windows-taskbar-should-always-be-on-the-left-side/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/07/ubuntu_dde_2110/
[17] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YfF@POGDPJcQmX24HpiXlQAAAIc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[18] http://litestep.net/
[19] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Craig 2
Its almost like users want to know where things are
Re: Craig 2
I'm starting to wonder if the same people who manage superstore layouts are working on the Windows desktop these days. Gotta keep moving things around every year or so to encourage shoppers to wander around your store and therefore maybe picking up an extra item or two, rather than just going straight to the section they want and grabbing the one thing they came in here for. Maybe they think the same approach will get us to try all those new "features" we didn't ask for.
I'm stopping on 10 until I can move the Taskbar to the side. Bottom makes no sense on a wide screen laptop.
I'm not touching 11 either, but not because my hardware can't support it. I prefer knowing what all my open tasks are called and I think they disabled that feature in 11 so it's just buttons and you have to hover to see what's what?
Why the taskbar must be on the side:
Any serious text document I work on, or code, will stretch beyond the bottom of my screen. If you take away from the vertical real estate, I'll waste more time scrolling to find the relevant part of the text.
For quite some time, MS tried to steal my productivity by reducing useful vertical screen space: taskbar, window titles, menu bars, ribbons, status bar .... it's quite ridiculous.
I guess it's all right for watching youtube.
Works for me
I use a combination of Open Shell and Explorer Patch which gives me back resizeable task bar, the Windows 7 style menu and all over on the LH side.
Alan
Dear Microsoft.....
Rule #1
If it ain't broke - DON'T BLOODY FIX IT!!!!!
Re: Dear Microsoft.....
> Rule#1: If it ain't broke ...
Not relevant to Microsoft products.
With WSLg now able to run Wayland sessions, how difficult would it be to replace the shell with GNOME? I'd seriously consider it. I've been running Ubuntu for my day to day work for so long now that going back to Windows is a pain, finding and relearning how to do everything. At the same time, there are a few apps (though maybe not many these days) that don't cope well running on Wine or similar. A Linux/GNOME session that can run Windows apps natively would be really attractive.
Win d'ohs have always been unable to let well alone but with Vista completely lost the plot, since then it seems anything they have done right has been more by luck than judgement.
It appears that with the decision that 10 was not going to be the OS that rules them all, they have picked up where they left off, releasing unfinished, chimerical creations that will be 'improved' with patches as the unfortunate users highlight the various problems they encounter.
When Android moved away from the navigation buttons to using gestures to bring up the home screen, apps etc I struggled to get used to using it that way and much prefer the 3 button navigation bar, and thankfully the Android UI still lets me go back to using it like that even if I have to go through some settings to activate it.
Now why can't Windows 11 let their users go back to a Windows 10 or 7 start menu for those who prefer the way it used to work? If they wanted to change the UI after feedback from Windows users that they would prefer it laid out differently, then that is great. But give the option for those who prefer to use the old way the option to do so.
An anecdotal observation
In my office when I build a new PC, or rebuild an old one, I always give my empoyees the option of the natve Start Menu or OpenShell. Every single person has chosen OpenShell.
If there's one thing I really hate about UI updates it's pointlessly moving shit about.... Just about sums up Windows for me.