Windows 10: Windows 10 setup suits me but it may not be for everyone

I've been using Windows 7 Home Edition 64bit since it's release &, by in large, I'm pretty pleased with it. During a motherboard change & RAM upgrade to 32G, I upgraded to Windows 7 Pro (to enable all RAM to be used) which I choose in preference to the then newly released Windows 8; I wasn't too impressed with the cumbersome Metro Style interface.

Earlier, I had played around with a Windows 8 beta release, but everything just seemed alien & awkward to use. Playing with a Windows 8.1 trial didn't really impress until I stumbles across StartIsBack & Stardock's Start8 which I have to say, gives Windows 8.1 the start menu that it should have. I'm now trying Windows 10T with the Start8 menu and for me it's still the better choice for a start menu than that which Microsoft have partially resurrected from Windows 7.

The Windows 10T start menu is OK but lacks refinement; there's no option to reduce the icon size to small as in Windows 7 & as far as I can see, no way to directly access the Metro Style without logging out & back in.

I now appreciate that there are some advantages to the Metro Style interface but for general convenience, I still prefer the start menu.

My setup is to have the Windows 10T start menu disabled so that it defaults to the Metro Style but with Stardock's Start8 installed, Windows 10T boots up into the classic Windows 7 style interface allowing all programs to be accessed simply from the start button (Windows Orb). If I want to explore what's on offer with the rest of Windows 10T, then it's simply a matter of pressing CTRL whilst pressing the start button or pressing both CTRL & Windows Key on the keyboard (when configured in Start8).

Using this method allows me to toggle simply & quickly between the two styles of interface without having log out & back in again.

For my money, Microsoft would be onto a winner if this was their default configuration satisfying the Windows 7 diehards like me whilst providing options for those that prefer the Metro Style.

The 1st image shows the Windows 7 start menu, the 2nd image the Metro Style start screen & 3rd image the full Metro Style screen: the toolbar becomes visible when the mouse is moved below the bottom of the desktop & all possible without having to log out & back in!

Please note that the default start menu is always Start8; I haven't found a way to reverse things so that Metro Style is default with quick access to a Windows 7 style.

:)

 

Me Tile : "Can't get picture. It may be a connection error".

I'm having the same issue, clearing browsing history didn't fix it.

 

Me Tile : "Can't get picture. It may be a connection error".

Greetings,

I wanted to check in and see if the above suggestion helped to resolve the issue?

Best Regards,

 

That's a good combination. This little start box they dreamt up for 10 is useless.

 

When I first installed Win10TP, I migrated Start8 over from Win8.1 and it did not work. So, I removed it.

Later, I've read that Stardock has put out an update to Start8 for Win10, but have not installed it because I've become used to the built-in Start Menu.

Might try Start8 again when the Consumer Preview comes out.