Classic Start Menu (Classic Shell) on Windows 11

R

ros_b

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
792
Reaction score
143
Location
Johannesburg
Hi all
Ever since Windows 7 came out, I've used this software called "Classic Shell" to make my Windows Start Menu continue to look and act like it did under XP. I prefer using the keyboard over the mouse, and I have set up my start menu so that all of my often-used programs can be accessed using the keyboard with minimal keystrokes. I open the start menu using Ctrl+Esc, and then use P to access the Programs menu, followed by the first letter of the program I want. I also set up folders that are accessible via other letters that contain other programs, so that every program is accessible uniquely by Ctrl+Esc followed by two letters. Eg: Excel is Ctrl+Esc, P, E; Google Chrome is Ctrl+Esc, I, G, etc.
I have just "upgraded" to Windows 11, and I have my Classic Start Menu, but now I have to access it by clicking on the Start Menu button - Ctrl+Esc now opens the Windows 11 Start Menu and not my Classic Start Menu. Classic Shell is no longer being updated or supported. Before I embark on the search for a new program to help me out, I thought I'd ask the clever folk on here for any ideas as to a solution.
Thanks!
 
ros_b said:
Hi all
Ever since Windows 7 came out, I've used this software called "Classic Shell" to make my Windows Start Menu continue to look and act like it did under XP. I prefer using the keyboard over the mouse, and I have set up my start menu so that all of my often-used programs can be accessed using the keyboard with minimal keystrokes. I open the start menu using Ctrl+Esc, and then use P to access the Programs menu, followed by the first letter of the program I want. I also set up folders that are accessible via other letters that contain other programs, so that every program is accessible uniquely by Ctrl+Esc followed by two letters. Eg: Excel is Ctrl+Esc, P, E; Google Chrome is Ctrl+Esc, I, G, etc.
I have just "upgraded" to Windows 11, and I have my Classic Start Menu, but now I have to access it by clicking on the Start Menu button - Ctrl+Esc now opens the Windows 11 Start Menu and not my Classic Start Menu. Classic Shell is no longer being updated or supported. Before I embark on the search for a new program to help me out, I thought I'd ask the clever folk on here for any ideas as to a solution.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Maybe this would work for you

pureinfotech.com

How to remap keys or shortcuts on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech

To remap key or shortcut on Windows 11, open PowerToys > Keyboard Manager and choose the remap feature and reasign the key or shortcut.
pureinfotech.com pureinfotech.com
 
Great idea, thanks for this. Trying to figure out how it works.... it doesn't seem to like the key combination of Ctrl+Esc for mapping a shortcut, but that's ok, I can choose another key combination. The problem is what to put in the "Mapped To" box. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be any keyboard shortcut currently mapped to opening the Classic Start Menu. I've tried fiddling within that program's settings, and even though it does have a setting to create a keyboard shortcut to open the Classic Start Menu, I can't get it to work. I have set it so that the Windows key opens the Classic Start Menu, but the Windows key is still opening the Windows 11 Start Menu.
 
I use StartAllBack on Windows 11. It works great. I've also used ExplorerPatcher by valinet which is open source, but overall I find StartAllBack a bit more up-to-date and reliable
 
backstreetboy said:
Surely Win + S key and typing whatever you want will be faster?
Click to expand...
No, because I can't control the first program that comes up in the search window. So Win + S followed by F gets me File Explorer when I want it to get me File Renamer, for example. If I set things up in my Start Menu named the way I choose, then every item has a unique letter (that I'm used to because I've been using it that way for 20 years).
 
Dimpie (COMPUTEK) said:
Not sure how you missed that? ... It's noted on the Classic Shell website for almost 6 years :giggle:

PS: You can also change windows key to open the menu ... even less keys

View attachment 1574756
Click to expand...
I did see that it was Open Shell but thought I could just keep the Classic Shell that I had. I thought I'd just see if anyone had a solution before downloading a new piece of software. By the way, before I downloaded the new version, that option to open the Classic Start Menu using the Windows key was selected, but did not work - just like Ctrl+Esc didn't work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X