If we wanted to simplify as much as possible and ignore the many small improvements, it would not be wrong to say that Windows 8 is identical to Windows 7, only with a different Start menu, made from a screen of full-screen panels instead of a start button in the corner left of the desktop. This is the basic difference between the two operating systems; then you can say everything and the opposite of everything but Windows 8 is a better, equally efficient Windows 7, where the most important change is the new full screen Start menu. Just this change, however, is contested by many users who find themselves displaced by the lack of a classic start menu and are unable to get used to the new Start screen and the principle that programs are sought using the keyboard. Therefore, the data published by Stardock, author of the Start8 program to replace the Start button with a traditional menu on Windows 8 / 8.1, downloaded by 3 million users, is not surprising!
1) Stardock's Start8 however, although very neat and perfectly integrated into the desktop, it is not free and, perhaps, not even the best choice.
In another article I had already mentioned Classic Shell, lightweight without clutter to bring the traditional Start button back to Windows 8 as a free program with a classic start menu on Windows 8,
2) Among the numerous alternatives to Classic Shell and Start8, we note a really valid and innovative one called Pokki, downloaded and installed on the computer of millions of people.
The free Pokki program adds a Start button in the lower left corner of the Windows 8 desktop from which you can start all the programs installed on your computer .
Pressing the Pokki button opens a clear and very pleasant Menu window, with 3 lists that automatically expand: Favorites, Apps and Control Panel .
Pokki is not only a Start menu for Windows 8, but also a launcher of web applications that can be downloaded from its store.
Each application of the App Store allows you to access some famous websites and web applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail and many others. In practice, you can create a button bar on the taskbar, next to the main Start button of Pokki, for the quick start of your favorite sites. Each program, each file, website or application can be added to favorites by lighting the star next to their name. Pokki works on both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows 8. Pokki's only flaw is that, compared to Classic Shell, it consumes more memory and is less light on the system.
Waiting to get used to working with the new Windows 8 Start screen (see how to start with Windows 8 ), I would say that restoring the traditional Start button is recommended for everyone, especially if they add as many options and customizations as Pokki does.
3) Another small free and unrestricted program capable of restoring the Start menu in Windows 8 is IOBit's Start Menu 8, very neat, cute graphically, which becomes the excellent combination between Pokki and Classic Shell, light on the system, customizable and perfectly integrated into the desktop.
Start Menu 8 also includes several Skins to change its appearance and can be used to disable many functions, including the Start screen, the corner menus, the sidebar and many shortcut keys.
4) Start Menu Reviver is quite strong because it offers almost all the features of the new Windows 8 Start screen in a menu similar to the traditional one, to launch programs, to access Windows settings, favorite websites and applications directly from the desktop (more similar then to that of Windows 10). The Start menu interface is elegant and customizable with tiles to launch websites and applications. The left navigation bar provides quick access to user accounts, network settings, recent applications, research, the console and, of course, apps and programs. The Settings button is particularly useful for quickly opening various Windows configuration areas, such as the Control Panel, the Device Manager, Scheduled Tasks, Services, the Action Center and much more. Large tiles or buttons can be added to launch programs, files and websites.
5) Spencer is another Start Button for Windows 8.1 that goes to put next to the default one.
The menu is very similar to that of Windows XP, with the list of programs and expandable folders.
6) The latest free, equally effective program is the ideal Start Power8 button for Windows 8.
Power8 is a classic Start menu from which to launch programs and applications that has several options to customize its appearance and which, optionally, allows you to completely disable the new Windows 8 Start screen.
7) Start Menu X is a larger program that not only puts the old Start on Windows 8 back with the list of programs, but also has a search function and many customization options.
