If there is one thing that Windows 10 does not like is the Start menu, perhaps innovative, certainly better than that of Windows 8.1, but still insufficient. In particular, especially those who used Windows 7, could complain that they cannot organize programs into folders and find it difficult to find programs to start quickly.
Even if we have seen that the Windows 10 Start menu can be modified and customized, if you really don't care to use the new applications and if you are not comfortable with the organization of the tiles, you can install a program that shows almost the style Start menu of Windows 7 in Windows 10 .
Thanks to these programs it is possible to make changes to the interface of Windows 10 without having to touch the registry keys or other settings and you can go back at any time, restoring the original start menu.
The Classic Shell program, present in the scene for many years, is now truly a must for all Windows users, even those who use Windows 7 and 8.
This is because it provides a complete set of options for choosing how to display and how to organize the Start menu, in the style you prefer.
You can then make a two-column menu or a single column as it was in Windows XP, you can group programs, view them in a folder list and customize the graphics of the buttons, including that of the Start.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The original Classic Shell project has been abandoned, no longer supported by new versions of Windows 10 and therefore must be removed.
The updated version of Classic Shell is now called Open Shell, always free, in Italian.
In the installation you can choose not to include some accessory components such as Classic Explorer which adds a menu to the Windows windows, not necessary, which is still worth trying and if anything then disable later.
Once the installation is complete, you can immediately choose which graphic style to adopt, between the one column, the two column and the two column Windows 7 which is the most modern and functional.
The Start menu maintains the graphic style of the standard one, but allows you to view the programs in a compact list and organize them into folders as was the case in Windows 7.
The best thing is that the Windows 10 menu, the default one, does not disappear completely, but can be called up at any time by pressing the Windows + Shift keys together or by pressing the Start Menu key located above the list of recent programs.
The administration menu that appeared by right-clicking on the Start button disappears, but can be called up by pressing the Windows + X keys together.
This behavior, as well as everything else, can be changed in the Classic Shell settings, in the Controls section where you can choose how to open the Windows-X menu and whether to open the Windows 10 start, for example, by pressing the middle mouse button .
In essence, Classic Shell allows you to return to a Start menu like that of Windows 7 without, however, making the new Windows 10 menu disappear and giving up, which, if it will be improved by Microsoft and if you get used to it, it may turn out not so bad.
In the settings of Shell Classes you can decide many other things including, in the " Customize " section, the folders and buttons to be included and those to be removed.
Then there is a section dedicated to Windows 10, to improve the graphic aspect using transparency, there is the possibility to change the Start button by putting a different image (searching on Google if you find many just for Classic Shell) and change the theme by making smaller icons or changing fonts.
There are also numerous configuration options to try in the behavior section, menu aspect and on the search box.
Regarding the latter, it is possible to disable internet searches and limit the results to searches on the computer.
The personalized settings can be saved by pressing the Backup button and the default options can be restored at any time, in case you have tinkered too much with poor results.
Although Classic Shell has everything you need, there is no shortage of alternatives to having a Start menu like that of Windows 7 in Windows 10 .
Among these we mention Start10, very clean and light, but that costs 5 $ and IoBit Start Menu
