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POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

Windows 1x on Thinkpads
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Are you using Classic Shell with Windows 10?

Poll ended at Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:55 pm

Yes
6
60%
No
4
40%
Another Application (Please List)
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 10

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storm-chaser
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POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#1 Post by storm-chaser » Wed Dec 05, 2018 2:55 pm

Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it. The main features are:
-Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
-Quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs
-Find programs, settings, files and documents
-Start button for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
-Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
-Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#2 Post by dr_st » Thu Dec 06, 2018 2:54 am

I did install it on my Win8 machine, but by the time Win10 came out, I realized I barely use the start menu anymore, and when I do, it's faster to just type than to go through the hierarchy. So I don't think I've installed it on any Win10 systems.
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#3 Post by pkiff » Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:42 pm

I have ClassicShell on all my Win 7 and Win 10 machines. I like that it allows me to have identical keystrokes for accessing software on different machines. I used to spend time tweaking my Start menus on various Thinkpads running Win 98SE and XP so that commonly used software or folders could be opened up in 3 single key strokes: Start Button -> Folder Letter -> Program. With ClassicShell, many of the shortcuts I got used to under Win98 and XP can still be used today in Win 10. And whenever I pull out an old machine, almost all my software is still at my fingertips, right where I expect it.

Note that the original "ClassicShell" development appears to have ended in Dec 2017:
Classic Shell no longer in development. Source code released

Apparently, Windows 10 major updates were causing too many feature-breaking changes for the awesome lead developer Ivo Beltchev.
There is a Github repository for a forked replacement called "Open-Shell", but it is not clear to me how much development is occurring on it:
https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

I have been concerned with each major Windows 10 update whether ClassicShell would continue to work. I'm running v4.3.1 that was released way back in August 2017, and it is the first thing I check for compatibility whenever I apply the next major Windows 10 update.
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#4 Post by dr_st » Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:04 pm

pkiff wrote:
Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:42 pm
I used to spend time tweaking my Start menus on various Thinkpads running Win 98SE and XP so that commonly used software or folders could be opened up in 3 single key strokes: Start Button -> Folder Letter -> Program. With ClassicShell, many of the shortcuts I got used to under Win98 and XP can still be used today in Win 10. And whenever I pull out an old machine, almost all my software is still at my fingertips, right where I expect it.
That's an interesting approach and I understand why Classic Shell is a godsend in such a scenario. I went a different path - I put icons for commonly used software on my desktop / quick launch and assign keyboard shortcuts. That's probably why the Start menu lost a lot of its importance to me.
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TPFanatic
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#5 Post by TPFanatic » Sat Dec 08, 2018 12:25 pm

I've used and would use Classic Shell on Windows 10.

In 7 I just stick with the actual start menu.

Another nifty program is Clover which adds Chrome-style tabs to the top of Windows Explorer windows. This is apparently a feature coming to 10 (or it came already, I haven't touched 10 in a long time) so I looked into the existing softwares for myself. It doesn't work right with Lenovo Auto Scroll but it's otherwise really useful to me.

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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#6 Post by MikalE » Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:29 pm

I use it on Win 7.
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#7 Post by Thinkpad4by3 » Mon Dec 10, 2018 11:20 pm

I've been using it but I'm thinking of going back to the old start menu. I find it kind of a PITA because of its inadequate support for the Settings control panel.

And don't even get me started on W10 using both the "Control Panel" and "Settings"

Either one or the other...not both. I actually do kinda prefer Settings more intuitive way of getting to the things I need and better support for Bluetooth.
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#8 Post by mbr12 » Thu Mar 07, 2019 4:53 pm

I use it on W10. Love it.

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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#9 Post by Omineca » Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:45 pm

I use it on my Windows 10 laptop at work. I've styled the start menu and taskbar to look like the Windows Embedded theme for XP, which was always my favourite.

Like others in this thread, I've worried that it was going to stop working with each update of Win10, but so far, so good.

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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#10 Post by artic_squirrel » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:15 pm

I did not know about open shell. it is good to have it. I still have no bug with classic shell on windows 1809

Dragunov
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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#11 Post by Dragunov » Fri May 24, 2019 9:34 pm

I use "Classic Shell" on my Win8.1 machines, but not my lone, WinX, or any of my Win7 machines.

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Re: POLL: Classic Shell... Whos using it?

#12 Post by JBUK » Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:07 am

I am a user too on Wins 7 and 10.
Interestingly I am a fan of keyboard shortcuts too but by using entries in the Classic start menu that link to opening programs (apps) folders and even windows/file explorer at a specific folder open position, all with just one keystroke its quick and easy.
The only problem is remembering the correct shortcut ! Although as I have been using the same basic shortcuts since Win 2000 they are used more by instinct than memory. Some have fallen by the wayside, for example 'a' no longer opens the floppy drive.
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