Should Microsoft add the start menu back to Windows 8?
The missing start menu is without doubt one of the most controversial topics when it comes to the Windows 8 operating system.
Only a few issues have caused this much controversy. If you ask me, only the two interfaces and the touch centric Start Screen are as controversial as it.
Third-party companies started to create solutions to bring back the start menu to Windows 8, and from what little information have been released, rather successfully.
Start Menu applications such as Classic Shell, Start8 or Pokki have been downloaded by millions of users.
Microsoft took note and added a basic start menu back to the Windows 8.1 update. This was nothing more than a visual representation of the Windows-X menu though, and not sufficient for most users as it did not link to programs at all.
A rumor spread a couple of days ago that Microsoft was thinking about restoring the start menu functionality to the next version of Windows 8.
My colleagues over at Betanews are in disagreement, with Brian believing that Microsoft should not restore the start menu functionality and Mark thinking that Microsoft should add it to the next version of Windows.
It is clear that a start menu alone won't save Windows 8. The operating system has a bad reputation much like Vista had one back when it was released. It took Microsoft two service packs to turn Vista around, and while it is too early to tell, it could take two updates to turn around Windows 8 as well.
Again, it is my opinion that a start menu alone does not change user perception of the operating system a lot. I have several explanations for that, but the main one is this:
It is easy enough to add a start menu back to the operating system. If you miss it, install a free or paid start menu software and you have it back up and running in a matter of minutes.
It should not keep anyone from using the operating system, especially since it introduces several new technologies and features that Windows 7 does not offer.
Changes to the two interface system on the other hand might.
I never really understood why Microsoft pushed the focus on desktop systems that much towards touch and the start screen interface. The first lacks a wider distribution of touch-supporting hardware, the second features that would improve how desktop users work with the system.
The one thing that could save Windows 8 in my opinion is either the merging of those two interfaces into one, or to make the Start Screen an optional component on desktop systems. I would not really care if it would be enabled by default and needed to be disabled during setup, or if it would be the other way around.
It is highly unlikely that Microsoft will remove the store from the operating system. What I'd like to see would be a unified interface at the very least that you could run apps and legacy software on.
So, one interface only that is optimized based on the type of hardware that you use.
Advertisement
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help