Microsoft double down on removing the Start Menu

May 30,2012 - by Onuora Amobi 119

uprooting the start menu in Windows 8

*sigh*

Just when you think that Microsoft understand their users, you hear this.

It seems that Microsoft is determined to get rid of the start menu but you knew that already.

What I didn’t know is how determined they are to make it history forever.

Related to this second point is information I’ve received that Microsoft has been furiously ripping out legacy code in Windows 8 that would have enabled third parties to bring back the Start button, Start Menu, and other software bits that could have made this new OS look and work like its predecessor.

In fact, I’ve seen that several well-known UI hacks that worked fine with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview are no longer functional in the coming Release Preview. And those with hopes that Microsoft would allow businesses, at least, to boot directly to the desktop should prepare for disappointment.

That feature not only isn’t happening, it’s being removed from Windows Server 12 (Windows 8’s stable mate) as well.

That’s disappointing on many levels.

First on the start menu front, they can only make it difficult, they can never stop a start menu hack. Software works on the key/lock principle. If there’s a lock, there’s a key. The more they lock it down, the more attractive a hack will be and the more hackers will drill deep into the code to make it happen.

This also seems like a very insecure way to design an Operating System.

Here are some quotes by some wise people that are being ignored:

We wanted to create an experience that works however you want to work, powering a new class of PCs that you are proud to own and love having in your life.

We recognize that in the proper hands, or in the hands of someone who is willing to tolerate the downsides, these are not features to be critical of, but assets of Windows. Our intention is not to lock down Windows, but to provide a platform that meets consumer expectations for how a device should work. These assets are far too easily abused or accidently misused—there is a better way.

We do not view the desktop as a mode, legacy or otherwise—it is simply a paradigm for working that suits some people and specific apps. This is very much like the person who uses a mobile “phone” but really uses it for the mobile browser and mail client and rarely uses apps or the phone. It is like the person who has a brand new tablet but only uses the web browser.

If you only want to “live in the desktop,” if you never plan on using a PC with touch or using any apps from the Windows Store whatsoever, Windows 8 still has a lot to offer.

These design principles as espoused by Microsoft seem like the way to go.

Any attempt to strong arm users into this boat will not work.

Not allowing users to boot into the environment of their choosing is not “creating an experience that works however you want to work“, it’s creating an experience that works however Microsoft thinks that I should work.

After spending money on an Operating System, if it tries to force me to do what I don’t want to do, I will either:

Stay with Windows 7
Go to Apple.

It’s not an angry, fist shaking choice.

At that point, it will be clinical because it just makes sense.

This is just a story by Paul Thurrott at this point.

I hope it’s not true.

What do you all think?

Join the forum discussion on this post

Tags: hard headed, Microsoft, Start Menu, stubborn, Windows 8

http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Rimington/100000072775918 Stephen Rimington

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows8/microsoft-windows-8-businesses-143238
leave the start menu alone please
Pete

Onura,

When Windows 7 arrived, I built two new
I-7 computers, one for my wife and one for myself. I purchased two
copies of Windows 7 & two copies of Office 2010 from Fry’s.
Twice, on boot, my wife’s computer told her the operating system was
counterfeit and she couldn’t work for a week until I got home and
contacted Microsoft to have it re-validated. She finally got so
frustrated she had me reinstall her old copies of XP & Office
2000 and has been happy ever since. I primarily use Ubuntu (12.04)
and didn’t even bother to have my Windows 7 re-validated the last
time I tried to use it. Microsoft successfully made Windows 7 secure
(read difficult to use) and frustrating (read by throwing up
“counterfeit” nag screens) so it doesn’t surprise me they
arrogantly choose to ignore their customer base. Perhaps with Windows
8 they are trying to recreate the “Vista” experience.
Jheggau

Just another reason I will stay with Windows 7. I have come to the conclusion, Windows 8 will be the equivilant of Wiondows ME
http://twitter.com/Tech_Gone_Wild Ezekiel Carsella

i do not care about the Start button and really like Metro and wish (or hope) they make a Google Sketch Up app for the Windows Store because I love it sooo much!!
Stuartsmith

I will not be installing windows EIGHT.
It is me that must make the choice, not Microsoft.
So there you have it!!
You supply it, I will make the choice NOT you!!!
Pklemz

To much of a change all at once. It should be more gradule. Metro is fine if all you have ever used is are “mobile app devices”. But those of us who grew up on the standard Windows GUI will not readily accept such a drastic change.
Az_zak

Well, most businesses have either just recently deployed Windows 7 or are in process of deploying Windows 7, which will probably be the new XP. Windows 9 will be out before you see any serious consideration beyond Windows 7, especially latge companies.
- Az_zak
  
  I should also mention that I work in an environment with 100K+ Windows PC’s
Mathman47

So far, I think I’ll stay with Win7 Pro – I have it on 4 PCs. Win8 would confuse the hell out of at least 2 users here, plus the expense.
Finnfishin

Waiting for final preview version but as it stands right now I would go with Linux Mint over Windows 8 any day. There is very little that I like about it so far, Hope they can get it right before final release.
Nick

Most people here obviously completely failed to learn how to use the new “start menu” properly. It’s as simple as hitting the windows key on your keyboard and just type the first letter of whatever screen you want to load. For example you want to open the Control Panel? Hit the windows key, type C and bam you’ll see the shortcut to it immediately and be able to open it as fast as you could on Windows 7. I actually find it easier like this. I for one, work in IT and have been using the Consumer Preview as a main OS since day 1. I do presentations to my clients, use heavily reporting tools, SQL Server and many other software without any issues whatsoever. The OS is very responsive and aside from a slightly high CPU usage I couldn’t find any flaws to it so far.
- RossN
  
  Thanks for the hint. But how do I see a list of shortcuts to *all* my installed programs? Sometimes I can’t think of the name of the one I’m looking for.
  - 123321
    
    go to the start screen and right click. you will find a button ‘all apps’ in the lower right corner. click it and you will see all your apps
Cantello

Seems just pedantic NOT to give users the choice of a start button … what is Microsoft afraid of?
Ibrahimjal

Well I like the idea of a change, that is what makes technology great, things evolve but if there is the possibility of giving people option of doing what suits them best I think it should be a plus. Let’s state what we like and dislike and hopefully Microsoft would be listening. I am sure they know what they are doing, that is why the y have always been on top.
RossN

If Microsoft allow a Start > Programs menu (or a third party comes to the rescue), I might buy Windows 8.
Otherwise, I’ll be looking for a Windows 7 license and/or Linux Mint.
Mjleprix1

With so many users preferring a start menu, why disappoint them,it doesn’t make sense. At least give people the opportunity to choose, and make the hack unneccessary. Its a no brainer for me.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5WJGC7242GFDP2QXANKF5WTMEA Rex
  
  May seem like a no brainer, but in reality, it shows you don’t understand at all. I am tired of trying to explain it, the truth is out there. People like you are just unwilling to use simple logic while using the new system to understand how it works. I will give you a clue, in Windows 3.1, windows ran on top of DOS, in windows XP, the command prompt runs on top of the GUI. There is a correlation here. If you understand that, you will see the start menu is superfluous.
Mouradlayadi

the start button make easy to use pc, but we can work with out,
it’s question of time.
Robertandmoira

Lets move on. Forget about start button. The new system is the way forward
Mornoffi

mornoffi no a start button on windows8.this seems a very insecure wai an operating system
czer27

Removing the Start Menu is big shit.
- 123321
  
  why?
KirklandE

Truly amazing comments. Get into the typical car, and simple tasks like turning on the A/C or tuning a radio station happen in a variety of ways – turning knobs, pushing buttons, touching screens, sliding levers, and probably more. None of these are typically top reasons to select or reject the car. It’s a machine that provides a utility, and learning how to engage the different parts of the machine takes all of a few seconds. By the next week, it takes no thought or effort at all.

But make it a computer, and suddenly it is a decision of life or death, Hatfields or McCoys, Republicans and Democrats, capitalism or socialism, and yes, Microsoft versus Apple. Not for me.

Desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, smartphones, game consoles, etc. are all machines that have only one purpose – make my life better. If I have to click, double-click, tap, double-tap, swipe, claw, or speak, it won’t make or break my day.
Indra Nawawi Daeng Parani

Dear Onuora,

Passing through the Microsoft Windows Software timeline, there’re so many Operating System that had been modified and become branches, secte and even into a small fraction spread in the environmental computer community where we have to adapt and use them. There’s no way out except to take them for granted and all are meaningful only if we’re lucky to choose the best option for freedom and use them for our best comfort.

In this era, the workshop has been working very hard to please the users by decraring the software earlier to the public hoping to have feedbacks and hearings from the user in order to maximize the use of the Software Product. The communication system sound good, but still leave some unfortunate, even it had try very hard the decrease the gap. We understand that our computing machines would never stop for there is always ways provided by Microsoft in Windows to still use other Windows Operating System which is suitable for the machine.

The first sight and the start buttons doesn’t matter, for it can be ajusted and modified into many different shapes and colors in our favor as long as we master the computer desktop and control panels. This is the unique method provided for our freedom in Windows to find out and do it by ourself. For the first time user, it would be difficult at the beginning, but later everything move better than the previous Windows Releases. On June 1, 2012. Microsoft will declare its new Windows Release Preview 2.5 GB in which it will be release for the Windows followers as a final production where we haven’t seen it. So why turn to other computer software?

Thank you.
refresh02

Build 8400 works seamlessly. I like it.

The Ahha moment? The Start Menu “Metro Tiles” is the new
landscape. It can be expanded to have apps of
your persuasion.

The Familiar “Desktop” can be pinned there as well and as well to
the taskbar once you have it up. I get it NOW!

We all have to think outside of the box and prove the potential until there
is change. By stepping back assessing to moving beyond what becomes “The
Familiar”. Learning by doing.

Hmmm! As for Enterprise use… That is a determination IT has to grapple with. As with any software it will be tweaked and integrated into their IT Business Culture.

I work with Win7 that is just starting to be refreshed from XP . Win7 has the the Home premium splash screen as each business builds their own desktop from software they use as well as the enterprise wide apps.

At home is win7, XP and variety of Mac OSXs……Variety is the spice of life………
Robin

I will stick with xp for now and maybe update to windows 7 but I will not be bullied my the mighty microsoft . I like the simlpicity of the start menu which enables me to do what I want easily.
I will migrate to apple of this goes ahead at least they listen to their CUSOMERS.

Microsoft should at least give us a choice,it will be their loss
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5WJGC7242GFDP2QXANKF5WTMEA Rex
  
  And you are going to tell us that you actually tried Windows 8? I guarantee if you use Windows XP, that everything you think you can do simply on XP can be so much more efficient on 8. How can 10 minute boot times be better than the 15 odd seconds it takes my 6 year old PC to boot? I am tired of people asking for a choice. You made your choice, as dumb as I think it is. MS is listening to its customers. It is using telemetry of us who actually use Windows 8. Since you obviously will not be buying Windows 8, you really aren’t a customer.
alexrogers1991

leave a tablet os on a tablet and a desktop os on the desktop .. there is a reason a desktop is not a tablet and that is because it actually DOES WORK :O … and at least.. having been a mac owner for a year now.. i can say that apple knows how to do os updates.. after all they give the user a choice.. they didnt just kill dvd playback with lion when it became a digital download did they? and its still in the developer release 3 of mountain lion as well… Apple realizes that many use isos and that an internal cd drive is worth making external.. but you dont see them axing dvd playback just because ” who uses cds.. *windows 8 dvd playback removed COUGH* oh and btw.. unlike windows and their damn ” piracy concerns.. on a mac i can mount my recovery show hidden files and click the install mac os button which downloads a disk image from apples servers that it uses to reinstall your os over the internet.. crash it burn to disc and VOILA as many cds as you need.. none of this ” 1 copy only bs” .. so yes im a windows guy but from support, to how their computers are made all the way to implementation apple knows how to care for their varying users.. after all they disnt just go BAM iOS suck it.. and thts what microsoft is doing.. they are basically saying ” BAM.. windows phone .. dont like it screw you o.o “
123321

oh people come on, stop arguing about the start button. it is gone! you will get used to it.
wiz

“ViStart” worked just fine on Win8CP/RP.
“ClassicShellSetup” works better.
Naniboot the 18th

I installed the latest win 8 build, used up 4 days wondering what the huh?
I like the Metro for web browzing and simple kiddie games. Can be a
pain when I have to flip back and forth to do regular desktop work.
The missing start button and menus did tick me off for awhile.
Here’s my circular journey.

I downloaded a Chinese win8mastersetup menu addon, to make things better.
Could only manage to change 90 % to English. It worked, but the more I used it, the more I decided that it’s too big with many ways of doing the same thing.
Finding out that there IS, a limited desktop menu, by right clicking on bottom left corner, got me thinking, all I really need is a program list and a win apps list.
Next.
Made a toolbar folder in the taskbar, with the lists inside, and even changed the folder to a start button icon in the corner. It’s ok, but too simple to delete.
Next.
I installed ClassicShellSetup. Very customizable. Cut it down to bare bones. Put start programs in hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder
All menu has now, are Shutdown modes, Program and Win app lists, and Document Userfiles button.
That’s it, great job until, I just realized,
the programs now show up in the explorer document libraries. So if I wanted to use that instead, and just use power down in the charms on the right side of desktop, I wouldn’t need a start menu!
Hmm. Microsoft really made me angry for awhile. Well, they gave us umpteen ways to do the same thing. Now we only have a few ways.
I still think they could have made a slightly better minimalistic menu.
Redundancy was too cushy for us. Lean is the new Mean!
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips Naniboot the 18th

Well I used the classicshellsetup start menu for awhile.
Looks kind of funny with only three entries, menu is only
one inch high!

Just found there is a way, to just add and subtract links
for files and folders, on the left corner menu,(Win+X menu),
that is in Windows 8.
The program is called Win + X Menu Editor.
Works great, and I haven’t really modified Win 8 that much.
Everything I need, are in those basic links.
Below is what my Win+X menu looks like:

System
Task Manager
Computer Management
——————-
Run
Search
Shutdown
Control Panel
File Explorer
——————-
Windows Accessories
My user documents
Program Apps
Desktop

Thanks. I am a now happy win8 user.
http://www.facebook.com/MCRobins Mc Robins

It’s dumb people complain about not having the start menu when the start screen is so much faster. You can customize it just like the start menu and there are less clicks that way. So in 7 it’s start>all programs> the program folder> then the program. In 8 it’s Hot corner> program. and if you used 7 efficiently it’s start button> type what you want> enter. Which is the same in 8. It’s not Microsoft’s fault you can’t think outside of a box. Not to mention right clicking in that same corner brings up Control panel, task manager, device manager etc.

Microsoft double down on removing the Start Menu

Here are some quotes by some wise people that are being ignored:

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Microsoft double down on removing the Start Menu

Here are some quotes by some wise people that are being ignored:

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