Tihiy

While valid suggestion, it hardly applies to modern Windows 8 computers. I'm fine with Win+C+Enter for example because i hardly go into Modern UI.

On the second thought, Alt+Win is not so good since Alt triggers menu. So probably i'll stick to Ctrl+Win by default.

I hope moderators will be able to fix this. I think i would prefer Alt+Win (Win+Alt) as it makes most sense and easy to reach.

I've added poll to know about how we would like to get to Start Screen. We need to select some reasonable defaults... constructive ideas are very welcome!

Which quote is right? What there are animations or there are not?

It turns out Beta 1 wasn't cracked after all, it's just maxtorix who cofused us. However, i consider beta 2 private testing huge success. I got to meet a lot of nice people and got donations too Working hard to deliver next pulic version before November. Win+C+Enter won't do? As a workaround, you can disable start menu translucency. I'll try to fix this, but i can't promise the quick one. There are animations opening and closing it for me.

Use Win+X for now.

Send me this theme, i'll see if it's my issue. Yes, that's exactly what i planned to do. As well as PNG support. I tried before. There's a bug in this pseudo-aero - any kind of animations with window will be screwed, so no.

Unfortunately, it's not in system resources i can pull out. But i shall fix it later.Thanks for all the letters guys

"Pin to start" or "Pin to start menu"? Does "Pin to taskbar" shows if "Pin to start menu" doesn't? Does pinning Office 2010 shortcuts by drag&drop works, are the shortcuts usable?

BETA 2 - PRIVATE ONLY I've sent link and password for donators and pals i trust. Please store it in a safe place and don't share it. You can try to email me to startisback at gmail dot com and request to join private testing, if you think you're worth it. Oh joy, lot of changes! Say "thanks" to Pwned@BetaArchive for not being able to test this version. Next public version won't come until i create proper protection system.

I never said that. If he reports bug, he does it in Ex7forW8 thread. I see just empty menu; that's okay.

I guess you're changing registry with license capatibilities key. That's only approach which does not require any files to implant into system, so it's very cool! In StartIsBack i planned to hook license functions too, but found how to work Metro around without this.

It's very nice, but still modifies system things as i see. I'll make free tool which skips metro w/o system modifying after finishing StartIsBack.

itoy, can you tell me about Chinese system experience?

Most likely you haven't installed it right. Anyway uninstall with reg file, Win+R should be working. And i hope you didn't left Start8/Classic Shell installed. Let's take a lookTry downloading DebugView from sysinternals and post debug log (dbgview running when you open start menu and it closes itself) here or PM. Also try invoking Start menu with Ctrl-Esc.

BETA ONE "THE ONE" http://tihiy.net/files/StartIsBack_betaone.zip * Will expire November 1. * No longer tied to RTM explorer.exe. Should work with all updates. Works with Release Preview also (but i won't spend my efforts on it). * Slighly improved cracking protection. Some AV programs may detect heuristic malware. FIXED: * Start_AdminToolsTemp issue * Start button could be closed with Alt-F4 NEW: * Start Is Apps! Now the separation between desktop and Metro i promised is here (optional). When you enable it: - Start will be renamed to Apps - Pin to Start will disappear from shell context menus - Desktop programs will be hidden from Metro start screen and all apps list * Start/App screen can show on right winkey (optional) * Start/App screen hides on Alt-F4 * Start menu is transparent (optional) * Taskbar is not (optional) You must uninstall beta 0 and logoff since you can't replace files while StartIsBack is working. Don't worry, installer will come soon!

Press Win-X. I may combine this menu with right-click startbutton menu in the future. I did, but answer didn't appear Beta 1 is coming later, new features to test and cracking to make more difficult...

Booo! Now i'll have to delay or cripple Beta 1...

Welcome back, glad to see you! Please come later when non-beta begins. Thanks With all due respect, Tihiy.

Now an explanation i owe you guys about 'very special magic'. There is still start menu code present in explorer.exe. Because it's shared with jump list code, it wasn't removed totally. Several shell interfaces were deprecated and removed alongside with some start menu code. I reimplemented them (during Ex7forW8 development) and several parts of start menu, as well i had to reimplement start button, win key code and other things. How hacky is this? Fortunately, a bit. It's not hackorama-all-over, just two private functions in explorer.exe i have to call. Q: Will Microsoft remove start menu code and break StartIsBack? A: No, it's almost impossible since it's tied with jump list code and requires rearchitecting explorer.exe code, which they won't do until next Windows version.

BETA ZERO REFRESH: http://tihiy.net/files/StartIsBack_betazero.zip Only StartIsBackCfg.exe updated. * Fixed 'List of index' issue * Fixed admin tools setting not working * Pictures and Music items settings shown

Absolutely agree on those. Suppose you have testing experience? Though mostly minor, i'll try to fix all this stuff. There is no installer. We would talk a bit later when there would be one... It will be in half-usable state like you've seen. Unfortunately in this state explorer is not communicable. I'm not exactly sure yet how to work around such situation. However, it's unlikely to happen (once we have installer). I'm not sure how detailed that explanation should be for everyone to understand. For user flexibility, this option will be (it if happens) configurable.

That's an awesome idea, but implementation would be very hard. Metro is run in isolated windowing subsystem which can be overlaid only on top of everything, you wouldn't want such gadgets

Ah someone leaked it to Neowin... i hope Andrea Borman doesn't come here, otherwise i'll have to switch to closed testing.