Tihiy

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.

Please note: this program is not freeware. However, useful beta testers will be receiving license keys for free. Translators are also required DOWNLOAD version 2.1: http://www.startisback.com/StartIsBack_setup.exe NOTE: This version is fully featured trial evaluation and will work for 30 days. After 30 days, start menu will go blank and every boot there will be nag about trial over.

Ladies and Gentleman, i proudly present you StartIsBack, version 1.0! http://www.startisback.com Short story: I've reinstated Windows 7 start menu without using any files from win7 and it's awesome. No Ex7forW8 limitations. Long story: There is a problem with Metro on desktop. In fact, there are many: - Removed Start Menu and other UI and voiding existing Windows skills and muscle memory - Touch paradigm works bad for mouse - Metro multi-tasking is breaking usual workflow and can be very annoying on desktop - New Start Screen is not so cool and quickly becomes a mess unless you keep it clean, which is hard So i've took the chances and i'm rethinking Win8 / Metro interface. That's what i've done: Restored Desktop to its place With StartIsBack, computer starts to desktop. Always. Unlike other tools, which 'skip' Metro by sending keypresses, StartIsBack loads Metro alternative way and keeps it in its place. Restored Windows 7 Start Menu and Start Button There are tons of start menu clones (check the thread here), but they're all inferior. StartIsBack restores original Windows 7 start menu (with very special magic). It's NOT a replica, it's 100% original Start Menu as you remember it, with search, drag&drop, customization, etc. Start Menu is shown on Win key, as you expect. Start button is behaving as you remember it. Disabled hot corners By default, all but charms hot corners are disabled. You can customize which corners to show on desktop. And this works better than in any start menu clones i've tried. Modified Start Screen Now, we have Start and Start. Start Menu and Start Screen. Both search and start programs. Isn't that schizophrenic? So! Start Screen is no longer Start Screen. It's Apps Screen and shows only Metro programs (optionally). This way, Metro and Desktop experience are separated and Start screen is just a launcher for funny Metro apps, while real work and programs run in Desktop. Also not in your startmenu replacer No extra services running, no extra processes running, no files patched, no admin rights required, fully translated into your language. Additional features * There is no startup programs delay with StartIsBack * You can close Start Screen with Alt-F4 * F3 on desktop launches standard search * Press Ctrl+Win to invoke Start Screen (configurable) * Choose start button orb from thousands of alternate ones * Use msstyles with natively skinned start menu So that's how i make Windows 8 desktop better. Now, let's discuss and try beta. Rules for this topic: * No Metro flamewars * No off-topic * No whining 'please restore this function from win7' * Constructive concepts are welcome You can contact me startisback at gmail dot com

Staring Metro in explorer7 is not possible. However, there is another big thing coming. Stay tuned.

Call programmatically PostMessage(HWND_BROADCAST,RegisterWindowMessage("SHELLHOOK"),HSHELL_TASKMAN,GetDesktopWindow()); after closing your messagebox. That won't work however if other windows are open on desktop. It is for me.

No, changing registry does not change file system.

Because you're upgrading. Uninstall first if you want to install to another folder. Yes.

Yes, i did. You mean desktop context menu? You need to have correct paths in reg file as well as ex7forw8c.exe placed into installation directory.

Version 1.0 http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_1.0.zip - Installer: can create shortcuts for all users or only this user - Tool: now properly switches shells for non-admin users - Explorer7: fixed MFU list displaying duplicate items; fixed minor memory leak

No. But maybe someone does? Beta 6 and up create fake Metro instance apps can talk to, IE could be hanging before beta 6. Although it's not supported installation scenario, i will fix that, hanging is bad :>

Not easy path, sorry. Easiest possible now would be - portable install, grab win7 files, then copy installed dir into mounted install.wim, then integrate desktopcontextmenu.reg from scripting zip into offline registry and save wim and re-create iso. Depending on your skill level, it could be hard. I could create easier way if you ask me how easy you want it to be.

No. Metro UI has to be started, and it's possible only from Microsoft digitally signed binary.

Version 0.9 http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_0.9.zip - Tool: accepts en-US mui files as fallback for any language - Tool: improved open speed (does not try to patch explorer each time) - Tool: command line options (see scripting guide) - Explorer7: fixed 'Exit explorer' not unloading explorer.exe fully. Scripting guide: http://tihiy.net/files/Ex7forW8_scripting.zip Tells you how to install / uninstall / patch silently. Also add a nice context menu to desktop menu to switch shells on the fly. NOTE: if you run installer from explorer7, installer will restart explorer.exe elevated which can be undesirable. So better switch back to explorer8 before upgrading. Thank you. Now donate j/k

You mean as in Windows 8, right?

There is no en-GB variant of windows 7? Anyway i'll provide en-US fallback.

Groundbreaking News - Totally New Version! http://tihiy.net/files/ex7forW8_0.8.zip - New, automated Andrea Borman-proof GUI installer / patcher. Automatically extracts or copies needed Windows 7 files. - Explorer7/8 are treated as the same program on taskbar; no need to re-pin - "Pin to Start Menu" strings are localized from shell32.dll.mui I'm not dead and bring you goodies! Now Ex7forW8 (that's how i call it for short) is totally awesome. NOTE: registry is no longer changed when you switch shells, 7.reg/8.reg are obsolete. That's is the reason you must uninstall previously installed beta versions!

Can anyone confirm this? It should be fixed by next version. Yep, should do it. Yes, that's an issue but it's minor since you can still pin by drag&drop and unpin using "remove from this list". Thanks, i'll look into it.

Ah so you hate everyone, not just me. That's good. Long story short, there is target audience for this product so there is point for it to exist. I agree it's technically not the best implementation possible, but it's good enough. Feel free to bash.

You should. Also try to find a precedent of legal persecution for patching windows files to change ui with various programs. Registering just to bash my work i consider trolling. Or obsessive agressive behavior, you call it.

I didn't. Who use do, but adapting programs for personal use is absolutely legal in most countries. You didn't. Someone else did (under applicable law), otherwise we wouldn't be having any kind of programs which change Windows UI.This talk is pointless because my work is legal for me. For you, it is too, unless you have a law which explicely disallows this. Also it's pointless because you troll. In other news, i didn't have time to work on project but hope to bring good news soon.

Beta 7 is here - attached to first post - Tray icon settings are stored separately for explorer7; wipe no longer needed - Show Desktop button has slightly different style - Windows start-up sound is always played You must uninstall previous versions first to reset tray icon settings for the last time.

Found how to clean up WinSxs after removing components: run "dism /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup" don't forget /online or /image: keys

It is found that win8 thinks you have touch input and thus gives you touch-optimized button. Are you sure previous patches had smaller button? Can anyone confirm? Test with previous version.