Start8 allows you to get back to Windows 7.

"philo" wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

Replacing the Windows shell is nothing new. That ability has been
available for a long time (I believe since Windows 3.1).

There was an after-market shell called Calmira which gave win3x
the win9x gui

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calmira

That's the one that I remember (after you jogged my memory) for Win3.1
that shows a Win95 GUI. The registry was first introduced back in
Windows 3.1 but I don't have an old Windows 3.1 instance to check if its
registry had that Shell registry entry to know that is how Calmira did
the shell takeover.

A partial listing of some shell replacements:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_shell_replacement

I tried developer version of Win8 and there was *simple* registry hack
to get rid of Metro. I was told by the users of Win8 that the registry
hack has been eliminated for the final version...so a 3rd party utility
is needed.

I think that registry entry was to turn off the Metro UI, not to replace
the Windows shell. Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) was still the
Windows shell and the config setting in the registry told Windows
Explorer not to present that feature of its shell. From a Google
search, the means to disable the Metro UI (before Microsoft disabled it
by making explorer.exe ignore it) was:

- Go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer
- Modify the following data item:
RPEnabled
from: 1
to: 0

I think another method was to rename the shsxs.dll file and you got back
the Win7 GUI. Of course, it is possible a later update from Microsoft
replaces this file with a new version so the file returns and so does
the Metro UI. Someday a vulnerability will probably be discovered
inside of shsxs.dll and they'll have to replace it.

Better is to tell Windows that you've replaced its entire desktop
manager with something else. Of course, that means more than just
showing a Start menu so I'm not sure any of these start menu programs
are yet that capable. That's why I'm wondering if they overwrite the
Shell registry entry to claim they are the Windows shell or if they use
some startup entry or a service to effect their changes.

"BillW50" wrote:

philo typed:

There was an after-market shell called Calmira which gave win3x
the win9x gui

Wow really? Here I used Command.com as the shell way back then. I never
heard of Calmira. That sounds really nice. I wish I had known this. :-(

That had you open a console window *inside* of Windows, not exit from
Windows to open a base console window within which the command-line
interpreter got loaded as specified in config.sys (or the default one if
not specified). Inside of Windows, running command.com opened a new
window, the console (to handle stdin, stdout, and stderr), and loaded
the command-line interpreter. That is NOT the same as replacing the
entire desktop manager (aka Windows shell) that you see inside of
Windows as its desktop.

In ,
VanguardLH typed:
"BillW50" wrote:

philo typed:

There was an after-market shell called Calmira which gave win3x
the win9x gui

Wow really? Here I used Command.com as the shell way back then. I
never heard of Calmira. That sounds really nice. I wish I had known
this. :-(

That had you open a console window *inside* of Windows, not exit from
Windows to open a base console window within which the command-line
interpreter got loaded as specified in config.sys (or the default one
if not specified). Inside of Windows, running command.com opened a
new window, the console (to handle stdin, stdout, and stderr), and
loaded the command-line interpreter. That is NOT the same as
replacing the entire desktop manager (aka Windows shell) that you see
inside of Windows as its desktop.

Naw... you are talking about something else. I am talking about
replacing the shell in the registry at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

My key currently says on most of my machines:

Shell=C:\Program Files\Aston2\Aston2.exe\

Although in Windows 3.1 had the shell loaded from system.ini (or was it
win.ini?).

But in the past, you could replace explorer.exe with command.com (later
with cmd.exe). And it booted up looking just like DOS. And no startup
programs loads, no taskbar, no start button, etc. It really works, you
should try it someday. I used to plug in fileman or progman for a shell
sometimes too. ;-)

Also interesting is Microsoft created a free virtual desktop called
"Desktops". What makes this interesting is that I can have more than one
shell at a time. Here I can have one desktop running Aston Shell and the
other uses Explorer Shell (normal Windows Desktop). And I can switch
between the two instantly. ;-)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../cc817881.aspx

I tried Desktops v1 under Windows 8 and I couldn't get it to work.
Although I see they now have Desktops v2 and maybe this one will work
under Windows 8. I also had limited success getting Aston Shell to work
under Windows 8. There is not a problem with earlier versions of Windows
and Aston Shell.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz - 4GB - Windows XP SP2

In news:alt.comp.os.windows-8, philo+AKA- posted on Thu,
27 Dec 2012 16:59:14 -0600 the following:

There was an after-market shell called Calmira which gave win3x
the win9x gui

I used PlugIn in Windows 3.11. I just loved that. It made the interface
a lot more useful and efficient, but it didn't really change the overall
look.

Damaeus

On 28 Dec 2012, Damaeus wrote in
alt.comp.os.windows-8:

I used PlugIn in Windows 3.11. I just loved that. It made the
interface a lot more useful and efficient, but it didn't really
change the overall look.

I remember that! PlugIn in Windows was a very configurable program
launcher that included very capable macro abilities. I registered the
shareware and stuck with it a very long time.

In news:alt.comp.os.windows-8, Nil posted
on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:32:24 -0500 the following:

On 28 Dec 2012, Damaeus wrote in
alt.comp.os.windows-8:

I used PlugIn in Windows 3.11. I just loved that. It made the
interface a lot more useful and efficient, but it didn't really
change the overall look.

I remember that! PlugIn in Windows was a very configurable program
launcher that included very capable macro abilities. I registered the
shareware and stuck with it a very long time.

Yes, if I remember correctly, you could configure a right-click context
menu that could be used by clicking on the desktop, and you could have
text "shortcuts" to your programs. It essentially gave you something sort
of like a Start Menu in Program Manager, but through the context menu.

I think when Windows95 came out, so much of what PlugIn had would have
been redundant in Win95, so I didn't really have much of a need for it.

I remember reading the story about the guy who wrote PlugIn. I think he
was just some guy at his computer who knew how to write programs, and
PlugIn was so successful that he made something like $280,000 off of it in
one year, but it's been like 15 years since I read about him.

I helped contribute to that. My dad liked it, too, and he registered a
copy.

In ,
Ken Blake typed:
Yes, but Explorer is a different thing from the task bar, which is
what we were talking about.

Stock Windows runs explorer.exe as the shell. You can change this if you
like through the registry. And explorer.exe controls the desktop,
taskbar, startup programs, backgrounds, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_shell

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core2 Duo T5600 1.83GHz - 4GB - Windows XP SP2

I don't know why people would by Windows-8 and then do everything they can
to make it like Windows-7! I bought 8 and used it for close to a month,
don't think it's any better than Win-ME and have gone back to Win-7. MS has
to do better than this I think.

"Evgenii Sputnik" wrote in message
...

Hello Windows8users!

I recently installed Windows 8, found it useless.
And removed.

But then I heard of Start8 for Windows8.

I installed it.... and found Windows 8 works!
(Exactly like Windows 7 worked but even faster!)

Google "Start8" or follow my link
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/, newsgrouper!

Start8 gets back normal Windows 7 on Windows 8.

NEW KERNEL - CLASSICAL INTERFACE! MUST HAVE FOR EVERYONE!

(Unless you are fan of Windows 8 interface....)

--
Evgenii Sputnik +79134596180
We should create misc.phone.mobile.android newsgroup....

Ought to do a spell check!!

"jimrx4" wrote in message ...

I don't know why people would by Windows-8 and then do everything they can
to make it like Windows-7! I bought 8 and used it for close to a month,
don't think it's any better than Win-ME and have gone back to Win-7. MS has
to do better than this I think.

"Evgenii Sputnik" wrote in message
...

Hello Windows8users!

I recently installed Windows 8, found it useless.
And removed.

But then I heard of Start8 for Windows8.

I installed it.... and found Windows 8 works!
(Exactly like Windows 7 worked but even faster!)

Google "Start8" or follow my link
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/, newsgrouper!

Start8 gets back normal Windows 7 on Windows 8.

NEW KERNEL - CLASSICAL INTERFACE! MUST HAVE FOR EVERYONE!

(Unless you are fan of Windows 8 interface....)

--
Evgenii Sputnik +79134596180
We should create misc.phone.mobile.android newsgroup....

On 12/29/2012 3:17 PM, jimrx4 wrote:
I don't know why people would by Windows-8 and then do everything they
can to make it like Windows-7! I bought 8 and used it for close to a
month, don't think it's any better than Win-ME and have gone back to
Win-7. MS has to do better than this I think.

There are people that can't let go of their Commodores, Apple II's,
CP/M's, and DOS machines too. And your point being? And if Windows 8
doesn't turn into another ME, can we sue your butt for being so wrong?
If not, then what is your point?

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v12
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8

On Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:27:35 -0600, BillW50 wrote:

On 12/29/2012 3:17 PM, jimrx4 wrote:
I don't know why people would by Windows-8 and then do everything they
can to make it like Windows-7! I bought 8 and used it for close to a
month, don't think it's any better than Win-ME and have gone back to
Win-7. MS has to do better than this I think.

There are people that can't let go of their Commodores, Apple II's,
CP/M's, and DOS machines too. And your point being? And if Windows 8
doesn't turn into another ME, can we sue your butt for being so wrong?
If not, then what is your point?

The plain fact is, that if you buy a new Windows computer off the
shelf you don't have a choice. WalMart, BestBuy, Costco all the same.
Cosco took their Win7 computers off the shelf before they even got the
new Win8s to replace them. At least our local Cosco did. I wonder if
there was a buy back program? Ever since Win 8 came out the only place
you can find a new computer without Win 8 is to go the manufacturer
and pay an extra $200 to get Windows 7. That's my experience. I
finally broke down and bought one with Win8 and saved myself $200.

On 12/29/2012 4:53 PM, Walt wrote:
On Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:27:35 -0600, wrote:

On 12/29/2012 3:17 PM, jimrx4 wrote:
I don't know why people would by Windows-8 and then do everything they
can to make it like Windows-7! I bought 8 and used it for close to a
month, don't think it's any better than Win-ME and have gone back to
Win-7. MS has to do better than this I think.

There are people that can't let go of their Commodores, Apple II's,
CP/M's, and DOS machines too. And your point being? And if Windows 8
doesn't turn into another ME, can we sue your butt for being so wrong?
If not, then what is your point?

The plain fact is, that if you buy a new Windows computer off the
shelf you don't have a choice. WalMart, BestBuy, Costco all the same.
Cosco took their Win7 computers off the shelf before they even got the
new Win8s to replace them. At least our local Cosco did. I wonder if
there was a buy back program? Ever since Win 8 came out the only place
you can find a new computer without Win 8 is to go the manufacturer
and pay an extra $200 to get Windows 7. That's my experience. I
finally broke down and bought one with Win8 and saved myself $200.

Both Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8 Pro has downgrade options. So if you
don't want the newer OS, you can always go back.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v12
Centrino Core2 Duo T7400 2.16 GHz - 4GB - Windows 8

On 12/29/2012 11:27 PM, BillW50 wrote:
And if Windows 8 doesn't turn into another ME, can we sue your butt for
being so wrong?

It will go the same way as Me and Vista: nowhere. It's not even
outselling what Vista did. It won't "turn into" anything. It is what it
is. Hopefully, Windows 9, or whatever they call it, will show a lesson
has been learned once again.

--
Alias