Windows 8.1 Start Menu: Get the Windows 10 Look
Windows 10: New Features and the Updated Start Menu
Microsoft formally unveiled the upcoming enhancements for Windows 10 on January 21st. Most of these improvements will become accessible upon the official release of the update.
However, users are not required to wait to experience some of the changes. The redesigned Windows 10 Start menu is available for immediate use.
Exploring the New Start Menu
The updated Start menu offers a streamlined experience. It combines the familiarity of classic Windows layouts with modern features.
Users can now personalize the Start menu with more live tiles. This allows for quick access to frequently used applications and information.
Further Updates Coming Soon
Beyond the Start menu, a range of new functionalities are anticipated. These will be rolled out with the full Windows 10 update.
Microsoft has focused on improving performance and security. These enhancements aim to provide a more robust and reliable operating system.
The company also highlighted improvements to core apps. These updates are designed to enhance user productivity and overall experience.
Availability and Rollout
While the exact release date remains unspecified, Microsoft intends to deliver the update in the coming months.
The rollout will likely be phased, beginning with early adopters and gradually expanding to all Windows 10 users.
Important Notice
Recent reports indicate that several antivirus programs are flagging this application as adware. While our testing did not reveal any advertising activity, we are proactively removing the article from our newsletter as a precautionary measure.
The application itself isn't particularly robust, and its removal won't significantly impact your experience. The original publication of this article may have been premature.
Achieving a Windows 10 Start Menu on Windows 8
Previously, we demonstrated how to restore the classic Start menu in Windows 8, utilizing a complimentary tool known as ViStart. This article will build upon that foundation, employing ViStart alongside supplementary skins to emulate a Windows 10-style Start menu.
Begin by downloading ViStart and executing the program. Unlike conventional software, it doesn’t require a traditional installation process. The downloaded executable file serves as the program itself.
Initial Setup and Skin Directory
Upon the first execution, ViStart will create a dedicated directory named “ViStart” within the “AppData” folder. This directory will be crucial for installing the Windows 10 Start menu skins.
If you launched ViStart after installation, right-click its icon in the system tray and select “Exit” to terminate the program.
Note: Exiting ViStart may cause the Start orb to disappear from the Taskbar. This appears to be a minor, temporary issue. The Start screen remains accessible by pressing the Windows key. The orb can be restored by logging out and back in, or by restarting your computer.
Downloading and Extracting the Skins
Download the Windows 10 Start menu skins, packaged as a .rar archive, and place it in the same directory as the ViStart executable. While you can save it elsewhere, maintaining proximity simplifies file management.
Utilize an extraction program capable of handling .rar files, such as 7-Zip, to unpack the archive’s contents.
Installing the Skins
Navigate to the extracted “Windows10 startmenu” directory.
Select all four directories contained within the “Windows10 startmenu” directory and copy them to your clipboard.
Press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” dialog box. Enter the following path into the “Open” field and click “OK.”
%apdata%\ViStart\_skins
Paste the copied directories into the “_skins” directory.
Replacing the Language File
Return to the directory containing the downloaded skins and copy the “English.xml” file.
Open the “Languages” directory by pressing Windows key + R, entering the following path, and clicking “OK.”
%apdata%\ViStart\Languages
It is recommended to rename the existing “English.xml” file before copying the new one. Double-click the filename (slowly, to enable editing) and modify it.
Alternatively, you can press F2 to rename the file.
Once the original file is renamed, copy the new “English.xml” file into the directory.
Configuring the Start Menu Style
To customize the Start menu’s appearance, right-click the ViStart icon in the system tray and select “Options.”
The “Control Panel” dialog box will appear. On the “Style” screen, choose a Windows 10-themed style from the “Which start menu would you like?” drop-down menu. The options are clearly labeled as “Windows10.”
You can also select your preferred Start orb style from the “What start orb would you like?” drop-down list.
Click “Configure” to access a screen where you can specify the elements displayed on the Start menu.
The “Desktop” screen allows you to control the behavior of the Start button and Windows key, system tray visibility, and startup settings for ViStart. It also allows you to adjust how Windows 8 features function. Remember that changes to the “How should the Windows 8 features work” section require a system restart to take effect.
The “About” screen provides information about ViStart, the current skin, and allows you to check for skin updates.
Close the “Control Panel” dialog box by clicking the “X” button in the upper-right corner.
You now have a Windows 10-like Start menu, blending the familiarity of the classic Start menu with elements of the Windows 8 Start screen.
This process can also be applied to install ViStart and these Windows 10 skins on Windows 7 and even Windows XP systems.
