Classic Shell: Forum

Classic Shell uses the startup registry key only as a backup mechanism (for example if you do a in-place upgrade of the OS). That's because on Windows 8 and newer the startup programs run with 10 second delay. The start menu hooks into Explorer directly to ensure it is ready right away.

The ClassicStartMenu process is not the one that implements the start menu. It is only there to monitor the Explorer process and reenable the start menu if Explorer restarts for some reason.

The proper way to disable the start menu is to uncheck the setting "Start automatically for this user" in the Global Behavior tab of Start Menu Settings.

I did what you said to do and was able to disable the CS Start Button. But when I went into File Explorer, CLassic Shell File Explorer was still on the Explorer Bar, allowing me to change the Navigation Pane to various styles. Is this a running program that can also be disabled?
Finally, on a different matter, I have a question that probably belongs under"future enhancements". I just got a Windows 8.1 system a couple of weeks ago and was surprised to see that the Preview Pane could not be minimized. When in Windows 7 Explorer, I am able to see a preview of a file in the Preview Pane and adjust the size of that preview to be vanishingly small. In Windows 8.1, the minimum size of my preview area is 2" across, and I cannot shrink it further. I can hide the pane entirely, but when not hidden, its minimum size is 2" on my 15.6" laptop screen. I was hoping that the Classic Shell would address this deficiency, but so far it hasn't (as far as I can tell). I can choose the Navigation Panel style, but not Preview Pane sizing. Can this be fixed so it works like Windows 7 Explorer and lets the Preview Pane be shrunk down to nothing?
Thanks for your help. BTW, what I like best about the CS is the Windows Update area. The Windows 8.1 design of the view and install updates area ranks with one of the worst designs in MicroSoft's long history. CS eliminates the suffering.

Yes, it is a shell extension, a DLL which runs when you run Explorer.exe. You can disable it too. Go to Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Programs tab. Click Manage Add-ons and disable the Classic Explorer related addons. That will disable the Explorer addon.

The Preview pane can't be resized in Windows 8 because Microsoft stupidly merged the Details pane with it. You can use this app, OldNewExplorer: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/170375- ... win78-one/ to show the Details pane at the bottom. That will also allow you to make the preview pane smaller.

Disclaimer: Third party software recommended is only for your convenience. Use at your own risk. Classic Shell is not responsible for anything that happens to your PC from using it.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thank you very much for the information. It's strange how little buzz there is on the web about the lack of a re-sizeable preview pane. As both a new Windows 8.1 user and a new CS user, I wasn't sure if it was CS or Windows 8.1 causing the "problem", which is why I wanted to disable CS. I'll probably live with the anomaly for now. If you've seen the beta, do you know if MS has corrected this in Windows 10?

I meant to also ask what prohibits the CS programmers from making the Windows 8 preview pane like Windows 7? You gave me a link to a third party who had done so, therefore, it is technically possible. Since your application is all about the classic look, why stop short?

I have no idea how OldNewExplorer does this trick. Most software, particularly software that modifies the OS like OldNewExplorer or Classic Shell, is not at all obvious. It requires a lot of spelunking and experimentation to figure it out.