AfterDawn: News

Report: Next Windows update to bring back Start menu

According to Paul Thurrott, Microsoft is planning to bring the entire Start Menu back with the next edition of Windows.

Codenamed "Threshold," Microsoft will supposedly bring back the Start menu, although it may only appear as an option for those that only keep desktop mode as their default.



For Windows 8.1, Microsoft brought back the Start button itself, but it is mostly cosmetic. An entire Start Menu will be reminiscent of all Windows operating systems before the launch of Windows 8, bringing easier search, access to programs and quick start apps along with control panel and computer options.

Additionally, the new update could add the ability to run "Modern" apps on the desktop, rather than the way it is now where you can choose the Modern interface, or Desktop with Modern apps run alongside. The new update will allows Modern apps to appear as separate windows on the desktop interface.

Finally, Windows RT will be done away with, say the sources, as Microsoft moves to a more simplified version of the operating system that will work across ARM-based Windows tablets, Windows Phone 8 (or 9) and even PCs. The standard Windows will live on for the PC market with full support for legacy apps.

The next Windows is expected for February 2015.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 9 Dec 2013 21:56

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• 48 comments

• elduderino

  About damn time. You learn to appreciate that start menu.

  10.12.2013 09:15 #1

• ddp

  can't they do an update to do that for win8 & 8.1 or do they have to redo the entire windows just to do that?
  

  10.12.2013 14:13 #2

• elduderino

  Originally posted by ddp: can't they do an update to do that for win8 & 8.1 or do they have to redo the entire windows just to do that? Great point. It's all about $$$$$$$ though.
  

  10.12.2013 14:18 #3

• KillerBug

  When I first read this I thought, "Great...they are bringing back the start menu on tuesday (with the NEXT UPDATE)"...but they are not doing it until Windows 9??? What a bunch of scammers.
  

  
  

  10.12.2013 15:24 #4

• Ripper

  I'm looking forward to all the sheeple coming out of the woodwork and crying out that Win9 should be "free" like Mavericks was - and not understanding why that won't be the case at all.
  
  (That being based on the assumption that MS just don't make enough money w/o Windows or they would, as people have said, put this update into 8.1 rather than re-release it as a new OS version.)
  

  
  

  10.12.2013 18:38 #5

• GryphB

  It makes me wonder where they got the impression no one was using the start button.

  10.12.2013 18:49 #6

• ddp

  god knows but it was a major screwup not having it in win8 & 8.1.
  

  10.12.2013 19:12 #7

• core2kid

  Probably the best $5 any Windows 8 user will spend.
  
  http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

  10.12.2013 19:32 #8

• SomeBozo

  I'm thinking this touches on a very sensitive point for me, i.e. the windows User Interface (UI). I'm a software tester and need to change a lot of settings often... Xp did some, Vista more, Win 7 more and Win 8 made things really down right inconvenient. Settings and options in XP or earlier were very easily accessible in the programs i needed to use because i knew windows well. Down side grandma or casual users would struggle doing common tasks. Thus the new OS versions changed the UI in order to help the casual user (nice really), but at the expense of others that need to go in and out of window settings...
  
  My suggestion is they need a system user UI and a layperson UI, or for that matter why not come up with a way in which windows itself could be skinned to customize and meet specific user needs... My alternative is i'll often write my own program do change settings in the registry or where ever myself, but a pain with i need to deal with lab machines without everything...
  
  
  

  10.12.2013 21:23 #9

• ddp

  core2kid, why pay $5 when can get off the net for free like i did?
  

  11.12.2013 14:14 #10

• Mrguss

  The way I see it:
  W-8 need a lot of push $ to be accepted.
  It's another Vista?!
  
  lol.
  

  +5000

  11.12.2013 19:03 #11

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by Mrguss: The way I see it:
  W-8 need a lot of push $ to be accepted.
  It's another Vista?!
  
  lol. I might disagree that money, marketing and advertizing is the way to make win8 and the metro interface accepted. I might disagree that Win8 is another Vista, you're being too generous :) I think it is more like another Bob :)
  

  11.12.2013 19:11 #12

• Mrguss

  Agree:
  I use Vista, here and there, is no "So bad" like many say.
  

  +5000

  11.12.2013 19:30 #13

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by Mrguss: Yup.
  I like Vista, still using it here and there. Yep that is the reason i think Win8 would be closer to Bob then Vista. I still remember being in meeting where Billg said Bob was the worse mistake they ever made...
  
  

  11.12.2013 19:37 #14

• ZippyDSM

  I hope they try harder to support older apps....
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  11.12.2013 21:52 #15

• megadunderhead

  Boooo!!!
  
  Still microsoft needs to lower the price and make it compatible with all processors
  

  11.12.2013 21:56 #16

• Jemborg

  I disagree with most of you.
  
  It's true that Start8 brings most of those Start button functions back (I thought it was a paid for only prog tho), but it can all be done in Explorer (and always has) and the new UI, it's just a pain for many to (re-)learn how and it's not as intuitive. I myself got used to it pretty quick on the pooters I was working on. I don't hate it or love it.
  
  Unlike Vista which I dislike immensely essentially because of it's speed. Yes, I still find it slow. Win8 is not slow so to call it worse than Vista I find utterly hilarious.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  11.12.2013 22:48 #17

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: I hope they try harder to support older apps.... I doubt they will, i bet they will be more proactive to not support backwards compatibility. The reason I believe is this, when newer version of office came out, the single biggest competitor to the newer office versions was the office 97 and no one wanted to upgrade, thus M$ took steps to make the file formats incompatible.
  
  The bottom line as I see it M$ will take more steps to make things incompatible in order to force you to the newer stuff.
  
  Don't get me wrong I completely agree with you, I have a few tools that i wrote and works great from WinXp on until Win8. Fortunately, as i wrote it i still have the sources, make some changes and i'm off and running again.
  

  12.12.2013 00:19 #18

• ddp

  download & install the office compatibility pack from ms resolves the format issue. i install that on any computer that has office 2003 & below for that reason.
  

  12.12.2013 00:28 #19

• Mrguss

  Originally posted by Jemborg: I disagree with most of you.
  
  Unlike Vista which I dislike immensely essentially because of it's speed. Yes, I still find it slow. Win8 is not slow so to call it worse than Vista I find utterly hilarious. When I look at the W-8 squares-blocks it just send me all the way back to Kindergarten (Retro-play-games).
  My best guess is that W-8 is more oriented for those "afraid" first time computer users.
  
  M$ should just dump W-8 and bring W-9 with more progressive looks of the past OS'es ...then I will think about it.
  
  Just saying.
  

  +5000

  12.12.2013 15:56 #20

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Mrguss: When I look at the W-8 squares-blocks it just send me all the way back to Kindergarten (Retro-play-games).
  My best guess is that W-8 is more oriented for those "afraid" first time computer users. Fair enough but, as I said, I don't particularly find Win8 intuitive... just logical. Imo not really great for pooter virgins who don't know what to look for.
  
  In contrast with yourself... a person I build a rig exclusively for gaming likes to use OblyTile to create tiles to launch games from the Start screen. It's a look he likes... a console look I suppose. My beef with the process is that he can run a "desktop" program, like a game, from the Start Screen but it returns him to the desktop after he closes it. This is incongruous and takes him out of that "feel", for want of a better word which I can't think of atm (you get what I mean), and he has to manually re-load the Start screen again and again.
  
  What I mean to say is that he wants that "progressive looks of the past" you prefer firmly hidden in the background to have to deal with when only he has to. He just wants to see his fancy-pants game icons.
  
  
  Also, I just want to add, Win8 is slightly better at gaming than Win7... I don't know what you can do about that.
  
  
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  12.12.2013 22:04 #21

• windows8migration

  There are many tips using windows 8.1 like customizing the desktop,wallpaper and app sizes...many more.
  
  

  windows 8 migration

  13.12.2013 06:56 #22

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by Mrguss: When I look at the W-8 squares-blocks it just send me all the way back to Kindergarten (Retro-play-games).
  My best guess is that W-8 is more oriented for those "afraid" first time computer users. Fair enough but, as I said, I don't particularly find Win8 intuitive... just logical. Imo not really great for pooter virgins who don't know what to look for.
  
  In contrast with yourself... a person I build a rig exclusively for gaming likes to use OblyTile to create tiles to launch games from the Start screen. It's a look he likes... a console look I suppose. My beef with the process is that he can run a "desktop" program, like a game, from the Start Screen but it returns him to the desktop after he closes it. This is incongruous and takes him out of that "feel", for want of a better word which I can't think of atm (you get what I mean), and he has to manually re-load the Start screen again and again.
  
  What I mean to say is that he wants that "progressive looks of the past" you prefer firmly hidden in the background to have to deal with when only he has to. He just wants to see his fancy-pants game icons.
  
  
  Also, I just want to add, Win8 is slightly better at gaming than Win7... I don't know what you can do about that.
  
  
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------- My 2 lints yes win8 preforms better but it its a pain to have to go through extra steps to customize it.
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  13.12.2013 09:34 #23

• Virgil_B

  Originally posted by SomeBozo: Originally posted by Mrguss: The way I see it:
  W-8 need a lot of push $ to be accepted.
  It's another Vista?!
  
  lol. I might disagree that money, marketing and advertizing is the way to make win8 and the metro interface accepted. I might disagree that Win8 is another Vista, you're being too generous :) I think it is more like another Bob :) Wow! I had forgotten all about Bob.

  13.12.2013 12:06 #24

• Virgil_B

  Originally posted by Mrguss: Agree:
  I use Vista, here and there, is no "So bad" like many say. Vista was pretty terrible when it was first rolled out. Now after considerable patches and modifications it is a pretty stable operating system. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done making Vista a flop just like Windows ME.

  13.12.2013 12:11 #25

• h0g1e

  I can't believe people are still whinging about Windows 8 .. either you haven't used it properly or you're very slow learners?
  
  I admit, it's different ... but as an IT technician I have grown to really love it ... it's fresh, easy to use, fast, and efficient.
  
  My cousin who is an absolute monkey when it comes to computers and technology came to me with an issue ... I told him to uninstall a piece of software from his Win8 laptop because he didn't need it ... and he straight away was able to uninstall the software (where in Win7 or XP most people would simply delete the shortcut but not uninstall the software properly!) ... this made me think that Win8 is actually quite intuitive for beginners and non-tech saavy people too ... it's going to be interesting watching it evolve :)
  

  13.12.2013 15:19 #26

• aldan

  its already as evolved as ms is gonna make it (goin out on a limb here).lol.with words of win9 coming out this ones gonna get dropped faster than you can say Vista.
  

  13.12.2013 23:38 #27

• h0g1e

  Considering Microsoft is always working on the next version, and they seem to have a 2-3 year release cycle on new versions, of course the next version is on its way?
  

  14.12.2013 06:01 #28

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: My 2 lints yes win8 preforms better but it its a pain to have to go through extra steps to customize it. Indeed, and the compulsory signing up is BS.
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  14.12.2013 11:14 #29

• ddp

  2nd that on the signup.
  

  14.12.2013 11:16 #30

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by Virgil_B: Originally posted by SomeBozo: Originally posted by Mrguss: The way I see it:
  W-8 need a lot of push $ to be accepted.
  It's another Vista?!
  
  lol. I might disagree that money, marketing and advertizing is the way to make win8 and the metro interface accepted. I might disagree that Win8 is another Vista, you're being too generous :) I think it is more like another Bob :) Wow! I had forgotten all about Bob. I think many at M$ would like to forget about Bob too :) You remember clippy the animated characters that made their way in to Office? It was a friend of mine that did the animations for it, that stuff essentially came from Bob. That might be the only thing out of Bob that was useful, how many people i've met really liked clippy :)
  
  

  14.12.2013 15:37 #31

• dufas

  Originally posted by h0g1e: I can't believe people are still whinging about Windows 8 .. either you haven't used it properly or you're very slow learners?
  
  I admit, it's different ... but as an IT technician I have grown to really love it ... it's fresh, easy to use, fast, and efficient.
  
  My cousin who is an absolute monkey when it comes to computers and technology came to me with an issue ... I told him to uninstall a piece of software from his Win8 laptop because he didn't need it ... and he straight away was able to uninstall the software (where in Win7 or XP most people would simply delete the shortcut but not uninstall the software properly!) ... this made me think that Win8 is actually quite intuitive for beginners and non-tech saavy people too ... it's going to be interesting watching it evolve :) I and my daughter are into graphics, 3D animation, and I am designing CNC parts for machining My daughter purchased a computer that came with Windows 8. After a few days of jumping through hoops to get to the needed programs, Win 8 was taken off and Windows 7 was installed.
  
  There are many computer uses where touch screens and huge blocks designed for tablets and 4G phones won't cut it. Besides, it is difficult to accurately create 3D stl files using just a finger...........

  14.12.2013 19:47 #32

• Virgil_B

  Dufus, I agree with you about the tiles and touch screens, but I was able to install Classic Shell (open source and free) which restored the start button and also allowed me to boot straight to the desktop. Essentially turning Windows 8.1 into a basic Windows 7 box with Windows 8 capabilities. This allowed me to have accurate control of my desktop and critical video applications and at the same time toggling to the Windows 8 surface giving me the best of both worlds. I see some speed improvements with legacy programs running in Windows 8 over 7 as well. I think the Corporate world had bandwidth and security issues with the active tiles always connecting to the internet to update the display and the hardware costs of replacing the flat screen displays with touch screen displays. I think the Corporate customer's dissatisfaction with Windows 8 is why Microsoft is bringing back the start screen and the basic desktop functions.

  14.12.2013 21:23 #33

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by dufas: There are many computer uses where touch screens and huge blocks designed for tablets and 4G phones won't cut it. Besides, it is difficult to accurately create 3D stl files using just a finger........... ^^^That's right... in all the kerfuffle I forgot with win8 you can't use a mouse!!!
  
  Thanks for setting us straight on that! :)
  
  
  
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  14.12.2013 21:24 #34

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by dufas: There are many computer uses where touch screens and huge blocks designed for tablets and 4G phones won't cut it. Besides, it is difficult to accurately create 3D stl files using just a finger........... ^^^That's right... in all the kerfuffle I forgot with win8 you can't use a mouse!!!
  
  Thanks for setting us straight on that! :)
  
  
  
  Metro sucks with a mouse....
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  14.12.2013 22:59 #35

• Jemborg

  You're not forced to use an AutoDesk program with... ah, forget it.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  15.12.2013 00:22 #36

• dufas

  Originally posted by Virgil_B: Dufus, I agree with you about the tiles and touch screens, but I was able to install Classic Shell (open source and free) which restored the start button and also allowed me to boot straight to the desktop. Essentially turning Windows 8.1 into a basic Windows 7 box with Windows 8 capabilities. This allowed me to have accurate control of my desktop and critical video applications and at the same time toggling to the Windows 8 surface giving me the best of both worlds. I see some speed improvements with legacy programs running in Windows 8 over 7 as well. I think the Corporate world had bandwidth and security issues with the active tiles always connecting to the internet to update the display and the hardware costs of replacing the flat screen displays with touch screen displays. I think the Corporate customer's dissatisfaction with Windows 8 is why Microsoft is bringing back the start screen and the basic desktop functions. And I like the idea of placing icons on the desktop for immediate access to any program that I place there...

  15.12.2013 01:28 #37

• dufas

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by dufas: There are many computer uses where touch screens and huge blocks designed for tablets and 4G phones won't cut it. Besides, it is difficult to accurately create 3D stl files using just a finger........... ^^^That's right... in all the kerfuffle I forgot with win8 you can't use a mouse!!!
  
  Thanks for setting us straight on that! :) Windows 8 can use a mouse but it is clumsy and clunky plus all the extra steps one has to take to get where wants to be in the computer. Win 8 is a good OS for surfing the 'net, looking at 'purty' pictures, and viewing multimedia... Sort of like using an Iphone to design a new building.
  
  My daughter uses a Walcom tablet and stylus in her work and it creates nothing but trouble on Win 8..even more clumsy than navigating with a mouse.. On Win 7 and XP, it is like working with pen, ink, and paper...smooth..

  15.12.2013 01:37 #38

• dufas

  Windows 8 reminds me of Ford when they brought out the 'baby' Mustang based on the Pinto. Ford was going to force their cars onto the public whether the public wanted it or not. General Motors tried the same with their 'baby' Lincoln built on the X Car chassis... It took a couple of years until the companies realized that it was not their way or else. They didn't sell many of those cars. Microsoft has the same arrogance the the car companies have. "We know what is better for you, so here it is, take it or lump it..."
  
  The computer and it's OS is a tool. If the tool cannot be used, a lot of people are going to go back and use the tools that work..

  15.12.2013 01:51 #39

• ZippyDSM

  Mind you you can put in a simple start button program that gets rid of metro so win8 is not that bad I just wish it ran more older apps.
  

  Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Lets renegotiate them.
  
  ---
  Check out my crappy creations
  http://zippydsmlee.deviantart.com/

  15.12.2013 02:05 #40

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by dufas: Windows 8 reminds me of Ford when they brought out the 'baby' Mustang based on the Pinto. Ford was going to force their cars onto the public whether the public wanted it or not. General Motors tried the same with their 'baby' Lincoln built on the X Car chassis... It took a couple of years until the companies realized that it was not their way or else. They didn't sell many of those cars. Microsoft has the same arrogance the the car companies have. "We know what is better for you, so here it is, take it or lump it..."
  
  The computer and it's OS is a tool. If the tool cannot be used, a lot of people are going to go back and use the tools that work.. I forget where i read it, but last week or so. In the article M$ acknowledged Win 9 will be bringing back the start menu, not just the start button as they heard too many complaints from too many customers.
  
  

  15.12.2013 02:10 #41

• Mrguss

  M$ W-8 OS=Tablet approach: it just don't cut it and now they can't fix it.
  - Reintroducing the start button will not gonna save them.
  - The damage have already be done.
  - Their reviews just getting worse.
  
  Classic Shell can save your W-8 "investment".
  How Tutorial:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIWzHIAwk7k
  Link:
  http://www.afterdawn.com/software/deskt...assic_shell.cfm
  

  +5000

  15.12.2013 17:30 #42

• phobet

  Originally posted by core2kid: Probably the best $5 any Windows 8 user will spend.
  
  http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ There is also a free solution, with the option to donate to the author. It is available at http://www.classicshell.net/
  
  Though I could understand some people needing a pay version of this. If someone has problems with it, then at least with a paid version there is an expectation of customer support. Some people may feel more comfortable with that...
  

  15.12.2013 19:10 #43

• phobet

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by Mrguss: When I look at the W-8 squares-blocks it just send me all the way back to Kindergarten (Retro-play-games).
  My best guess is that W-8 is more oriented for those "afraid" first time computer users. Fair enough but, as I said, I don't particularly find Win8 intuitive... just logical. Imo not really great for pooter virgins who don't know what to look for.
  
  In contrast with yourself... a person I build a rig exclusively for gaming likes to use OblyTile to create tiles to launch games from the Start screen. It's a look he likes... a console look I suppose. My beef with the process is that he can run a "desktop" program, like a game, from the Start Screen but it returns him to the desktop after he closes it. This is incongruous and takes him out of that "feel", for want of a better word which I can't think of atm (you get what I mean), and he has to manually re-load the Start screen again and again.
  
  What I mean to say is that he wants that "progressive looks of the past" you prefer firmly hidden in the background to have to deal with when only he has to. He just wants to see his fancy-pants game icons.
  
  
  Also, I just want to add, Win8 is slightly better at gaming than Win7... I don't know what you can do about that.
  
  
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------- I took a look at OblyTile. It looks interesting, though I wish they had better screenshots. For my own system, I use "Fences" by StarDock. Let's you organize your icons just about any way you want to.
  

  15.12.2013 19:17 #44

• phobet

  This seems to be a half step by Microsoft. They'll bring back the Start menu, but then you're stuck with it? I have to say, in using Win8, I use both modes of operation. Some programs just work better on their respective interfaces. I think Microsoft really borked this by forcing an interface change on their customer base, without providing a choice. They should have provided the metro interface, with the option to change it to the Start menu, or even a hybrid with both the Start menu, and the Metro interface.
  

  15.12.2013 19:24 #45

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by phobet: I took a look at OblyTile. It looks interesting, though I wish they had better screenshots. For my own system, I use "Fences" by StarDock. Let's you organize your icons just about any way you want to. I'll tell him about it. OblyTile has it's limitations.
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  17.12.2013 01:37 #46

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by dufas: Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by dufas: There are many computer uses where touch screens and huge blocks designed for tablets and 4G phones won't cut it. Besides, it is difficult to accurately create 3D stl files using just a finger........... ^^^That's right... in all the kerfuffle I forgot with win8 you can't use a mouse!!!
  
  Thanks for setting us straight on that! :) Windows 8 can use a mouse but it is clumsy and clunky plus all the extra steps one has to take to get where wants to be in the computer. Win 8 is a good OS for surfing the 'net, looking at 'purty' pictures, and viewing multimedia... Sort of like using an Iphone to design a new building.
  
  My daughter uses a Walcom tablet and stylus in her work and it creates nothing but trouble on Win 8..even more clumsy than navigating with a mouse.. On Win 7 and XP, it is like working with pen, ink, and paper...smooth.. Well, that's NOT been MY experience using 3D AutoDesk programs (you know them? e.g. Maya or Inventor) on Win8 so I couldn't disagree with you and your daughter more.
  
  I've heard it all before and when I came to use it....
  
  The compulsory signing in I dislike... politically. (And a couple of other issues).
  
  However, "...all the extra steps one has to take to get where wants to be..", the mouse being "clunky etc."...what an exaggeration! Initially Win8 can be confusing - you were expected to exploit Explorer more - but if you guys had persisted a little longer you would have it sorted by now except you spat the dummy.
  
  Patronise someone else.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  17.12.2013 02:04 #47

• h0g1e

  Agreed ... I'm finding I can navigate around using "less clicks" that I ever could with any previous version of Windows ... CAD applications run exactly the same way in Win8 as they did in previous versions of windows, except that you launch them slightly differently :)
  

  17.12.2013 02:41 #48