Open-Shell-Menu VS ThisIsWin11

I've been very happy happy with https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu as a Start Menu replacement. If ads have rolled out to my Windows install, I wouldn't even notice.

Whenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've made the operating system look very close to Windows XP visually, and they always appreciate it.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

[2] https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar

There's Open-Shell but it's not exactly a full WM replacement.

Hi yall, I used Open-Shell to change the icon.

There is also Open Shell, a free and open source tool which performs a similar function.

I wish so bad there is a port (a fork) of the Legacy Kickoff start menu for Windows: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1083

Classic Start Menu

I use Open Shell (fork of Classic Shell) as a replacement to original Start Menu. This gives me full control over what appears in start menu - no results from internet, animated tiles, etc (I am on Win 10 though, from what I read the Win 11 is supported, but not yet officially [1]). It could be a solution to the ads appearing in start menu.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1564

Looks like you're going for an XP theme. May I suggest using open-shell to skin the taskbar, start menu, and start button if you wanna take that extra step? You can also find the taskbar skin and start button here. Also, I would remove the search bar, task view button, and news & interest area of the taskbar just to bring things together. This is all just a suggestion, you don't have to if you don't want to.

Fresh copy of windows then run windows 11 debloat

Some tools made by people to reduce the bloat of Windows 10/11. Tell me why people would go through the trouble of developing these tools if Windows was bloat free? * https://github.com/builtbybel/ThisIsWin11 * https://github.com/Atlas-OS/Atlas * https://christitus.com/debloat-windows-10-2020/ * https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater

Try this: https://github.com/builtbybel/ThisIsWin11

Here, if you use Belim's ThisIsWin11 you can get rid of all of the bloatware, install some really handy tweaks and extensions, and make your start menu look like this.

Move to Linux if you hate new Windows so much, install Windows 11 and strip it down, do something. But don't stay on an OS that isn't receiving security updates.

Never log into Windows + ThisIsWin11