Shell VS Open-Shell-Menu

If you want to keep the look of the new menu, but revert to the old entries you can try Nilesoft Shell

Please refer to this topic

Finally, to get a decent start menu and context menu back Explorer patcher and Shell work wonders. There is also Open shell if you want that classic Windows 7-10 look, but personally I think it looks dated in comparison. The Win11 start menu looks fine, it's just missing core functionality.

Check out context menu manager shell, it keeps the win11 styling but fixes all of its issues. Looks like this.

It is not open source. Visit the repository you linked and you will find it is only their website and configuration. The code is closed source, there is an issue on their repo about it: https://github.com/moudey/Shell/issues/139

Honestly not worth it. You are better off, installing an unmodified Windows 11 and later debloat it with a script. The other programs I would recommend are ExplorerPatcher and Nilesoft Shell.

Shell fixes all context menu issues. https://github.com/moudey/Shell

Please refer to this topic

Shell

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.