Windows 8 & 10 - Thread Updated

HelloRaptor

@The-Tree-of-Woe
Reason #8135 to use Classic Shell.

I'd heard about the disappearing start menu during the Tech preview, but thought it got fixed after one of the later builds.

If you're comfortable with regedit, try this:

Launch the Registry Editor (hit the Windows key and R, type regedit, and then press Enter) and then navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ ImmersiveShell\Launcher
Click Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseExperience.
Double-click the newly created item and set the value to 0.
Click OK, close the Registry Editor and then restart your computer — or just restart Explorer. (If you can still right-click on your start button, you can use Task Manager to restart Explorer.)

If that doesn't work, first go back in and delete the registry key above, then do this:

Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
Right click on powershell.exe and run as administrator.
- This is not the Command Prompt, please note.
Paste the following: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
Wait for PowerShell to execute and complete the command. Ignore the few errors (in red color) that may pop up.
When it's finished, try hitting start, or restart your computer and try hitting start.

Obviously mucking around in regedit and with powershell shit isn't for the faint of heart, so unless you're super attached to the windows 10 start menu as it is, my initial suggestion stands:

Download Classic Shell and use the Win7 (or whatever) start menu replacement.

As a note for anybody using Classic Shell who wants the old start orb back, I've got a bunch of image files that can be used for the custom icon for it.

The Tree of Woe

There's a few fixes for it, and I managed to get one to work.

What I like about Win10--so far, she flies. I'm running a 2.5 year old laptop and so far it's faster than Windows 7 was. Pretty much ever.

Coin

I'm still gonna wait until just before it stops being free. >.>

I mean, until a few months ago, I was on Windows XP.

HelloRaptor

@The-Tree-of-Woe said:

What I like about Win10--so far, she flies. I'm running a 2.5 year old laptop and so far it's faster than Windows 7 was. Pretty much ever.

Yeah, I've installed it on some pretty old machines so far, and it's a breeze on even that hardware.

Miss Demeanor

I will say this, my boot time has been cut in half from Windows 7. I mean, its sort of a nitpicky thing to me because generally I boot up then go make a cup of coffee or something... but I do enjoy that its ready and waiting for me to login when I get back.

HelloRaptor

Added to the first post as well, but for @Arkandel and others...

For those concerned with privacy issues (which are being backdated to earlier Windows versions as far as 7), a tool.

DisableWinTracking (Github link)

No adware, no tricky installs, just run as administrator and choose your options.

Alzie

Windows 10: For when you just don't think the NSA has enough tools to spy on you and you want to give them more.

HelloRaptor

@Alzie said:

Windows 10: For when you just don't think the NSA has enough tools to spy on you and you want to give them more.

Not using Windows 10 to 'make things harder on the NSA' is like emptying your pockets of change so you don't 'make things harder on your car'.

Alzie

@HelloRaptor said:

@Alzie said:

Windows 10: For when you just don't think the NSA has enough tools to spy on you and you want to give them more.

Not using Windows 10 to 'make things harder on the NSA' is like emptying your pockets of change so you don't 'make things harder on your car'.

There are plenty of things you can do to protect yourself. Linux is a good s tart.

HelloRaptor

@Alzie said:

@HelloRaptor said:

@Alzie said:

Windows 10: For when you just don't think the NSA has enough tools to spy on you and you want to give them more.

Not using Windows 10 to 'make things harder on the NSA' is like emptying your pockets of change so you don't 'make things harder on your car'.

There are plenty of things you can do to protect yourself. Linux is a good s tart.

I could just give up on computers and the internet, too, but that's not really a good solution either.