Classic Shell: Forum

I installed "Classic Shell" on Windows 10 RTM specifically because I want the aero glass transparency that I miss from Windows 7. This software has enabled me to increase transparency on the Taskbar but doesn't seem to affect the Start Menu. Actually, it seems to affect it some of the time in that sometimes when I click start, I get a Windows Start Menu with the live tiles but nothing else and good transparency (no user icon, no File Explorer, no Settings, no Power, no All Apps). Other times I click it and I get the normal Windows 10 Start Menu with normal dark transparency. Also, I would love to see an option to automatically open "All Apps" when I click the Start Menu as long as search also still works. I would like to see more "Aero Glass" transparency in the app bars as well. Is there a way to achieve that?

Classic Shell does not affect the Windows 10 start menu in any way. If it sometimes looks different then normal, it is most likely a bug in Windows.

As Ivo said, Classic Shell replaces the default Windows 10 Start menu with its own. It does not modify the original Windows 10 menu transparency or function. But you can control which menu opens when you click the Start button. Right click it and select "Settings". Check "Show all settings" and on the Controls tab, you can configure it.

Now, if you want to use the Classic Start Menu (which is similar to the original Windows 7 menu), you must have picked a style when you installed it.

If you are using the Windows 7 style of the Start Menu, the default skin it uses on Windows 10 is the Metro skin. It does not support transparency in Windows 7 style. You can switch to the classic with two columns style. The Metro skin in that style supports transparency (you must uncheck Disable transparency option from the Skin tab of the Metro skin in 'Classic with two columns' style).

Another option is to use Windows 7 style but go to the Skin tab and switch to another skin like Windows Aero, Windows 8 or Midnight. Those skins support glass transparency in the Windows 7 style too, but only for the right side column (the left column is white). Once you find a glass skin that you like, there is a "Menu opacity" setting on the "Menu Look" tab.

The functionality to automatically open "All Programs" works only when you use the Windows 7 style. After you select Windows 7 style, go to the Main Menu tab, and set the "All Programs style" setting to Inside main menu. Check the option below "Open automatically" and click OK.

When you open the menu, the search box will still get the focus. This is controlled the setting "Selected by default" on the "Search box" tab of Classic Start Menu settings.

Note that although there are many settings, you can use the search box in the Settings window to find them.

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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.

Starting with Classic Shell 4.2.5, the Metro and Midnight skins support transparency in both columns in Windows 7 style.

_________________
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.