WINDOWS 11 By Lance Whitney Don’t like the Windows 11 Start menu? Both Start 11 and StartAllBack will bring the menu back to more traditional and usab
[See the full post at: Two solid replacements for the kludgy Windows 11 Start menu]
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear, but widespread attacks make patching prudent. Go ahead and patch, but watch out for potential problems. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Two solid replacements for the kludgy Windows 11 Start menu
Home » Forums » Newsletter and Homepage topics » Two solid replacements for the kludgy Windows 11 Start menu
- This topic has 14 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 4 months ago.
AuthorTopicLance Whitney
AskWoody_MVPDecember 13, 2021 at 2:43 am #2405976Viewing 8 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
MHCLV941
AskWoody PlusDecember 13, 2021 at 3:28 am #2405981I’ve been a fan of Start(x) since Windows 8. (It was instrumental in getting a young friend of ours through the bar exam when her old laptop died and its replacement came with that horrendous and incomprehensible interface.)
I agree that Microsoft has done an outstanding job of fouling up the start menu and that Start11 (or StartAllBack) will un-foul it. However, along with fouling the start menu, Microsoft also reduced the taskbar to almost uselessness.
Does either of these programs do anything to restore the functionality of the taskbar? Even more importantly, do either of them allow the user to put the taskbar where he/she wants to?
-
Lance Whitney
AskWoody_MVPDecember 13, 2021 at 6:40 am #2406000I agree. Microsoft definitely screwed up the Taskbar in Windows 11. Beyond letting you tweak the Start menu icon and playing around with the colors and visuals, neither Start11 or StartAllBack gives you much control over the Taskbar as far as functionality. The main thing you can do with Start11 is move the Taskbar to the top of the screen, but you can’t move it left or right. With all the complaints about the Taskbar, I’d love to see one or both of these programs add more Taskbar features.
2 users thanked author for this post.
-
Herbert Zoellner
AskWoody LoungerDecember 13, 2021 at 7:16 am #2405984(Hope a similar message did not come up before because of a conflict with BBC Codes (BBC Broadcasting?)
I do not like the handling of the Windows 11 taskbar.
It often takes extra clicks to pin program icons, it appears to allow fewer icons, , therefore has an odd distribution between visual and hidden icons, and some of the hidden icons are really hidden as they fall outside the virtual box.In any case, in Windows 10 I could use the taskbar to great effect, for example to search for music, download purchases from Qobuz etc, tagging and naming titles, storing files in the NAS and cataloging them, and retrieving music for playing and commenting ..
Does any of the two software programs help with the taskbar, or are there other apps / programs to consider?Herbert
Ben Myers
AskWoody Plus-
rc primak
AskWoody_MVPDecember 13, 2021 at 10:12 am #2406050I was waiting for someone to mention OpenShell. My argument for supporting open-source solutions is more than philosophical:
Why should I have to pay for third-party solutions to a problem which Microsoft itself created?
Microsoft should be offering these choices for free, included with the OS. The only reason they don’t is money. All these changes are designed to drive users toward paid Microsoft-controlled Cloud Apps and away from Desktop Applications. Cloud Apps complete with huge ad panes and an overload of unnecessary notifications.
Security is as usual, pasted on as a thin veneer. Then made the centerpiece in a way which requires buying new hardware from Microsoft or their partners.
-- rc primak
7 users thanked author for this post.
-
MHCLV941
AskWoody PlusDecember 13, 2021 at 1:15 pm #2406113I looked at OpenShell. In two independent reviews, OpenShell is much less capable than either Start11 or StartAllBack. While it’s free, there’s an element of getting what you pay for.
2 users thanked author for this post.
-
Norio
AskWoody LoungerDecember 15, 2021 at 2:44 pm #2406526I’ve been using OpenShell (and it’s progenitor, ClassicShell) for nearly 8 years. It has more capability than I need. The two things that @Lance Whitney complained about in Start11 (built-in windows apps don’t have their own folder; configuration options are not organized) are addressed in OpenShell: Windows apps have their own folder, and there’s a search field for options.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
rc primak
AskWoody_MVP
-
MHCLV941
AskWoody PlusDecember 13, 2021 at 1:07 pm #2406112I agree. Microsoft definitely screwed up the Taskbar in Windows 11. Beyond letting you tweak the Start menu icon and playing around with the colors and visuals, neither Start11 or StartAllBack gives you much control over the Taskbar as far as functionality. The main thing you can do with Start11 is move the Taskbar to the top of the screen, but you can’t move it left or right. With all the complaints about the Taskbar, I’d love to see one or both of these programs add more Taskbar features.
I would not hold my breath for Microsoft to do anything as radical as actually listening to its customers. It has a long and sturdy history of doing just the opposite. Overhauling the interface between 8.0 and 8.1 was a notable exception mostly because people could – and did – avoid 8.0 like the plague and that cost it money.
With respect to the two apps, it may not be possible to regain the option to relocate the taskbar. I sure hope it is, but, again, I’m not holding my breath!
MHCLV941
AskWoody PlusDecember 13, 2021 at 1:23 pm #2406115I was waiting for someone to mention OpenShell. My argument for supporting open-source solutions is more than philosophical:
Why should I have to pay for third-party solutions to a problem which Microsoft itself created?
Microsoft should be offering these choices for free, included with the OS. The only reason they don’t is money. All these changes are designed to drive users toward paid Microsoft-controlled Cloud Apps and away from Desktop Applications. Cloud Apps complete with huge ad panes and an overload of unnecessary notifications.
Security is as usual, pasted on as a thin veneer. Then made the centerpiece in a way which requires buying new hardware from Microsoft or their partners.
Presumably, Microsoft does not see the interface changes as a problem, so it sees nothing to fix.
While I fully agree that the hardware diktats for Windows are unnecessarily draconian, the interface changes have nothing to do with them. They are simply Microsoft riding roughshod over its customers who need to use its software to do something more useful than playing a game. Again…
2 users thanked author for this post.
anonymous
Guestbbearren
AskWoody MVPDecember 14, 2021 at 7:13 am #2406248I started using StartIsBack with Windows 8, now using StartIsBack++ with Windows 10. Immediately after upgrading one side of my dual boot daily driver to Windows 11, I installed StartAllBack. I have no complaints; it works just as I expected it to work, and does what I want it to do.
As for the Taskbar, I have neither reason nor desire to put it anywhere other than the bottom of the screen, so for me that’s a non-issue.
Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.We were all once "Average Users".1 user thanked author for this post.
MHCLV941
AskWoody PlusDecember 14, 2021 at 12:15 pm #2406296As for the Taskbar, I have neither reason nor desire to put it anywhere other than the bottom of the screen, so for me that’s a non-issue.
That’s nice for you, but it is an issue for others.
anonymous
GuestDecember 16, 2021 at 12:18 pm #2406629As for the Taskbar, I have neither reason nor desire to put it anywhere other than the bottom of the screen, so for me that’s a non-issue.
That’s nice for you, but it is an issue for others.
What percentage of people do you think actually move the taskbar?
Viewing 8 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
24H2 Installer – don’t see ption for non distructive install (Awaiting moderation)
by
JP
1 hour, 18 minutes ago -
Asking Again here (New User and Fast change only backups)
by
thymej
7 hours, 30 minutes ago -
How much I spent on the Mac mini
by
Will Fastie
2 hours, 19 minutes ago -
How to get rid of Copilot in Microsoft 365
by
Lance Whitney
4 minutes ago -
Spring cleanup — 2025
by
Deanna McElveen
13 hours, 22 minutes ago -
Setting up Windows 11
by
Susan Bradley
33 minutes ago -
VLC Introduces Cutting-Edge AI Subtitling and Translation Capabilities
by
Alex5723
8 hours, 50 minutes ago -
Powershell version?
by
CWBillow
9 hours, 43 minutes ago -
SendTom Toys
by
CWBillow
4 hours, 23 minutes ago -
Add shortcut to taskbar?
by
CWBillow
13 hours, 38 minutes ago -
Sycophancy in GPT-4o: What happened
by
Alex5723
1 day, 6 hours ago -
How can I install Skype on Windows 7?
by
Help
1 day, 4 hours ago -
Logitech MK850 Keyboard issues
by
Rush2112
11 hours, 38 minutes ago -
We live in a simulation
by
Alex5723
1 day, 20 hours ago -
Netplwiz not working
by
RetiredGeek
1 day, 6 hours ago -
Windows 11 24H2 is broadly available
by
Alex5723
2 days, 8 hours ago -
Microsoft is killing Authenticator
by
Alex5723
20 hours, 12 minutes ago -
Downloads folder location
by
CWBillow
2 days, 15 hours ago -
Remove a User from Login screen
by
CWBillow
1 day, 10 hours ago -
TikTok fined €530 million for sending European user data to China
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
2 days, 6 hours ago -
Microsoft Speech Recognition Service Error Code 1002
by
stanhutchings
2 days, 6 hours ago -
Is it a bug or is it expected?
by
Susan Bradley
8 hours, 17 minutes ago -
Image for Windows TBwinRE image not enough space on target location
by
bobolink
2 days, 5 hours ago -
Start menu jump lists for some apps might not work as expected on Windows 10
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 4 hours ago -
Malicious Go Modules disk-wiping malware
by
Alex5723
2 days, 18 hours ago -
Multiple Partitions?
by
CWBillow
2 days, 19 hours ago -
World Passkey Day 2025
by
Alex5723
15 hours, 49 minutes ago -
Add serial device in Windows 11
by
Theodore Dawson
4 days, 4 hours ago -
Windows 11 users reportedly losing data due forced BitLocker encryption
by
Alex5723
2 days, 5 hours ago -
Cached credentials is not a new bug
by
Susan Bradley
4 days, 8 hours ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.