From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Zaidy036 wrote:

' I use(d) it on Windows 8.1, 10 and now 11. You don't have to use the
native Windows 11 Start menu at all if you don't want to.

Frank brings up an interesting point, which is even though nobody ever
needed Open Shell Menu in the past (yes, even on Windows 10), now it's
actually needed on Windows 11 for the first time since pinned taskbar menus >> are (apparently) no longer allowed on Windows 11 (but they were on Win10). >> '<https://i.postimg.cc/fW38dhsX/android-windows-menus.jpg>

For the first time ever, Open Shell Menu is needed (only in Windows 11).

The good news is you can copy your Windows XP menus to Windows 11 and it
"should" work but I haven't tested that yet but that works on Windows 10.

Lots of free mods including Windows 11 Start Menu <https://windhawk.net/mods>

Hi Zaidy,

You've helped me a lot over the years so I very much appreciate that customization treasure trove which contains items such as
a. Windows 11 Start Menu (Classic-style tweaks)
Adds more traditional layouts, spacing and behavior.
b. Classic Taskbar
Restores labels, ungrouped icons and more granular control.
c. Classic Volume Mixer
Brings back the old vertical mixer UI.
d. Classic Alt-Tab
Reverts to the compact list instead of the thumbnail grid.
e. Explorer tweaks
Restoring the ribbon, adjusting spacing or removing the command bar.

Windows has never fundamentally changed, in reality, but Microsoft has
visibly changed the Start Menu implementation something like five times
since XP days in order to make it "look" like a different operating system.

But the one thing Microsoft never removed until Windows 11, AFAIK, was the ability to pin a folder and let Explorer render it as a cascading menu.

So my Windows XP start menu worked fine pinned as a toolbar to Windows 10.

What I easily pulled off in the Windows'8 era was something only a tiny fraction users even realized was possible. Everyone else was panicking
about the "death of the Start Menu," installing Classic Shell, Start8, StartIsBack, and a dozen other band-aids, while I just pinned my own XP-era menu tree to the taskbar and kept going like nothing happened.
<https://i.postimg.cc/qvJDMQcq/taskbarmenu02.jpg>

It's my understanding that Windows 11 is lost functionality in that
A. We cannot add a folder toolbar
B. We cannot pin a folder as a cascading menu
C. We cannot recreate the XP-style accordion menu on the taskbar
A the entire "Toolbars" subsystem (Address, Links, Desktop, custom folders)
was removed so that Microsoft could claim a different operating system.

It's my understanding that Windows 11 replaced the taskbar with a
completely rewritten XAML-based shell component. The old Explorer-based
taskbar (which supported toolbars) was removed. Because toolbars were implemented inside Explorer's taskband, the feature disappeared with it.

Our C:\menu structure still works as a filesystem-based Start Menu
replacement, but we cannot attach it to the Windows 11 taskbar the way we
did in XP -> Vista -> 7 -> 8 -> 10 days, as far as I'm aware.

As far as I can tell, unfortunately, Windhawk does NOT currently offer a
mod that restores the Windows 10-style "folder toolbar" or XP-style
cascading menu on the Windows 11 taskbar.

However, I'm told tools like ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack can restore
the Windows 10 taskbar, and that version still supports toolbars.
--
Most allow Windows to dictate the structure, so they never experience the
power of having a portable system thats entirely under their own control.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

On 2/6/2026 2:35 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Winston wrote:

On 2/5/2026 9:12 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

You can copy a WindowsXP folder to Windows 10, and it still just works.
It's genius.

Not always true.
XP folder name
-a C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]
Win10 folder name
-a C:\Users\[Username]\Documents

In XP, username was always local account
IN W10, username is either local or MSA account(the latter 5
characters of the email address or a system generated user name of
alpha based character name).

Copying from XP to 10 best approach is to not copy the folder, but the
contents of the folder's files and contents of the subfolder files to
the same named or system generated(or user created) folder names.
-a - the destination for the initial copy(disk, usb, network drive)
from XP, then to the Win10 \users\username\Documents folders, subfolders.

Note: Reply only to Win10 group(since the comment was relative to XP
to Win10)

Hi Winston,

I never disagree with a logically sensible statement, so I certainly will
not disagree with a single statement you made above, but I'm different.

Since I worked in the Silicon Valley for decades putting together complex systems for a living I set up my Windows XP machine as a complete system.

Portability is always a key consideration when setting up software systems.

My Windows XP Irfanview, for example, was always located in: C:\app\editor\pic\irfanview
On every Windows XP machine I've ever owned.

My Win8 Irfanview, for example, was located in:
C:\app\editor\pic\irfanview
On every Windows Win8 machine I've ever owned.

My Windows Vista Irfanview, for example, was located in: C:\app\editor\pic\irfanview
On every Windows Vista machine I've ever owned.

My Windows 10 Irfanview, for example, was located in: C:\app\editor\pic\irfanview
On every Windows 10 machine I've ever owned.

A shortcut from Windows XP days would still work (although sometimes a
minor change to the TARGET is needed, e.g., when going from 32->64 bit).

Almost nothing has changed such that a minor tweak to the shortcut TARGET wouldn't fix it, so I can copy my WinXP menus over to Win10 & they work.

But, of course, I put NOTHING in the folders which are polluted.

So I don't use the user folders (all my machines are single user).
Nor do I ever put anything on purpose in the Program Files folders.

But, as Frank already noted, I'm brilliant when it comes to organizing a computer system, so I do agree most people can't do what I easily do.

Still... I'm always trying to help edify others so that they can too.

The fallacy in your statement was 'you can copy a ***Windows XP
folder***', which made it an untrue statement.

C:\app\editor\pic\irfanview is not a *Windows XP folder*
=> it is a user created folder, specific to you and likely no one else
on the planet using Windows(7, 8x. 10, 11).
--
...w-i|#-o-#-n|#
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

On 07/02/2026 05:57, Maria Sophia wrote:

Zaidy036 wrote:

' I use(d) it on Windows 8.1, 10 and now 11. You don't have to use the >>>> native Windows 11 Start menu at all if you don't want to.

Frank brings up an interesting point, which is even though nobody ever
needed Open Shell Menu in the past (yes, even on Windows 10), now it's
actually needed on Windows 11 for the first time since pinned taskbar
menus
are (apparently) no longer allowed on Windows 11 (but they were on
Win10).
-a'<https://i.postimg.cc/fW38dhsX/android-windows-menus.jpg>

For the first time ever, Open Shell Menu is needed (only in Windows 11). >>>
The good news is you can copy your Windows XP menus to Windows 11 and it >>> "should" work but I haven't tested that yet but that works on Windows
10.

Lots of free mods including Windows 11 Start Menu
<https://windhawk.net/mods>

Hi Zaidy,

You've helped me a lot over the years so I very much appreciate that customization treasure trove which contains items such as a. Windows 11 Start Menu (Classic-style tweaks) -a-a Adds more traditional layouts, spacing and behavior.
b. Classic Taskbar -a-a Restores labels, ungrouped icons and more granular control.
c. Classic Volume Mixer -a-a Brings back the old vertical mixer UI.
d. Classic Alt-Tab -a-a Reverts to the compact list instead of the
thumbnail grid.
e. Explorer tweaks -a-a Restoring the ribbon, adjusting spacing or
removing the command bar.

Windows has never fundamentally changed, in reality, but Microsoft has visibly changed the Start Menu implementation something like five times
since XP days in order to make it "look" like a different operating system. But the one thing Microsoft never removed until Windows 11, AFAIK, was the ability to pin a folder and let Explorer render it as a cascading menu.
So my Windows XP start menu worked fine pinned as a toolbar to Windows 10.

What I easily pulled off in the Windows'8 era was something only a tiny fraction users even realized was possible. Everyone else was panicking
about the "death of the Start Menu," installing Classic Shell, Start8, StartIsBack, and a dozen other band-aids, while I just pinned my own XP-era menu tree to the taskbar and kept going like nothing happened. <https://i.postimg.cc/qvJDMQcq/taskbarmenu02.jpg>

It's my understanding that Windows 11 is lost functionality in that
A. We cannot add a folder toolbar
B. We cannot pin a folder as a cascading menu
C. We cannot recreate the XP-style accordion menu on the taskbar
A the entire "Toolbars" subsystem (Address, Links, Desktop, custom folders) was removed so that Microsoft could claim a different operating system.

It's my understanding that Windows 11 replaced the taskbar with a
completely rewritten XAML-based shell component. The old Explorer-based taskbar (which supported toolbars) was removed. Because toolbars were implemented inside Explorer's taskband, the feature disappeared with it.

Our C:\menu structure still works as a filesystem-based Start Menu replacement, but we cannot attach it to the Windows 11 taskbar the way we
did in XP -> Vista -> 7 -> 8 -> 10 days, as far as I'm aware.

As far as I can tell, unfortunately, Windhawk does NOT currently offer a
mod that restores the Windows 10-style "folder toolbar" or XP-style
cascading menu on the Windows 11 taskbar.

However, I'm told tools like ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack can restore
the Windows 10 taskbar, and that version still supports toolbars.

I have used every version of Windows since 3.1 and tweaked each one to
my liking, sometimes adding free utilities. For example, an ancient
program (RUNit) in use from W95 to W11 provides me with a simple,
familiar cascading menu system which does much of what you lament.

The time you have spent complaining on Usenet would have been ample to customise W11 to your specific liking.

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

For the first time ever, Open Shell Menu is needed (only in Windows 11).

Nope, that is for *your* - rather uncommon - use.
For the rest of the world, Open-Shell Menu (first Classic Start Menu) was/is needed in Windows 8[.1] and beyond, when Microsoft abandoned the Start menu which existed from XP through 7 (and IIRC earlier, 2000 and
NT).

The good news is you can copy your Windows XP menus to Windows 11 and it >> "should" work but I haven't tested that yet but that works on Windows 10.

I doubt that many - if any - use your "pinned taskbar menus".

Hi Frank,

[Self aggrandizing deleted.]

I posted many times there's no need for that "Classic" stuff if all
we wanted was an accordion menu in the later Windows releases
(although the tool did a LOT MORE than just pin a taskbar menu).

[Self aggrandizing deleted.]

This menu is just a folder containing a hierarchy of shortcuts anyway.
<https://i.postimg.cc/jSNb7bkF/pspdf.jpg>

The "Classic" tool that everyone "thought" they needed in, oh, was it
Windows 8 when it came about, was never needed "if", all people wanted was the classic accordion pullout menus pinned to the taskbar.
<https://i.postimg.cc/j5K0RL7H/taskbarmenu01.jpg>

But people wanted and still want much more than "the classic accordion pullout menus pinned to the taskbar", because that was what the XP and
later (and before?) Start menu was.

The "Classic" product of the time (which morphed into a few names over
time) purported to "add back" what Microsoft removed, but the fact was Microsoft never removed it. They just moved it.

They did not just move it, they also changed its layout/working.

Bottom line: Use what you want and how you want it, but don't rule out
the needs of others.

[More of the same deleted.]
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

MikeS wrote:

However, I'm told tools like ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack can restore
the Windows 10 taskbar, and that version still supports toolbars.

I have used every version of Windows since 3.1 and tweaked each one to
my liking, sometimes adding free utilities. For example, an ancient
program (RUNit) in use from W95 to W11 provides me with a simple,
familiar cascading menu system which does much of what you lament.

The time you have spent complaining on Usenet would have been ample to customise W11 to your specific liking.

It's quite understandable that people who don't approach Windows as a
system would think asking how to do so on Windows 11 is complaining.

But Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together here to
solve a problem, which, in this case, is the problem of the menus.

We've solved almost every problem we've encountered in the past two
decades, and we'll solve this one too - perhaps with the code that Zaidy
kindly referred us to for finding it.

If folks have never solved problems think that trying to solve them is "complaining", then maybe that's the main reason they can't solve 'em.

But we can.
When/if I get Windows 11, I'll first look into Zaidy's suggested tools!

Thanks!
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Bottom line: Use what you want and how you want it, but don't rule out
the needs of others.

I never disagree with a logically sensible statement, so I agree with you.
For many people, Windows 11 is not a downgrade from Windows 10 for example.

But, for me, since the accordion menu is what I've been using for decades
as a main kickoff point for programs, Windows 11 is lost functionality.

The solution set Zaidy pointed out perhaps contains the workaround.
<https://windhawk.net/mods>
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

On 07/02/2026 17:47, Maria Sophia wrote:

MikeS wrote:

However, I'm told tools like ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack can restore >>> the Windows 10 taskbar, and that version still supports toolbars.

I have used every version of Windows since 3.1 and tweaked each one to
my liking, sometimes adding free utilities. For example, an ancient
program (RUNit) in use from W95 to W11 provides me with a simple,
familiar cascading menu system which does much of what you lament.

The time you have spent complaining on Usenet would have been ample to
customise W11 to your specific liking.

It's quite understandable that people who don't approach Windows as a
system would think asking how to do so on Windows 11 is complaining.

But Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together here to
solve a problem, which, in this case, is the problem of the menus.

We've solved almost every problem we've encountered in the past two
decades, and we'll solve this one too - perhaps with the code that Zaidy kindly referred us to for finding it.
If folks have never solved problems think that trying to solve them is "complaining", then maybe that's the main reason they can't solve 'em.

But we can.
When/if I get Windows 11, I'll first look into Zaidy's suggested tools!

Thanks!

After posting so much nonsense you forgot what you said in your OP:
"The Windows 11 user interface is, IMHO, vastly inferior to that of
Win10." If that's not a complaint I don't know what would be.

As for "Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together here
to solve a problem", that's just more nonsense. Zaidy simply suggested
one of the thousands of utilities that have been created over the years
to help users customise every version of Windows. The "problem" you want
to solve only exists in your mind.




--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

On 2/7/26 12:47 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Bottom line: Use what you want and how you want it, but don't rule out
the needs of others.

I never disagree with a logically sensible statement, so I agree with you. For many people, Windows 11 is not a downgrade from Windows 10 for example.

But, for me, since the accordion menu is what I've been using for decades
as a main kickoff point for programs, Windows 11 is lost functionality.

The solution set Zaidy pointed out perhaps contains the workaround.
<https://windhawk.net/mods>

That windhawk site has some interesting mods.
I personally like the larger clock font. One of my complaints.
--
Linux Mint 22.3, Mozilla Thunderbird 140.7.1esr, Mozilla Firefox 147.0.2
Alan K.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Alan K. wrote:

The solution set Zaidy pointed out perhaps contains the workaround.
<https://windhawk.net/mods>

That windhawk site has some interesting mods.
I personally like the larger clock font. One of my complaints.

I agree with anyone who says something sensible, where I agree with you
that Zaidy's helpful link will likely have some nice goodies for us.

Regarding clock fonts, on Windows 10, for privacy, I randomly change the
time zone, so I have a separate clock where I had tested all the free
clocks ever suggested on this ng, some of which have custom fonts.
1. clocx <http://www.clocx.net>
2. dsclock <http://www.dualitysoft.com>
3. t-clock <https://github.com/White-Tiger/T-Clock/releases>

My summary of those three wonderful free clock apps is as follows:
1. clocx has a very simple yet configurable analog desktop clock
2. dsclock has a more robust configurable digital desktop clock
3. t-clock has a very robust configurable digital taskbar clock

I have free timers & stopwatches also, but DSClock is in my taskbar.
I've tried these taskbar clocks and found dsclock to fit my needs best.

While dsclock sits anywhere, when you put it on top of the taskbar,
you might then want to match the font sizes and background colors.
<https://i.postimg.cc/Gmbyp807/windows-android.jpg>

I don't know where fonts, sizes and taskbar colors are set, but
empirical testing on my taskbar resulted in these syntax choices.
Display syntax = #085|ddd ddMMM or ddd dd|#085 or dddMMMdd|[#085]
Font & size = Segoe UI Semibold 9 pt
Taskbar = R=35, G=57, B=66, Hex=233942 H=195 S=46 V=25 Opacity=255
Notification = R=47 G=68 B=77 Hex=2F444D H=198 S=38 V=30 Opacity=255
[x] Use custom font
[x] Use custom colors
[x] Load program on startup
[x] Lock right border
[x] Always on top

Here's a screenshot from today showing how the taskbar fonts are matched.
<https://i.postimg.cc/xTDmWpt4/organization-phone-pc.jpg>
--
When I sit at a computer, I treat it as a system to be controlled.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

MikeS wrote:

As for "Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together here
to solve a problem", that's just more nonsense. Zaidy simply suggested
one of the thousands of utilities that have been created over the years
to help users customise every version of Windows. The "problem" you want
to solve only exists in your mind.

Hi MikeS,

You clearly have strong opinions about the differences between Windows 10
and Windows 11, and we respect that. Since you've stated pretty confidently that the "problem" only exists in my mind, I'd appreciate it if you could
point to the specific improvements in Windows 11 that you believe address
the concerns I've raised.

You seem very knowledgeable about what Windows 11 does better than Windows
10, so I'm genuinely interested in hearing which concrete features you
think we would all benefit from.

Facts are always more helpful than general statements.

To that point, since the specific issue here is that Windows 11 removed cascading taskbar toolbars (the pull-out accordion menus that Windows 10 supported), what do you suggest as the actual solution to that? If you
believe the issues raised are imaginary, then you should be able to point
to the Windows 11 feature that replaces this functionality.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

On 08/02/2026 05:36, Maria Sophia wrote:

MikeS wrote:

As for "Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together
here to solve a problem", that's just more nonsense. Zaidy simply
suggested one of the thousands of utilities that have been created
over the years to help users customise every version of Windows. The
"problem" you want to solve only exists in your mind.

Hi MikeS,

You clearly have strong opinions about the differences between Windows 10
and Windows 11, and we respect that. Since you've stated pretty confidently that the "problem" only exists in my mind, I'd appreciate it if you could point to the specific improvements in Windows 11 that you believe address
the concerns I've raised.

You seem very knowledgeable about what Windows 11 does better than Windows 10, so I'm genuinely interested in hearing which concrete features you
think we would all benefit from.
Facts are always more helpful than general statements.

To that point, since the specific issue here is that Windows 11 removed cascading taskbar toolbars (the pull-out accordion menus that Windows 10 supported), what do you suggest as the actual solution to that? If you believe the issues raised are imaginary, then you should be able to point
to the Windows 11 feature that replaces this functionality.

Another figment of your imagination:
"You seem very knowledgeable about what Windows 11 does better than
Windows 10, so I'm genuinely interested in hearing which concrete
features you think we would all benefit from."
I said no such thing. EVERY version of Windows changes the user
interface somewhere. Not *better*, just different. Sometimes the
previous solution is left buried in the OS and is easily reinstated. Regardless users can easily create their own solutions. Either way, all
these solutions are easily packaged into utilities for others to adopt.
Just like the windhawk utility you thanked Zaidy for drawing to your attention.

The most bizarre part of all this nonsense is your signature:
"When you look at an operating system as a system that YOU control, then
you realize the user interface is the part you control most."
The approach I described IS controlling the the user interface of the operating system. God only knows what you think you are doing.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

MikeS wrote:

On 08/02/2026 05:36, Maria Sophia wrote:

MikeS wrote:

As for "Zaidy goes way back and understands we're working together
here to solve a problem", that's just more nonsense. Zaidy simply
suggested one of the thousands of utilities that have been created
over the years to help users customise every version of Windows. The
"problem" you want to solve only exists in your mind.

Hi MikeS,

You clearly have strong opinions about the differences between Windows 10
and Windows 11, and we respect that. Since you've stated pretty confidently >> that the "problem" only exists in my mind, I'd appreciate it if you could
point to the specific improvements in Windows 11 that you believe address
the concerns I've raised.

You seem very knowledgeable about what Windows 11 does better than Windows >> 10, so I'm genuinely interested in hearing which concrete features you
think we would all benefit from.
Facts are always more helpful than general statements.

To that point, since the specific issue here is that Windows 11 removed
cascading taskbar toolbars (the pull-out accordion menus that Windows 10
supported), what do you suggest as the actual solution to that? If you
believe the issues raised are imaginary, then you should be able to point
to the Windows 11 feature that replaces this functionality.

Another figment of your imagination:
"You seem very knowledgeable about what Windows 11 does better than
Windows 10, so I'm genuinely interested in hearing which concrete
features you think we would all benefit from."
I said no such thing. EVERY version of Windows changes the user
interface somewhere. Not *better*, just different. Sometimes the
previous solution is left buried in the OS and is easily reinstated. Regardless users can easily create their own solutions. Either way, all these solutions are easily packaged into utilities for others to adopt.
Just like the windhawk utility you thanked Zaidy for drawing to your attention.

The most bizarre part of all this nonsense is your signature:
"When you look at an operating system as a system that YOU control, then
you realize the user interface is the part you control most."
The approach I described IS controlling the the user interface of the operating system. God only knows what you think you are doing.

Hi MikeS,

You're objecting to things I didn't say while still avoiding the one
concrete technical point in this thread about the Windows XP to Windows 10
GUI not being able to be ported over to the Windows 11 user interface.

The lost functionality user-interface issue is simple: Windows 11 removed taskbar toolbars, and with them the ability to create cascading folder
based menus directly from the taskbar, which is functionality that existed
in Windows XP (via the start menu up to Windows 8 and which was easily
ported to Windows Vista and Windows 10, XP but not to Windows 11 (yet).

You've asserted that this "problem" exists only in my mind. Fine. If that's
the case, then it should be straightforward for you to show how Windows 11 reproduces the same feature.

So let's keep this grounded in actual facts instead of your complaints.

Can you please provide the steps in Windows 11 to create a taskbar toolbar
that expands a folder hierarchy into cascading menus that you suggest
exists in Windows 11 but that which I haven't (yet) been able to find that
you claim exist?
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Andy Burns wrote:

Brian Gregory wrote:

I do wish the 11 start menu could be configured to work more like the
Windows 7 one worked.

I understand there is a 'new' start menu included in 25H2 which has not
been widely enabled yet?-a There's a tool somewhere to force it on ...

Have just noticed it's been enabled on this machine (new
category/grid/list option in Start).

Can't see it helping Brian ...


--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

Brian Gregory wrote:

I do wish the 11 start menu could be configured to work more like the
Windows 7 one worked.

I understand there is a 'new' start menu included in 25H2 which has not been widely enabled yet?a There's a tool somewhere to force it on ...

Have just noticed it's been enabled on this machine (new
category/grid/list option in Start).

The Category one is completely bonkers! For example in the Productivity category, there's the Windows Security UI! :-( But to be [f|F]rank, some
of the others are not *that* bad. But for me, most is in Other (Duh!),
even things like Thunderbird! :-( Anyway, the good thing is you can turn
it off (i.e. use Grid or List).

Can't see it helping Brian ...

Or anybody else.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Have just noticed it's been enabled on this machine (new
category/grid/list option in Start).

The Category one is completely bonkers!

<soapbox>
Everyone can organize their forks & spoons but few can organize their apps!
<https://i.postimg.cc/5yMQwfv9/windows-pullout-menu-drivers.jpg>

I wrote articles for the local Silicon Valley rags decades ago, where they
used to be in those mailbox-like newspaper-like boxes by the post offices.
<https://i.postimg.cc/brHnQj4Y/pic-menu.jpg>

I explained how to organize a Windows PC (which might have been Windows 95)
at the time, and even though some people here (who shall remain unnamed,
but they know who they are) argued I couldn't possibly have used the word
"app" for the installation hierarchy, I certainly did, for a few reasons:

1. Everything was lower case (for good reasons in those days)
2. Everything was fewer than 8 characters (good reasons for that too)
3. And everything was singular (unless it ended with "s" as in "news")
4. No two categories started with the same first letter
5. Catch-all categories (e.g., "misc" & "util") were expressly forbidden

The whole point was to fit every type of app, by functionality.
Without ambiguity. <https://i.postimg.cc/qvJDMQcq/taskbarmenu02.jpg>

For decades, a simple hierarchy of a dozen functionalities has fit every
app I've ever installed on Windows (and on Android and iOS too).
C:\app\{archiver,browser,cleaner,database,editor,finance,game,etc.}

Had Microsoft hired me then, everyone in the world would have had a far
better organized computer as I postulated rules that companies like Adobe
had to abide by, namely they couldn't pollute things the way they did then.

And now.

There would be strict rules on what companies could add in order to fit
into the system properly. Had Microsoft adopted it, Windows wouldn't be in
the mess it is in now, but that's water (long ago) under the bridge for me. </soapbox>

Note it's not the hierarchy that matters so much as it would be designed so that companies couldn't pollute it. Also, I'm well aware "spaces" were a
big thing at some point, so it would add that "modern" stuff (like capital letters) in that it would be designed by me along with a committee.
--
One out of a million people knows how to organize a computer properly.
And yes. I'm one of them. I'm not afraid to say what I know & what I don't.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Frank Slootweg wrote:

The Category one is completely bonkers! > most is in Other (Duh!), even things like Thunderbird!

FF and TB both went into productivity here along with Chrome, Edge and LibreOffice
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-10

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

The Category one is completely bonkers! > most is in Other (Duh!), even things like Thunderbird!

FF and TB both went into productivity here along with Chrome, Edge and LibreOffice

I also have Chrome and Edge in Productivity (don't have FF, nor
LibreOffice).

My Thunderbird is old (60.9..0) and 32-bit, perhaps that 'explains'
why they put it in Other.

But all of this does not explain putting the Windows Security UI in Productivity.

Let's hope *some* people actually like the 'new' Start menu.
--- Synchronet 3.21d-Linux NewsLink 1.2