Windows 7: Changing the Start menu to Windows 2000 style

In Windows 7 Ultimate, how do you change the Start menu to look like it does in Windows 2000? I.e. no icon, user name, list of recently run programs, etc. I prefer it when I click the Start button I see the familiar menus, such as Programs, Settings, Search, etc.

Thanks.

Not possible, in short.

It is possible to get something similiar to what you want. The below is my example. This is done using registry edits. Please see the attached registry tweaks file.

Ah ha! Other than the white blank space on the left where the programs used to be, it looks great. I'll give it a try, thanks!

Yep, there is a way to get rid of the white space, I just haven't looked hard enough yet. The reg tweak in that file are many, so you may have to edit it and remove the ones you don't want. Also, you will need to customize your start menu to show favorites checked off. Then rename favorites to Programs or whatever you want it to show.

But in your example are missing some menus entries which are included in original menu. Compare submenu Accessories. Missing:

• Command Prompt
• Notepad
• Run
• Windows Explorer

That's because you only include the menu path
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Startmenü\Programme
And this is the path to start menu entries of all users.

But your example ignores the menu path:
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Startmenü\Programme
This path contains the start menu entries for the individual user.

look in the Customize section, i posted a start menu alternative the other day. it's a little app that you can pin to your taskbar to get a classic-looking programs menu.

What exactly would be the advantage of the classic menu?

The new menu puts everything in close range. Classic menu gives you menus all over your screen, blegh.

I get kind of tired of people that are so scared of good change. The new menu rocks, no doubt.

Once you take 5 minutes to organized it the advantage of the classic menu would be less clutter, lean & fast.

New OS? Lets make it look like the old!