How on earth did you find Windows 10's Start Menu MORE like Windows 7? Windows 8 with a Classic Shell looks like a modern, flatter Windows 7. I don't understand how people see Windows 10 and 7 as being similar. Windows 10's Start Menu is like the native Windows 8 Start Screen with tiles, just miniaturized.
Here is my Windows 8 desktop with a Vista look-a-like visual style:
And Now with an optimized flatter, modern look:
I have three (3) laptop PC's in a small home-based network. My 1st choice of OS was Win7 Pro, which is remarkably stable by now. This website (sevenforums) has an enormous amount of useful information. BUT - the push & nudge from various browser developers, changing hardware with no drivers for Win7, and now the encroaching threat from critical websites such as banks to use new browser technology (only available in Win10/11 updates) has finally caused push to come to shove ...
I've now rebuilt one of the three machines using Win11, with the other two still on Win7. After some persistent hacking (mostly gleaned from freeware Winaero Tweak and the elevenforums site), I've sorted Win11 to look and act more or less like the previous Win7 installation. Heresy, I suppose, but it seems to work ok. All the devices have properly functioning drivers, the desktop is "carbon copied", almost all of the accumulated programmes work perfectly - which was a pleasant surprise, as the built-up data libraries are still maintained - and there is a definite increase in the speed of programme load flow.
Win11 issues for those interested ? No full aero (ok, it has a heavy overhead but it is a very useful attribute in Win7 for many reasons), it has an annoying habit of losing some settings on each reboot, and the out-of-box "security" is extremely annoying. Persistent hacks reduce this to tolerable and with patience most of the intrusive spyware can be disabled - actually there's quite a lot of that. Even after 6 years of development, Win11 still has stability problems that Win7 does not. It can be made to work ok though, and it has some powerful additions that Win7 lacks.
I didn't say "I found Windows 10's Start Menu MORE like Windows 7" at all. I actually said that when I went to Windows 10 I didn't need the bandaid I put on Windows 8 to make it useable. I made no comparison between the Windows 7 and Windows 10 GUIs. Since you insist on bringing it up I will now.
After I used Windows 10 for a period of time I got used to it. I still have a couple computers with Window 7 that I need to use from time to time. After using Windows 10 I find the Windows 7 GUI quaint and old fashioned. Why would I want to cripple Windows 10 by making it look like Windows 7?
My new laptop has Windows 11 on it. I will use it as is. I have no intentions on putting something like Open Shell on it making it look like something it is not.
BTW, I have several computers. They have the following operating systems on them: DOS 6.22, Windows FWG 3.11, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11. I deal with each operating system in their native environment.
Well, I did specify those who are interested. One of the guaranteed aspects of open sites is that some people will not read the full text that they choose to reply to. Straw men abound.
I've built a Win 11 installation honed to my work flows and aesthetics. Uncrippled and very fast, even on a budget PC with sufficient specs. That this may upset some people for unknown reasons is really not my problem, I think.
For those interested, moving from Win 7 to Win 11 without large ugly changes is ok if initially one has a bit of patience. Particularly if maintaining technical libraries such as mapping, operations scheduling etc (built over many years) with purchased programmes is a requirement. It can be made to work with the end result being a familiar environment, both technically and aesthetically, and upgraded with suitable hardware drivers.
Win11 is still somewhat buggy but has compensations - especially ensuring access to critical websites as these move to browser aspects that require Win10/11. Win11 is also more civilised about enforcing updates than Win10, although it has been said that MS can change that if it wishes.
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