Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

CyberDoc999 reviewed v1.56 on Aug 17, 2015

Start IS Back is way better

StartISBack.com

OAKsider reviewed v1.31 on Dec 5, 2013

Start8 is great.
Really great.

-Lord- reviewed v1.20 on Aug 22, 2013

Start Menu 8 is free.
Really free.

nvic reviewed v1.20 on Aug 21, 2013

The only quality alternative to a downgrade...works well and makes Win8 usable as a desktop OS.

Worth the cheap price.

bodean reviewed v1.17 Beta on Jul 1, 2013

Fileform is getting a little slow at posting stuff. This came out 4 days ago....

Raimondas reviewed v1.16 on May 7, 2013

This simple tool makes Win8 easy usable.
Very satisfied with it.

-Lord- reviewed v1.16 on May 2, 2013

@tickleonthetum

For one, I did some reading and confirm that
U may be right in that the traditional start menu may not be there.
Could be that they may still bring it back, it's not finalized. My review really
Keys on that this software should still be free and Start Menu 8 is.

You shouldn't get so
Overly excited about someone else's reviews. Please
Understand that we are all entitled to our opinions.

tickleonthetum reviewed v1.15 on Apr 23, 2013

@-Lord-: MS is not bringing back the Start Menu, only the Start Button, which will simply switch you to the Start Screen... Get your facts straight before marking down programs!

Start8 is the best of the bunch when it comes to Start Menu replaces for Windows 8. It took me all of a few minutes to decide to pay for it!

-Lord- reviewed v1.15 on Apr 18, 2013

Windows 8.1 update (forthcoming) will return the start menu to Windows and will also give the alternative to boot to desktop rather than metro.

this should have been freeware to begin with, but now it's just going to be uselessware once the update is released.

DeadFly reviewed v1.15 on Apr 18, 2013

Start8 1.15 Changelog
•- New: optionally view the taskbar when using fullscreen Windows 8-style menu
•- Optimizations to icon loading code and frequently used apps list

Start8 1.12 Changelog
•Added support for bmp start buttons with alpha channels
•Fix for a possible crash while searching
•Fix for frequently used apps list not filtering out some pinned taskbar items
•Assorted tweaks and performance improvements

nvic reviewed v1.15 on Apr 17, 2013

I've recommended this to countless people who hate Windows 8's UI. If you don't mind paying for a replacement menu, this is by far the best one out there.

Music4Ever reviewed v1.12 on Mar 21, 2013

Best Start Menu fixer for 8 that's improving with each release - I don't mind paying a pittance for for it either & I've used Stardock products for many years ~

OAKsider reviewed v1.12 on Mar 20, 2013

Incredible bit of software. Perfectly mimics Windows Start Menu. Only $5 (for life of product). Developed by Stardock, trusted. New and improved releases regularly. Tiny file size and low resource usage. This review's especially for Lord Troll IV of Lameville.

tickleonthetum reviewed v1.11 on Feb 10, 2013

I think this is the best of all the Start Menu replacements. I hate the new ModernUI Start Screen, do not have any need for the overly simplistic Apps and do not have touch on my Desktop PC for practical reasons so was keen to get back the Windows 7 User Style.

I tried ClassicShell, vStart, StartMenu8, etc. and found them all lacking in one or more features/options that I wanted. But Stardock Start8 has them all. It is a faithful replica of the Windows 7 StartMenu in every way with the added bonus of some tweaks to suit the Windows 8 look. It also has the ability to switch off some virtually all the Windows 8 Start Screen, Apps and Hot Corners making Windows 8 a truly usable Desktop Environment again!

The price is cheap and it really is better than all the free options!

Music4Ever reviewed v1.11 on Feb 7, 2013

@Lord -To start with you have felt the need to explain yourself to yours truly as your comments testify - In addition anyone who feels they are a 'Power User' needs to get a grip on life & is delusional - What differentiates a ‘Power User’ from a mere human such as myself apart such a person having an inherent mental aberration?

You did mention the '$' in your review so yes money was a part of it, I feel the Stardock gizmo is the best replacement there is but still can't work out why MS removed the ability for users ('Power' or normal) to use the Start Menu maybe on initial install but that's another story.

Edit: Ignore the 'Power User' part of my review as Lord has edited his/hers ~

tickleonthetum reviewed v1.1 on Jan 18, 2013

Very good program, great value.

While there are free alternatives non capture the full functionality/style of the Windows 7 Toolbar a well as Start8. Also Start8 blends in perfectly with the ModernUI look of Windows 8.

The Start Menu ios more than just a simple menu so the low rating from another review who recommends setting up a loobar menu icon is a bit unfair!

Terumo reviewed v1.1 on Jan 17, 2013

DrTeeth way must it do so mutch.
I only want it simpel.

DKDude reviewed v1.09.3 (1.1 RC) on Jan 13, 2013

IMHO StartIsBack is much better.

Raimondas reviewed v1.09 Beta on Dec 3, 2012

Excellent!
No problems at all using this start menu. It is light, easy to use, don't slows down my work.

DrTeeth reviewed v1.0.3 on Nov 16, 2012

3* as it is not free and does not do as much as 'Classic Shell' which is.

Yours Truly reviewed v1.0.3 on Nov 16, 2012

Start8 version 1.03 is nearing perfection as a feature rich well integrated Start Menu (along with choice of Start Button) for Windows 8 PC desktop users. Although there are a few glitches remaining, I am confident that in upcoming releases Stardock will not only implement more useful features, and, as importantly, also stamp out all verifiable bugs found, and that their Start8 application and offering will thrive. And while all this is going on, Windows 8 users can quickly get on with their work in the (once again) familiar Desktop environment.

Raimondas reviewed v1.0.2 on Nov 7, 2012

It is quite nice application. I would give 5 stars for it, but it interferes with Metro in left bottom corner. Of course you can launch Metro by pressing ctrl + start button, but still it is annoying. I think start button should be placed in other place.
I give 4 stars for this application. Good work, keep it up!

-Lord- reviewed v1.0.1 on Nov 2, 2012

I really like Stardock's stuff but charging for this is not right. There are a number of free alternatives that do this and some even do it better. 3 for being Stardock's. but the -2 because it's not free and the available alternatives.

shrink57 reviewed v1.0.1 on Nov 2, 2012

This program has made the transition to Windows 8 much more tolerable (I am slowly starting to appreciate Metro but do not want to give up my start menu). For me, this is a must have tool.

johnrc2 reviewed v1.0 on Nov 1, 2012

I use just about all of Stardock's products on Windows 7. It's worth a minimal fee to add something that I use and bypass something that I have no use for. You can boot up directly into the Desktop and never see the Metro user interface. To me, Metro is just another launch tray or collection of widgets that I couldn't otherwise ignore.

Sven123456789 reviewed v1.0 on Oct 23, 2012

5 dollars for something that should of been free. Not..

pjb reviewed v1.0 on Oct 22, 2012

Since 0.86 this has come on leaps and bounds. This is now a very finely polished application. I currently use this on my Windows 8 installation.

Music4Ever reviewed v0.95 on Sep 27, 2012

Getting better & still in beta, it seems MS took the start menu off us because we don't use it enough ?? Until full release of 8 I'm unwilling to do a complete install of all my programs & still wondering if I need 8 at all.

CyberDoc999 reviewed v0.90 on Sep 5, 2012

they need to update the picture
it is a little better now

jcollake reviewed v0.90 on Sep 4, 2012

I wondered who would be the first to start using these type of product names and creating start menu replacements ;). The classical start menu replacements that have been around for years now have a new chance for life, *if* the authors are still around. As for these new ones, I don't know, and can't speak for this product, so will give it a neutral rating of 3.

pjb reviewed v0.86 on Mar 22, 2012

Totally agree with CyberDoc999, not a good Start menu replacement.
Lee-Soft in my option have a better alternative:
http://lee-soft.com/news/windows-8-start-menu/

CyberDoc999 reviewed v0.86 on Mar 22, 2012

This is NOT a good start menu replacement

Aegis69 reviewed v0.85 on Mar 7, 2012

How do I know microsoft has gone ipad insane? This app had to be created by a third party.