I gotta say, I haven't had desktop icons enabled in almost 10 years now. It calms the mind

Keyboard shortcuts, start menu pins or start menu -> type app name works for me!

 

That's the nice thing about having a computer at home - everyone can choose their own wallpaper and color and customize their PC completely individually. I still remember Windows 95 and Windows XP, when there was still the Brico Longhorn Pack which freed you from the unimaginative Window Gray. I am quite happy with how my PC interface looks today.

Longhorn Black v2 Theme for Windows 11
https://uxthemepatcher.com/longhorn-black-v2-theme-for-windows-11/

UXTheme Patcher ---> https://uxthemepatcher.com

Introducing StartAllBack: Windows 11 from better timeline
Embrace, enhance, unsweep classic UI from under the rug ---> www.startallback.com

 

This one's still alive and kicking. The "Windows X-Lite" modder uses it. Don't know if it's the same others have mentioned, a branch, or unrelated:
https://mhoefs.eu/software_uxtheme.php

 

That's what I used to tell my parents when we got viruses and had to put the computer in the shop lol. Rather than format and start all over, I'd be like man ya'll wouldn't beleive it. I was on a website and these porn ads just started popping up out of nowhere which isn't exactly a lie, though I'd been veiwing lots of porn. However, they do pop up on warez sites LOL.

 

I never really messed with Linux I remember black and red hat though, most hackers used that operating system. I didn't know how to code in unix either.

 

BBLEAN been using it for many years, it has virtual desktops and one of it's key features is to float pesky plugins and windows separate from the main application in it's own virtual desktop.

The color themes are also excellent, BBLEAN is a window drop down floating system that can also be docked. This is similar to BeOS or NeXT OS.

It has not been updated in many years but still works on all windows systems, however newer OS shells are more pesky to keep out of the way ( like pressing the Windows logo key on your keyboard may float show the Windows taskbar).

 

ah dude that sound fucking amazing, I think object desktop used to do do that.

 

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/7-best-windows-alternative-shell-replacement-programs/

This is intersting, a lot of different programs for customization

 

minus the horses this is clean.







clean

 

Last edited: Jan 4, 2025

clean

 

https://www.astonshell.com/downloads.htm

 

Oh yes, that desktop shot from a series of pictures back in 2011 later waited for proper tools to merge them together..used to live right down on the valley.

 

Agreed, though I use PowerToys run and Everything, both with a key shortcut, and they take most of the load off the start menu. Matter of taste though.

 

I remember the days I used WindowBlinds to customize my Windows XP machine to look like Windows Vista because Vista was to heavy for my old hardware. It worked out very well and it even implemented some fake aero glass effect.

WindowBlinds later got replaced by Stardock Curtains for Windows 8 and up if I remember correctly.
Customization is (for me) still a huge thing but a lot of people don't care anymore nowdays.

The best tools ever developed from Stardock are Fences & ObjectDock. I highly recommend them.

 

I don't just remember it, I still use it. I think it's worth it for this skin alone: https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/9233/

Looks just like Windows 98, but with all the modern "aero" effects and works flawlessly at 4k. Additionally, you can get remastered Windows 98 icons from here: https://github.com/nestoris/Win98SE

Once I move on to Linux as my daily driver, I'll definitely keep Windowblinds on my Windows 10 offline machine.

 

Stardock has a start menu customization

 

I'll have to check them out, I was a skin junkie for sure lol

 

Last edited: Jan 6, 2025

hell yea that's awesome classic windows 98!

 

Yeah, as I said earlier in this thread, I do use Start11 to make the start menu save. But it's mostly to make the taskbar usable for me.

Still, shortcuts are essential personally, Win = Start Menu, Alt+Space = PowerToys Run, Win+Alt+Space = Everything. Start11 can incorporate Everything results though, so I sometimes use that if I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

 

Man I been out of the game so long I don't remember any programs to skin the start menu, I remember Windowblinds and object desktop about it. I missed so much my time away, hell I wouldn't even be on now had I not had an accident falling off of a machine at work that resulted in a ligament tear in my right wrist and cost me my job as well since I haven't been able to return.