If you have a PC with Windows 8 but miss the old Windows 7, you can bring back the Start Menu and the Aero Glass theme with the title bar and window borders that are transparent and hide new elements like the "Charms" menu. Here are some ways to make Windows 8 look like Windows 7.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Installing a Start Menu Replacement
Step 1. Visit Classic Shell on Classicshell.net
This is a free program, which can bring back the Start button in Windows 7.
Step 2. Click the "Download Now" button
Step 3. See that the download runs automatically
Be careful not to click on another "download" button, which can install unwanted programs on your computer.
Step 4. Click "Run" when prompted
Step 5. Accept the license agreement
Step 6. Choose from a wide variety of features, such as Classic IE9, Classic Start Menu and Classic Explorer
Step 7. Click "Install
" Wait for the installation to complete.
Step 8. Click “Finish
”
Step 9. Notice the new display changing to the old Microsoft Start logo
Step 10. Click "Start" and select "Basic settings" or "All settings
" Now you can browse the program layouts and settings that you are already familiar with.
Method 2 of 3: Disabling Some Windows 8 Features
Step 1. Download the free tool called Skip Metro Suite at skip-metro-suite.en.softonic.com/
Step 2. Click "Download
" Don't click another "Start Download" button, which will install other unwanted programs.
Step 3. Install the program
Step 4. Run the program
Step 5. Tick “Skip Start Screen
”
Step 6. Disable other Windows 8 features that you don't like, like the Charms Bar
Step 7. Save your settings
Method 3 of 3: Enabling the Aeroglass Theme
Step 1. Right-click on the Windows 8 desktop and select "Personalize
" The Personalization window will open.
Step 2. Make sure that the default Aero theme is applied
Otherwise, apply the Aero theme.
Step 3. Click "Window Color" at the bottom of the window
Step 4. Keep the Color and Appearance window open and don't click on anything inside
Step 5. Right-click your desktop again and select "Personalize" again to open a second Personalization window
Step 6. Click the "Windows Basic" theme to apply the Aero Lite theme
Step 7. Go to the Personalization window that you opened earlier
Step 8. Uncheck the "Enable transparency" option then check again
Step 9. Click the "Save changes" button
You will now have the AeroGlass look in the Aero Lite theme.
Tips
- If you decide to return to the Windows 8 view as before, without the Start button and Start menu, click Start, Control Panel and Programs and Features. Look for Classic Shell in the list, and click on it to delete it.
- There are several other programs you can install to make your computer feel like Windows 7. Start8 is a cheap program, which you can customize to your liking. Pokki is another program that can restore the Start button and there's also a built in app store, which contains lots of free apps.