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What is Classic Shell?
Classic Shell
is a collection of features that were
available in older versions of Windows but are removed from Vista and
Windows 7. It has a classic start menu for Windows 7, it adds a toolbar
for Windows Explorer and supports a variety of smaller features. Look here for the full list.
 Follow Classic Shell on Facebook
News
Dec 24th 2010 -
Version 2.9.2 RC is released. It has a couple of new features and some bugfixes. Merry Christmas, everybody.
Feb 5th 2011 -
Version 2.9.3 RC is released. Now with search in the start menu!
Mar 3rd 2011 -
Version 3.0.0 is released. This is the official release of Classic Shell 3.0.
Apr 1st 2011 -
Version 3.1.0 is released. This version adds the new Classic IE9
component that lets you customize the caption and the status bar of
Internet Explorer 9.
Aug 20th 2011 -
Version 3.2.0 is released. Adds some bugfixes and new features.
Jan 6th, 2012 -
Version 3.3.0 is released. Adds some bugfixes and new features. Adds support for Windows 8. For more on Windows 8 read here.
Jan 20th, 2012 -
Version 3.4.0 is released. Adds some bugfixes and new features. Adds an automatic check for new versions.
Jan 21st, 2012 -
Version 3.4.1 is released. It fixes a small problem in the automatic check for new versions.
System Requirements
Classic Shell works on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Both 32 and
64-bit versions are supported (the same installer works for both). Some skins for the start menu require
Aero theme to be enabled. Others require at least Basic theme.
Additional Skins for the Start Menu
Classic Shell comes with a limited set of skins for the start menu.
More skins are available for download:
After you download the new skins, place the .skin files in the Classic Shell\Skins folder.
Then open the start menu settings and select your new skin. Don't
forget to click on the "About This Skin" button to see who the authors
are and what they have to say.
You can create your own skin. Read the tutorial
here for how to do it.
Translations
The main Classic Shell package includes
translations in 35 languages for things like the toolbar labels, the
Explorer UI and the start menu items.
By default things like the
settings UI, help files and the installer are only in English. Thanks
to some helpful users, those areas of Classic Shell have been
translated to other languages:
*The stand-alone
DLLs are add-ons for the main Classic Shell package. Install the
full Classic Shell and then copy the DLLs directly into the Classic Shell
folder. They will be used the next time you log in. Note: a DLL will only work for the exact version of Classic Shell it is intended for. Make sure you download the right version.
If you want to contribute a translation for another language, please
leave a message in the forums and I will contact you with instructions
how to do it.
How Classic Shell works
Read all the implementation details in this Code Project article: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/shell/classicshell.aspx
The article was the grand prize winner of the Windows
7 “Windows @
Work” article contest in February 2010.
Friends of Classic Shell
Here are some of the people, who made significant contributions to the Classic Shell project:
Gaurav Kale - testing and feature requests
JohnEdwa - custom skins and feature requests
Loginvovchyk - Russian translations, documentation and installer
Andreas Roth - German translations
BasCom - German translations
CGpingu - German translations
barlog - Japanese translations
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