Classic Shell: Forum

The classic Start menu from all Window versions can be invoked with Ctrl-Esc key combination and then hitting any key would launch a program that started with that letter . . . but this Classic Start Menu seems to have lost that funtionality. Whay happened? To me that is the only reason to want to replace the Win-7 version because in Win-7 the fucus is on the search box so I cant launch programs with keystrokes any more.

I just migrated to Win-7 yesterday and I'm lost without being able to launch programs from the keyboard. I keep hitting key combinations without thinking to no avail.

I guess I also have to confess that I have such an old heavy rugged keyboard that it does noteven have a Win key either so I cant switch to that method if that's an option.

I am running Windows 7 and Ctrl+Esc works just fine. Are you saying nothing happens when you press it?

Yes, nothing happens.

It should do the exact same thing as the Win key. What happens when you press the Win key alone?

LOL . . . I dont have a Win key.

I also lost the shortcut to Windows Explorer after the install but I can get that back easy enough

I just tried rebooting bot that did not help

Save your settings to XML file and attach them here.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Settings component="StartMenu" version="3.6.8">
<DefaultMenuStyle value="Classic"/>
<WinKey value="Nothing"/>
<ShiftWin value="Nothing"/>
<Computer value="Hide"/>
<Favorites value="Show"/>
<Documents value="Menu"/>
<ControlPanel value="Menu"/>
<Skin1 value="Classic Skin"/>
<SkinVariation1 value=""/>
<SkinOptions1 value="DA60029A|E55CEDD2|BD80CDB3|C26EAF5C|86F3669C|5225DC46|5D3248DD|E87963C2|80316ABE|"/>
</Settings>

You have set the Win key to do nothing. Ctrl+Esc is identical to the Win key. Set it to do something.

Big GRIN : o )

As long as I'm here . . . How do I invoke the Win-7 Start button?

Never mind, I just had to figure out where to click while holding Shift.

Click on it.

Yeah, Shift-Click

I'm a happy camper now Yippeee LOL

Classic Shell is great, but I'm disappointed that its developers decided to have Ctrl+Esc open it immediately, without waiting for further keypresses.

Normally, on PCs without Windows keys, you can press Ctrl+Esc to simulate the Windows key. This allows you to use the usual Windows+[character] commands (e.g. Windows+D to minimize/restore all open windows).

Rather than activating the menu as soon as Ctrl+Esc was pressed, CS could wait till the user released Ctrl+Esc, in case they wanted to press a third key. In fact, that's how it responds to the Windows key.

I realize those of us typing on (for example) restored, no-Windows-key IBM Model M keyboards are in the minority. And yet Microsoft considered Ctrl+Esc important enough to include it. It doesn't seem like it would be too big an inconvenience for CS to honor it too.

Classic Shell does nothing to handle Ctrl+Esc. It is implemented entirely by the system and fires the same event as the Win key. Try it without Classic Shell and you will see that it immediately opens the start screen.

My mistake—you're absolutely right. It's been a while since I've used Ctrl+Esc on previous Windows versions. It does indeed just open the Start menu.

Well, as the guy said in The Wizard of Oz: "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"