Menu98

Microsoft has brought massive changes to the Windows Start Menu with every new edition of the operating system, and many users miss the simple, clean menu that was available in Windows 98 and XP.

Menu98 provides you with an alternative Start menu, which can be accessed by right-clicking the Start button, as well as an alternative Taskbar context menu. It is quite easy to set up, and it comes with a host of customization options.

Once you’ve set everything up, you can access the new Start menu by just right-clicking the Start button. If you want to bring up the original Start context menu, just right-click the button while holding Shift.

The alternative Start menu looks very similar to the one Microsoft created for Windows 98, XP and every edition in between. It features a clean layout, but it doesn’t look out of place despite its spartan design.

The Taskbar context menu is also replaced with a more basic version when installing the software, but you can revert to the original one at any time.

By default, only a few items are included in the classic Start menu, but you can add any number of new programs, menus and separators. The configurator is relatively easy to work with, though it could be made a bit more intuitive.

You can also choose from a number of menu themes, set its dimensions, change the size of the icons and even add a custom caption on the left side of the menu.

In short, Menu98 is a pretty impressive application, the only downside being that the configuration tool could use a bit more polish. It is not too difficult to set up, and it offers plenty of customization options for users who want to make their Start menu look just right.