I have this program called “Edge” (it is a game somewhere, can’t remember where). Every time I type “Edge” it would pop up with ONLY Microsoft Edge. It would not even appear in the other search options.
All of these tweaks, some of which are not free, make me wonder why people are still on Windows. Pretty much all of these features, and then some, have existed there for at least 2 decades.
I have been using WinAero Tweaker ever since I switched to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in 2015. Initially I used to do all those customization by editing the Group Policy/Registry but this program is a lifesaver for quick and ease of use.
winaero tweaker is an amazing program. i use it on both my windows 10 and windows 11 pc it is good for turning off or on telemetry and forced automatic updates. Classic start menu is another good program for changing the start menu/start bar and it is free and works on either windows 10 or 11.
Here's a suggestion if you're looking for interesting, unknown programs. StrokesPlus allows you to hold a mouse button and draw a gesture to activate a macro or Windows function. Basically, you can turn a comfy mouse with two buttons into a 20+ button mouse with just lines in each direction for gestures. If I hold mouse 1 and scroll up, I get alt tab. Left/right is back/forward. North-east closes a window. South brings up the task switcher. You can do quite alot with it, even set it up for particular applications like Photoshop. Used it for months now, feels weird to use a computer without it.
i can bet that would get very annoying if you accidently do a gesture when you didnt want to like if you did one where just dragging straight down or up for example you would accidently trigger it while trying to scroll or drag files about
I love Directory Opus. I have been using it 32 years now. I had the 1st version on the Amiga 500 and other Amiga s up to the Amiga 4000HD. I still use it. 👍😁👍
Notepad++ is a must for me. Like DirectoryOpus for replacing the Explorer, Notepad++ open so much possibilities. Macrium Reflect also; Scheduling a regular backup of my main drive on my network, and I can boot on Reflect directly for a quick full restore, or just opening a Reflect backup file as a drive to extract something back. Very convinient. Also; Never enough backups! I'm using a few more but those two, with those you mentionned, wraps up my essencial ones. 👍
There’s Rectify11 also, it’s like a must-have for everyone with 11. Replaces your normal theme with an actually finished one with WinUI elements, rounded corners truly everywhere, universal dark mode and if you want, Mica/Acrylic backdrop everywhere. Plus, changes all the icons that aren’t yet changed, changes the cursors to actually new ones, integrates ExplorerPatcher directly
Sadly, Stardock's Start11 doesn't allow for left ight taskbars positions (a must for me). StartAllBack does and it it also allows for non-combining and small icons (also a must). Honestly, the amount of options we lost from Win10 is staggering. The only good native GUI add was tabbed Explorer windows. Everything else was dumbed downed. The fact you have to click 2x just to get to Properties.. or Send to Desktop.. or Open With is nutz.
Not to mention how much slower everything is. In Windows 10 it would just be the new settings. Now it's almost everything (that's left). Old settings was super snappy on pretty much any system. It still is if you go into it. Sure, it's not pretty, but it pretty much never hangs. All these universal apps etc. are badly coded.
@@merlinwarage ah yes, i cant wait to open my windows 11 and play candy crush,use Microsoft teams and skype all day and use the get help app to report the bugs /s
Powertoys is very useful indeed, people just thinking its just a bloat while it literally have quality of life features for working, business or just for fun.
Just do a clean install of Windows 10 on the laptop. Not only will you get rid of Windows 11, you'll get rid of all the useless manufacturer bloatware that was pre-installed onto Windows 11 as well. Win win.
No, I'm just going to call you win10 boys on the nonsense. Like that was the play to do when windows 8 was on the market. Windows 11 also has a lot of ways to get rid of the bloat? I have everything unnecessary gone. Telling people in today's day and age to downgrade isn't the good option. Tech is only going to adapt and upgrade faster. Just because you might not like something at the onset should not mean downloading the previous version, which you'll just get forced to upgrade at some point soon anyway? Learn about the stuff you are using lmao
My first computer was windows 95 btw, I've been around for a while. I see the windows market trends. At least they upgrade the current OS more substantially than they used to on prior versions.
@@The_Loudmouths lmao what are you talking about? Oh no someone used more than a sentence online, must be mad. Nah I'm pointing out bad practices you should not be doing with the state of computers today, you are going to want the most recent operating systems. There is a reason phones won't let you delay updates, why would you think differently about your PC. Get over yourself lmao. Don't follow my advice, sure, you do you friend. But I just want to say it is not good advice, plus most people with a brain wouldn't suggest downgrading. Stay mad I guess. Also when did I ask you to give me the fantastic advice for downgrading? 🤣
There's also Nexus Dock, which brings a nice-looking Mac-style dock to Windows. And Stardock's WindowBlinds for Windows 11, which lets you completely skin the user interface with differently-styled controls. You can really start to like Windows 11, after you've installed enough apps to make it look and act totally different.
I want to say you have been doing a great job. I've been here for a long time. I remember the days you got a lot of crap for making joking videos that people didn't understand. But since those days you really have turned into one of my most trusted user for tech stuff. Thanks great turn around. Much respect
Always funny to see this everytime again and again. When a new Windows version is released most users will install something to get the old look back. This is so ironic :D
@@plashplash-fg6hd it's been going on since win 95 to 98 probably, I remember these kind of UI programs for win vista/7 to make it look like win xp again 😆
@@tausiftaha12 It does, but for the question of why a non-indexed search goes slower than an indexed one, the distinction matters. Also, I saw Windows 7's explorer suggest I create an index, so maybe it does exist in principle.
Thanks for alleviating my pain! It doesn't change that Windows 11 is buggy af, but at least now my PC will look nice and that will make me slightly less angry when I have to force shutdown.
Yeah, very backwards logic, I know. I sure love humanity lol. It's almost as if Windows 10 isn't not still getting updates and that people shouldn't be so quick to switch, but that's just me.
@@souptaels It would not be the user logic that is backwards. It is more productive to use a common interface. If an interface is designed properly, there should be no need to redesign the wheel. It already works.
A lot of people have told me about Search Everything, adn I've always said, No, I'm fine with Windows search; it works fine. But, you got me with this video. Something about the sorting, the date modified stuff -- yeah, I think I need that in my life.
I wish Microsoft would allow more customization in the UI of Windows. Instead it feels like for every new version, customization is actually worse that before. I also wish they would pick up the database-like file system idea again that they ditched several years ago, something which Bill Gates stated was one of his biggest regrets.
A selection of great tools, some I have been using for a long time (Start10/11, Everything, PowerToys), and some I just discovered like Directory Opus you presented in a previous video. Good job and thank you!
My main gripe about Win 11 is it's inability to run legacy 32-bit programs. I've gotten used to the new look and functionality of 11, but found it would not run my old 32-bit apps, even in compatibility mode. Ended up putting the old programs entire install files on an SD card and tell Win 11 it's got my permission to run them every time they launch. It took me 6 months to discover that work-around. I almost returned my new Win 11 laptop (that I ordered with Win 10 O.S. but Win 11 came pre-installed instead) when I found I could not use the old drawing program that I had been using since 1995, and have created hundreds of drawings, stencils, and templates representing thousands of hours of work over the years.
I actually work on a software that kind of replaces Winaero Tweaker and Shutup, BUT does not have all their options as I only added some of the most useful ones or the ones that are not breaking your computer. The app does much more than that, it's a cleaner, debloater, tweaker, optimizer and repair tool, all at once. Once I finish it maybe you'll like to take a look at it. It's using latest WinUI 3 controls, so the look and feel is similar to PowerToys, but even better. Great video! I wish I had my app ready so I had a chance of it to be featured here.
Maybe it changed with Windows 11, but I can add folders to the quick-access in the navigation pane on windows 10 without any issues. I added my AppData folder, the Godmode folder, and other folders located on various drives.
I was gonna say this as well as I'm pretty sure I've been able to add folders to the side for a long while now, but I've not tested in Win11. I know that I went searching for the 'classic file explorer' fix when I started testing Win11 originally.
The downside of 11 with the taskbar not being resizable or moveable is that it hinders accessibility. I have a primary monitor on the bottom center I have set as the main monitor, but I drag the secondary taskbar from my top monitor to my bottom monitor to get rid of the tray, etc.. then on my top monitor, I have the primary taskbar 3 units high with small icons and on the top of the screen. This allows uninterrupted content in the center but an uncomfortable glance and I can see the time, etc.. rather than having that all of the time... broken neck, back and nerve damage.
7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a must for lots of handy taskbar tools for Win10. You can change groupings, set it so you can double click the taskbar to open the task manager, middle click a program to close, scroll anywhere to change the volume etc. There is also Windhawk for Win11 from the same dev that does the same thing as 7+. AltSnap, something that copies the win-mousedrag on windows to move or resize them. Default here is alt-mousedrag but I changed mine to the Win key instead. So win-leftmousedrag do move the window and win-rightmousedrag to resize it and win-middlemouse to close. You can also use different combination to set at window to always on top and a few different other options. Really nice :)
Personally, I'd say the windows 8 start screen is the most efficient one ever. If that's not available then the next best thing would be to search for stuffs, and by that sense there's no point using any customized start menu.
I am using start 11 for a long time and before that start 10.I cant get used to this windows 10/11 start menu so i use the windows 7 option in start 11.I love the many options start 11 has!
Directory Opus is phenomenal. It takes some time to understand all the capabilities and ways you can customize it, but for a power user it’s worth the investment. Opus 13 has added support for Everything searching, in addition to its own search. These can be global or constrained to the folder tree of whatever folder is currently in your Opus window. Its rename feature is so good I uninstalled File Renamer. The built in viewer is better than most image viewers. Support has been great. I use TCC as my command shell because it can color files based on their extension. Opus can do that too, so now I have a pretty similar looking list in my command shell and my Opus lister. Dual pane support and synchronization features make copying and moving files between two folder much easier. There’s a gazillion preference options, but the UI for managing them is so good it’s something everyone should emulate. For me, Opus was well worth the money. The upgrade from 12 to 13 was heavily discounted and well worth the price.
MultiCommander is a great Explorer alternative and it's totally free! I liked Directory Opus but the admin functionality didn't always work as advertised, and since MS makes it almost impossible to run File Explorer as admin, that was my main reason for looking for alternates :).
One thing I miss most (used to use classic shell) was right clicking on the excel or word doc and it shows a list of the documents that you recently worked on for that program. I do use eplorerpatcher (free) to fix so many things about the task bar and file explorer. I wish I could get back the two working outlook profiles in the taskbar - now if I open one it opens another instance instead of the existing instance.
I personally really like Windows 10's start menu. I have a ton of programs pinned. Because I can just set them to be small tiles, I can fit a ton of them, and you can even resize the start menu similar to resizing windows so that you don't need to scroll in the menu. I just checked, and I have 82 items pinned to my start menu. The older Windows 7/XP/98 etc start menus are really limiting as you can only have maybe like 10 or so items. And Windows 11 doesn't have the small tiles like 10's as far as I'm aware, and I'd probably have to scroll multiple times to view 82 items.
2:01 - I've been using Everything for years now, can't live without it - This is one MUST HAVE software on any PC I only wish there was a better alternative to either QTTab Bar or Clover - like.. Official Tab support in Explorer from M$ themselves..
Also just to mention, if go Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviours right there the first selection in the Takbar section will show "Taskbar alignment |Center 🡣|" it gives the ability to align the taskbar to the left -hope it helps-
But does Stardock’s Start also make it so you can do the full-screen mode, as well as do live tiles and make them different sizes? Because I basically use that as a replacement for the desktop, like a pop-up/out desktop at the press of a key, and it’s the norm for me. It would basically destroy everything I’m used to, from launching applications and quickly finding information, like even just the weather and the like, if that isn’t the same or better. But there’s time, since Windows 10 support is only ending from 2025, which is when people should only CONSIDER moving to 11.
There is a program called Files in the Store. I use it instead of the default explorer since it looks prettier. It even has some more features that are neat but its not overkill for a regular user
Similarly, my brother Danny hated Windows 8, so he decided to stick with Windows 7 instead. And speaking of Windows 7, I made Windows 11 look almost exactly like that OS.
If you want WIndows 10 Start Menu for free, you can use ExplorerPatcher. It will also make the taskbar look like Windows 10 (Sorry if you like the fat, "beautiful" rounded iconed taskbar), and has lots of customizations too. How does it do? Windows 10's start menu could be enabled through registry in the early preview builds. MS just made the registry "hack" invalid. But since the design is based on same Modern Interface that Windows 10 is made of, Programs like ExplorerPatcher, Start11 can enable them (make them valid to the system, maybe through registry, or maybe through replacing some system files).
thanks for the Start11 info! I'm about to set-up new system and win11 will probably go on it.. wanted to see if I can change the start-menu back! about "Everything" .. have been using it for years now, love it and can't imagine to work without it anymore.
Its really hard for me to understand why Microsoft is not implementing these features in their own software. Dont they have a single clue of what is popular in their own system? At leaste make this custom, so people can choose to turn function on/off, rather to have them go into 3rd party installations. It's so silly.
There's an alternative to Start11 called ExplorerPatcher that allows you to bring back not only the Windows 10 start menu, but also the Windows 10 taskbar along with everything else Windows 10
@@Damian-cilr2 ExplorerPatcher and Open Shell are not the same, ExplorerPatcher brings back the native Windows 10 start menu while Open Shell is a 3rd party start menu alternative
my favorite program beside start11 is Listary . you can search everything from files , internet , programs , directories , windows settings and so on . definitely suggested if you hate windows 11 search👿
Microsoft PowerToys's File Locksmith, File Explorer add-ons (which allowed me to restore PDF thumbnails), Find My Mouse, Paste As Plain Text (Now it works outside of Docs. Yay!), PowerRename, Quick Accent, and Text Extractor are all very helpful. Thank you! Interesting that PowerRename has an option (the default option actually) to appear in the default File Explorer right click menu, but File Locksmith does not. Hope that gets added. Wish there was a way for 7-Zip to appear in the default menu too. Then I would never need ‘Show more options’. I like the new menu actually. So much cleaner.
ExplorerPatcher is a good free alternative to have some of the features of Start11, including bringing back Win10 Start (With Rounded Corners), Win10 Taskbar, Win10 FileExplorer, and some other tweaks.
Awesome guide, as an IT professional myself I have and actively use all these tools on windows 11. I'd strongly recommend AGAINST O&O shutup though , I tried it using the default settings and it broke my system in various hard to understand ways, that even someone with very advanced registry knowledge all what each setting should change, I could not correct. I had to do a system restore. It also changes various settings that are easily user controlled in the settings menu, via GroupPolicy, which locks them from you controlling them easily after should you wish to reverst just some settings but not all, which is really stupid considering it's intended purposes - it should just change the userLand settings variant, but it does not. Perhaps if just use it and select a few safer settings its okay, but in general i'd recommend newer alternatives to perform the same things, such as Chris Titus powershell script. His is more tested against breaking your system using it's default settings, tho it can also do that if you aren't careful.
I hate the Win 10 start menu and hardly use it, but I LOVE the Win 11 start menu and it seems to fit me well. I had problems getting used to Win 8 start menu and Win 10 is like Win 8 start menu to me. Win 11 start menu seems "new" and I am feeling good about it.
The beauty of the Win10 start menu is that you can choose what to use and how. I hated the tiles at first, but being able to have small groups of commonly used apps that you don't necessarily want on your desktop or in a folder is nice. That and being able to see a quick glance view of the weather or your email with the tap of a key (WinKey) is nice.
Make it do all the things XP used to do! Search matching faces to names. Find emails by indexed contents. Don't search with bing by default. Run windows on 2GB RAM on a 1G processor faster than it does with 5 times as much and with an SSD does today. Open PDF's on something other than Edge. Use a selected term on one website to search for reference info on another: Even Wikipedia or Amazon or RUclips directly. Run on legacy or old hardware without an enterprise licence for the reduced version installer.
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Love ur chsnnel
vpn kinda cringe
Gg u are the first comment
Nice video upload and keep it up!
I wish start 11 sponsored this vid
The free of cost Everything is such a game changer it makes you wonder how default search can be so terrible.
I have this program called “Edge” (it is a game somewhere, can’t remember where). Every time I type “Edge” it would pop up with ONLY Microsoft Edge. It would not even appear in the other search options.
@@gallium-gonzollium Yeah sometimes the shortcut into the start menu folder for apps to show up
All of these tweaks, some of which are not free, make me wonder why people are still on Windows. Pretty much all of these features, and then some, have existed there for at least 2 decades.
Actually why default search is so bad and slow?
@@Anonymous-qb4vc Because Microsoft wrote the code.
I have been using WinAero Tweaker ever since I switched to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in 2015. Initially I used to do all those customization by editing the Group Policy/Registry but this program is a lifesaver for quick and ease of use.
winaero tweaker is an amazing program. i use it on both my windows 10 and windows 11 pc it is good for turning off or on telemetry and forced automatic updates. Classic start menu is another good program for changing the start menu/start bar and it is free and works on either windows 10 or 11.
@@100PercentTHCfilmsX420XYeah, :( Windows 7 is end of support, 2008-2023.
These shell editors are definitely very useful for like anything. Definitely worth trying
Here's a suggestion if you're looking for interesting, unknown programs.
StrokesPlus allows you to hold a mouse button and draw a gesture to activate a macro or Windows function. Basically, you can turn a comfy mouse with two buttons into a 20+ button mouse with just lines in each direction for gestures. If I hold mouse 1 and scroll up, I get alt tab. Left/right is back/forward. North-east closes a window. South brings up the task switcher. You can do quite alot with it, even set it up for particular applications like Photoshop. Used it for months now, feels weird to use a computer without it.
i can bet that would get very annoying if you accidently do a gesture when you didnt want to like if you did one where just dragging straight down or up for example you would accidently trigger it while trying to scroll or drag files about
@@darkspongebob11 You need to hold the desginated mouse button while you do the gesture, so that doesn't happen.
@@JordanIdk which mouse button? there is a special button on the mouse you use to do it?
I have a SpeedPad for that…
wow thank you
I love Directory Opus.
I have been using it 32 years now.
I had the 1st version on the Amiga 500 and other Amiga s up to the Amiga 4000HD.
I still use it. 👍😁👍
Me, too, since the Amiga days!
Same here. Do not use all its potential, but is is always on my PC (and Amiga emulation).
Notepad++ is a must for me. Like DirectoryOpus for replacing the Explorer, Notepad++ open so much possibilities.
Macrium Reflect also; Scheduling a regular backup of my main drive on my network, and I can boot on Reflect directly for a quick full restore, or just opening a Reflect backup file as a drive to extract something back. Very convinient. Also; Never enough backups!
I'm using a few more but those two, with those you mentionned, wraps up my essencial ones. 👍
start11 feels like a lifesaver, gonna keep watching. I was really hating how limited Windows 11's default start menu was
I'm getting deja vu with Windows Vista 😂
btw you need to pay to get start11, which is really annoying!
@@epicplayz9594 Eh, 1 time and it's quite cheap. I definitely don't love that though. Should just be an option for windows natively
@@epicplayz9594 It's only six bucks, a bargain.
@@epicplayz9594 You can use openshell instead which is free & open source.
There’s Rectify11 also, it’s like a must-have for everyone with 11. Replaces your normal theme with an actually finished one with WinUI elements, rounded corners truly everywhere, universal dark mode and if you want, Mica/Acrylic backdrop everywhere. Plus, changes all the icons that aren’t yet changed, changes the cursors to actually new ones, integrates ExplorerPatcher directly
Sadly, Stardock's Start11 doesn't allow for left
ight taskbars positions (a must for me). StartAllBack does and it it also allows for non-combining and small icons (also a must). Honestly, the amount of options we lost from Win10 is staggering. The only good native GUI add was tabbed Explorer windows. Everything else was dumbed downed. The fact you have to click 2x just to get to Properties.. or Send to Desktop.. or Open With is nutz.
Not to mention how much slower everything is. In Windows 10 it would just be the new settings. Now it's almost everything (that's left).
Old settings was super snappy on pretty much any system. It still is if you go into it. Sure, it's not pretty, but it pretty much never hangs. All these universal apps etc. are badly coded.
@@tams805 You also can't have more than one settings panel open at once anymore, drives me insane.
You didn't lose the options thought. They're still there, just slightly obfuscated. That's not the same as "losing" them.
Starting from Windows 10 I rarely use the Start menu. Instead I just hit the Windows key and search for the stuffs I want.
@notfiveo That's the (last straw) reason I am abandoning Windows as an OS for work.
@notfiveo just do the setup without an internet connection, then you don’t have to do a stupid MS account
Computers must equip with TPM security requirement to be installed on
@@thuattan6540 you can get around both this and the need for a microsoft account
You’re going to love Flow Launcher
Been using Directory Opus since I had an Amiga. It's simply the best file tool ever.
powertoys is the most op thing for windows and I don't know why Microsoft implement it as a separate software rather than make it a part of the os
Because 90% of the users don't need them, and we don't want a more bloat system as it is already.
@@merlinwarage More like "we don't want typical users to go break their install".
@@merlinwarage ah yes, i cant wait to open my windows 11 and play candy crush,use Microsoft teams and skype all day and use the get help app to report the bugs /s
Powertoys is very useful indeed, people just thinking its just a bloat while it literally have quality of life features for working, business or just for fun.
Thank goodness it is. It means it's outside of the main Windows 11 team who seem intent on making Windows worse.
Man the perfect video I needed. Just got a new laptop and after being used to windows 10 I must say I am not a fan of 11 out of the box
Just do a clean install of Windows 10 on the laptop. Not only will you get rid of Windows 11, you'll get rid of all the useless manufacturer bloatware that was pre-installed onto Windows 11 as well. Win win.
@@moonlightcayenne8722 Me too!!
No, I'm just going to call you win10 boys on the nonsense. Like that was the play to do when windows 8 was on the market. Windows 11 also has a lot of ways to get rid of the bloat? I have everything unnecessary gone.
Telling people in today's day and age to downgrade isn't the good option. Tech is only going to adapt and upgrade faster. Just because you might not like something at the onset should not mean downloading the previous version, which you'll just get forced to upgrade at some point soon anyway?
Learn about the stuff you are using lmao
My first computer was windows 95 btw, I've been around for a while. I see the windows market trends. At least they upgrade the current OS more substantially than they used to on prior versions.
@@The_Loudmouths lmao what are you talking about? Oh no someone used more than a sentence online, must be mad.
Nah I'm pointing out bad practices you should not be doing with the state of computers today, you are going to want the most recent operating systems.
There is a reason phones won't let you delay updates, why would you think differently about your PC. Get over yourself lmao.
Don't follow my advice, sure, you do you friend. But I just want to say it is not good advice, plus most people with a brain wouldn't suggest downgrading. Stay mad I guess.
Also when did I ask you to give me the fantastic advice for downgrading? 🤣
There's also Nexus Dock, which brings a nice-looking Mac-style dock to Windows. And Stardock's WindowBlinds for Windows 11, which lets you completely skin the user interface with differently-styled controls. You can really start to like Windows 11, after you've installed enough apps to make it look and act totally different.
I want to say you have been doing a great job. I've been here for a long time. I remember the days you got a lot of crap for making joking videos that people didn't understand. But since those days you really have turned into one of my most trusted user for tech stuff. Thanks great turn around. Much respect
Been using Directory Opus for about 10 years, recommend it to anyone.
It is absolute gold. So powerful its crazy!
I love how the win10 start looks and feels
Windows 10 users: I want Windows 8
Windows 11 users: I want Windows 10
I think the best improvement from windows 11 you can get is to downgrade it to windows 10
true
@@superdoesthings Windows 10 is not a downgrade.
I once decided to install windows 11 which was a big mistake and it’s more of a upgrade not a downgrade.
true
@@noob69696 same, after experimenting with it for around 2 days, I decided it wasn't my thing and downgraded back to windows 10
My favorite tools (apps that solve "gaps" in Windows) are:
7+ Taskbar Tweaker
DesktopOK
FreeFileSync (and included RealTimeSync)
PersistentWindows
PinWin
Sysinternals Tools
Always funny to see this everytime again and again. When a new Windows version is released most users will install something to get the old look back. This is so ironic :D
This is because Windows 10 and 11 suck, and many people didn’t like the Win 8(.1) UI, so they tried to get it back.
@@plashplash-fg6hd it's been going on since win 95 to 98 probably, I remember these kind of UI programs for win vista/7 to make it look like win xp again 😆
@@JamesJordanson Cool.
How Everything is so good, free and not backed by a megacorp is beyond my understanding. No one, I repeat- NO ONE, searches that fast.
It uses indexing, which is kinda like cheating.
@@lforlight Cheating or not,
It works.
@@tausiftaha12 It does, but for the question of why a non-indexed search goes slower than an indexed one, the distinction matters. Also, I saw Windows 7's explorer suggest I create an index, so maybe it does exist in principle.
[file locator pro] does.
@@lforlight An average user won't care about indexed or non-indexed, they'll just want the faster one.
Thanks for alleviating my pain!
It doesn't change that Windows 11 is buggy af, but at least now my PC will look nice and that will make me slightly less angry when I have to force shutdown.
Protip everyone, be careful with installing random software that’s recommended by strangers in the comments section.
Quick accent and fancy zones is so usefull. As someone who is multilingual I need these all the time
Fun fact: just use registry to tweak something you wanted back to what Windows 10's like.
Ah yes, so we upgrade to windows 11 and then install all this third party software to make it feel like windows 10. Amazing
Yeah, very backwards logic, I know. I sure love humanity lol. It's almost as if Windows 10 isn't not still getting updates and that people shouldn't be so quick to switch, but that's just me.
@@souptaels It would not be the user logic that is backwards. It is more productive to use a common interface. If an interface is designed properly, there should be no need to redesign the wheel. It already works.
You should cover Nilesoft Shell, It's a really good context menu replacement, although the configuration can be hard
I'm using it. I agree it's not easy to configure.
@@feisaljauharitufail yeah I look at the docs... And I feel like my brain will explode
@@ndrew6075 I could make it... if I actually knew how to code anything past command applications
Replacement for start11:
ExplorerPatcher
This replaces the taskbar and start menu to windows 10!
Missing:
Search from windows 10
i use it, its good
You can vastly improve search by changing the default index settings.
A lot of people have told me about Search Everything, adn I've always said, No, I'm fine with Windows search; it works fine. But, you got me with this video. Something about the sorting, the date modified stuff -- yeah, I think I need that in my life.
I wish Microsoft would allow more customization in the UI of Windows. Instead it feels like for every new version, customization is actually worse that before.
I also wish they would pick up the database-like file system idea again that they ditched several years ago, something which Bill Gates stated was one of his biggest regrets.
A selection of great tools, some I have been using for a long time (Start10/11, Everything, PowerToys), and some I just discovered like Directory Opus you presented in a previous video. Good job and thank you!
0:02 Is anyone gonna talk about how that man was so happy and suddenly turned angry?
It'll be cool if it can have Windows XP modernized theme, I'll pay for that.
Make Windows Great Again.
the context menu replacement seems like a lifesaver
thanks for the video. The stardock utilities (not just the start menu) were exactly the thing I was looking for
My main gripe about Win 11 is it's inability to run legacy 32-bit programs. I've gotten used to the new look and functionality of 11, but found it would not run my old 32-bit apps, even in compatibility mode. Ended up putting the old programs entire install files on an SD card and tell Win 11 it's got my permission to run them every time they launch. It took me 6 months to discover that work-around. I almost returned my new Win 11 laptop (that I ordered with Win 10 O.S. but Win 11 came pre-installed instead) when I found I could not use the old drawing program that I had been using since 1995, and have created hundreds of drawings, stencils, and templates representing thousands of hours of work over the years.
Hint: WINEVDM.
I love PowerToy's Fancy Zones feature!
I actually work on a software that kind of replaces Winaero Tweaker and Shutup, BUT does not have all their options as I only added some of the most useful ones or the ones that are not breaking your computer. The app does much more than that, it's a cleaner, debloater, tweaker, optimizer and repair tool, all at once. Once I finish it maybe you'll like to take a look at it. It's using latest WinUI 3 controls, so the look and feel is similar to PowerToys, but even better. Great video! I wish I had my app ready so I had a chance of it to be featured here.
Ping me instead
Thio: Doesn't use Linux
Also Thio: Turns windows into Linux.
Maybe it changed with Windows 11, but I can add folders to the quick-access in the navigation pane on windows 10 without any issues. I added my AppData folder, the Godmode folder, and other folders located on various drives.
I was gonna say this as well as I'm pretty sure I've been able to add folders to the side for a long while now, but I've not tested in Win11. I know that I went searching for the 'classic file explorer' fix when I started testing Win11 originally.
Start 11 and Everything search was really picked my interest!!
The downside of 11 with the taskbar not being resizable or moveable is that it hinders accessibility. I have a primary monitor on the bottom center I have set as the main monitor, but I drag the secondary taskbar from my top monitor to my bottom monitor to get rid of the tray, etc.. then on my top monitor, I have the primary taskbar 3 units high with small icons and on the top of the screen. This allows uninterrupted content in the center but an uncomfortable glance and I can see the time, etc.. rather than having that all of the time... broken neck, back and nerve damage.
I bought Start 11 on Steam last year ... best purchase ever!
7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a must for lots of handy taskbar tools for Win10. You can change groupings, set it so you can double click the taskbar to open the task manager, middle click a program to close, scroll anywhere to change the volume etc. There is also Windhawk for Win11 from the same dev that does the same thing as 7+.
AltSnap, something that copies the win-mousedrag on windows to move or resize them. Default here is alt-mousedrag but I changed mine to the Win key instead. So win-leftmousedrag do move the window and win-rightmousedrag to resize it and win-middlemouse to close. You can also use different combination to set at window to always on top and a few different other options. Really nice :)
I am using W11 and Start11 has been such a great tool - it makes my Start menu so much more usable
You forgot to mention nilesoft shell. It's a really neat utility that extends the right click context menu with a lot of options.
I just got win11 on my steam deck and this video is the best! please don't stop uploading!
“Everything” search is so good. How is it so good 😭
Everything Seach has made my computer life so much easier.
My favorites that you didn't mention:
1. Ditto (clipboard manager)
2. ShareX
3. Sizer
4. QTTabBar
5. TreeSize
6. Winget/Chocolatey
Treesize and sharex is awesome
Really nice recommendations
"Everything" is fantastic 👌🏼👌🏼
Personally, I'd say the windows 8 start screen is the most efficient one ever. If that's not available then the next best thing would be to search for stuffs, and by that sense there's no point using any customized start menu.
I am using start 11 for a long time and before that start 10.I cant get used to this windows 10/11 start menu so i use the windows 7 option in start 11.I love the many options start 11 has!
Another honorable mention: "ExplorerPatcher". Pretty much brings back Windows 10's taskbar AND startmenu - LIVE TILES included. Just sayin' ;)
Interesting, hadn’t heard of it
YESSSS, ExplorerPatcher is a amazing software, I also use that and the experience is phenomenal
Everything is the program I needed in my life all these years. Thanks
Hey Joe idk if you covered it before but I think Transparent TB is worth the mention!
Hmm i’ll look into it
Agreed really adds to that clean minimalist aesthetic
Directory Opus is phenomenal. It takes some time to understand all the capabilities and ways you can customize it, but for a power user it’s worth the investment. Opus 13 has added support for Everything searching, in addition to its own search. These can be global or constrained to the folder tree of whatever folder is currently in your Opus window. Its rename feature is so good I uninstalled File Renamer. The built in viewer is better than most image viewers. Support has been great. I use TCC as my command shell because it can color files based on their extension. Opus can do that too, so now I have a pretty similar looking list in my command shell and my Opus lister. Dual pane support and synchronization features make copying and moving files between two folder much easier. There’s a gazillion preference options, but the UI for managing them is so good it’s something everyone should emulate. For me, Opus was well worth the money. The upgrade from 12 to 13 was heavily discounted and well worth the price.
I've been using Everything for some time now and I can't believe how fast and efficient it is. A true MUST have.
MultiCommander is a great Explorer alternative and it's totally free! I liked Directory Opus but the admin functionality didn't always work as advertised, and since MS makes it almost impossible to run File Explorer as admin, that was my main reason for looking for alternates :).
I've been using Start11 for about a year and I love it.
Not a Windows 11 user, but it's really good to see how much Windows has evolved. Thanks for sharing!
Loved DirOpus back in my Amiga days
óóóó yes Amiga times!
One thing I miss most (used to use classic shell) was right clicking on the excel or word doc and it shows a list of the documents that you recently worked on for that program. I do use eplorerpatcher (free) to fix so many things about the task bar and file explorer. I wish I could get back the two working outlook profiles in the taskbar - now if I open one it opens another instance instead of the existing instance.
Everything Search is a godsend... thank you Thio
I personally really like Windows 10's start menu. I have a ton of programs pinned. Because I can just set them to be small tiles, I can fit a ton of them, and you can even resize the start menu similar to resizing windows so that you don't need to scroll in the menu. I just checked, and I have 82 items pinned to my start menu.
The older Windows 7/XP/98 etc start menus are really limiting as you can only have maybe like 10 or so items. And Windows 11 doesn't have the small tiles like 10's as far as I'm aware, and I'd probably have to scroll multiple times to view 82 items.
2:01 - I've been using Everything for years now, can't live without it - This is one MUST HAVE software on any PC
I only wish there was a better alternative to either QTTab Bar or Clover - like.. Official Tab support in Explorer from M$ themselves..
I am happy with the Windows 11 start menu. it is just personal choice.
Also just to mention, if go Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviours
right there the first selection in the Takbar section will show "Taskbar alignment |Center 🡣|"
it gives the ability to align the taskbar to the left
-hope it helps-
No hate for Start menu but Power tool’s Alt+Space is the way to go.
But does Stardock’s Start also make it so you can do the full-screen mode, as well as do live tiles and make them different sizes?
Because I basically use that as a replacement for the desktop, like a pop-up/out desktop at the press of a key, and it’s the norm for me. It would basically destroy everything I’m used to, from launching applications and quickly finding information, like even just the weather and the like, if that isn’t the same or better.
But there’s time, since Windows 10 support is only ending from 2025, which is when people should only CONSIDER moving to 11.
Alot of these were kinda neat to see, thank you!
Powe toys is perfect. I can't live anymore without it! Thanks to show it to me!
Agree with the Total commander guy. I've been using it since I stop using Norton Commander. Yeah that long!!
"Everything" really is a game changer for me
There is a program called Files in the Store. I use it instead of the default explorer since it looks prettier. It even has some more features that are neat but its not overkill for a regular user
Similarly, my brother Danny hated Windows 8, so he decided to stick with Windows 7 instead.
And speaking of Windows 7, I made Windows 11 look almost exactly like that OS.
I want to mention Explorer Patcher, W10 Privacy, SDIO, This Is Win11, Windows Spy Blocker, DNS Jumper, & all Nirsoft softwares. Great apps.
If you want WIndows 10 Start Menu for free, you can use ExplorerPatcher. It will also make the taskbar look like Windows 10 (Sorry if you like the fat, "beautiful" rounded iconed taskbar), and has lots of customizations too.
How does it do? Windows 10's start menu could be enabled through registry in the early preview builds. MS just made the registry "hack" invalid. But since the design is based on same Modern Interface that Windows 10 is made of, Programs like ExplorerPatcher, Start11 can enable them (make them valid to the system, maybe through registry, or maybe through replacing some system files).
Geeking around and tweaking my devices been huge passion of mine.
thanks for the Start11 info! I'm about to set-up new system and win11 will probably go on it.. wanted to see if I can change the start-menu back!
about "Everything" .. have been using it for years now, love it and can't imagine to work without it anymore.
Its really hard for me to understand why Microsoft is not implementing these features in their own software. Dont they have a single clue of what is popular in their own system? At leaste make this custom, so people can choose to turn function on/off, rather to have them go into 3rd party installations. It's so silly.
There's an alternative to Start11 called ExplorerPatcher that allows you to bring back not only the Windows 10 start menu, but also the Windows 10 taskbar along with everything else Windows 10
Or...just open shell.even more customizability.
@@Damian-cilr2 ExplorerPatcher and Open Shell are not the same, ExplorerPatcher brings back the native Windows 10 start menu while Open Shell is a 3rd party start menu alternative
my favorite program beside start11 is Listary . you can search everything from files , internet , programs , directories , windows settings and so on . definitely suggested if you hate windows 11 search👿
Microsoft PowerToys's File Locksmith, File Explorer add-ons (which allowed me to restore PDF thumbnails), Find My Mouse, Paste As Plain Text (Now it works outside of Docs. Yay!), PowerRename, Quick Accent, and Text Extractor are all very helpful. Thank you! Interesting that PowerRename has an option (the default option actually) to appear in the default File Explorer right click menu, but File Locksmith does not. Hope that gets added. Wish there was a way for 7-Zip to appear in the default menu too. Then I would never need ‘Show more options’. I like the new menu actually. So much cleaner.
THIS IS REALLY A VERY COOL AND AWESOME DEMONSTRATION AS WELL AS THE VIDEO FOLKS.
ExplorerPatcher is a good free alternative to have some of the features of Start11, including bringing back Win10 Start (With Rounded Corners), Win10 Taskbar, Win10 FileExplorer, and some other tweaks.
Thank you for showing Start11!
Awesome guide, as an IT professional myself I have and actively use all these tools on windows 11. I'd strongly recommend AGAINST O&O shutup though , I tried it using the default settings and it broke my system in various hard to understand ways, that even someone with very advanced registry knowledge all what each setting should change, I could not correct. I had to do a system restore. It also changes various settings that are easily user controlled in the settings menu, via GroupPolicy, which locks them from you controlling them easily after should you wish to reverst just some settings but not all, which is really stupid considering it's intended purposes - it should just change the userLand settings variant, but it does not.
Perhaps if just use it and select a few safer settings its okay, but in general i'd recommend newer alternatives to perform the same things, such as Chris Titus powershell script. His is more tested against breaking your system using it's default settings, tho it can also do that if you aren't careful.
+1 for powertoys!
just powertoys run is worth it on its own if you've ever used a mac and want spotlight back
I hate the Win 10 start menu and hardly use it, but I LOVE the Win 11 start menu and it seems to fit me well. I had problems getting used to Win 8 start menu and Win 10 is like Win 8 start menu to me. Win 11 start menu seems "new" and I am feeling good about it.
The beauty of the Win10 start menu is that you can choose what to use and how. I hated the tiles at first, but being able to have small groups of commonly used apps that you don't necessarily want on your desktop or in a folder is nice. That and being able to see a quick glance view of the weather or your email with the tap of a key (WinKey) is nice.
You are one of the only people that say that the Windows 10 Start menu is the best.
The thing we hated live tiles back in the day, and now everyone wants them back.
really appreciate the Start11 tip, my friend wants his setup more like Win 7
I've been using Everything Search for years - it is AMAZING
Make it do all the things XP used to do!
Search matching faces to names.
Find emails by indexed contents.
Don't search with bing by default.
Run windows on 2GB RAM on a 1G processor faster than it does with 5 times as much and with an SSD does today.
Open PDF's on something other than Edge.
Use a selected term on one website to search for reference info on another: Even Wikipedia or Amazon or RUclips directly.
Run on legacy or old hardware without an enterprise licence for the reduced version installer.
Good pace and genuinely useful tools for windows users. Thx