Recipe 5.17. Converting to the Classic Windows Interface

Problem

You don't like the bright and cartoonish XP interface, with a new-style Start menu that takes up a significant amount of screen real estate. You want to use the previous lean-and-mean Windows interface, which is more staid and straightforward, with squared-off windows instead of rounded ones, and a Start menu that appears as a simple list.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

There are two parts to reverting to the classic Windows interface. You'll have to change the Start menu, and then change the basic look and feel of XP. Here's how to do it:

To change the Start menu, first right-click on any blank space on the Taskbar and choose Properties Start Menu.
Right-click on the desktop and choose Properties Themes. Under Themes, select Windows Classic from the drop-down menu and click on OK. Your desktop will now have the old, familiar classic Windows look and feel, including squared-off windows and staid colors.

Figure 5-16. XP's interface features bright, cartoony colors, rounded windows, and a large new Start menu

Figure 5-17. If you're a fan of the lean-and-mean look, you can easily convert to the classic Windows interface

Discussion

When you use the classic Start menu instead of the XP-style Start menu, you'll find that not as many features are within as easy reach, simply because you're devoting less real estate to the Start menu. You may not even know where to find some features. For example, in the classic Start menu there is no entry for the Control Panel. You can, however, get to it by choosing Settings; you'll find a link for the Control Panel directly from there.

You can also customize the classic Start menu by adding any items to it that you want, and deleting items from it that you don't want. When you choose Properties Start Menu and select Classic Start Menu, a Customize button will appear. Click on it and you'll be able to add and remove items from the Start menu, as well as re-sort them.