One of the most frequent questions readers ask me is how to set the desired shutdown action for the Classic Start Menu, which is a part of the Classic Shell app. Although the required option is available even in the Basic Settings mode, which is on by default, users are still getting confused. Here is how it should be done.
Classic Shell is the well known free tool which improves upon the Windows Start Menu, File Explorer and Internet Explorer. It is really a must-have app for all Windows 10 and Windows 8.x users compared to the barebones stock menu.
The default shutdown action setting is applicable only to the Windows 7 style of the menu:
To change the shutdown action for the Classic Shell Start menu in Windows 7 style, you need to do the following.
Remove Classic Shell. The tool will attempt to manually remove the Classic Shell software from your system. Use it in case you are having problems uninstalling using the conventional methods. It is designed to work even after a failed attempt to uninstall the software when some of the registry may be corrupted or some of the files may be missing. Recently I keep seeing this, after Power Up the computer: ' Classic shell needs to configure itself for the new OS'. The computer is running Windows 10, and found that I had Classic Shell installed in my computer earlier. The classic shell is by ivosoft. Should I click OK and let it reconfigure itself? I don't know if it is safe to do this.
- I've been using Classic Shell for years, and suddenly my desktop reverted back to Win 10 style, from my chosen plain old Win 7. Now, I can't seem to find the Classic Shell setting to get back to Win 7. Has it changed, or am I just unable to find.
- You will get the following message at startup. 'open-shell needs to configure itself for the new operating system' If the user doesnt have admin right it will prompt.
First, open the Classic Start Menu settings. Just right click the Start button and pick Settings as shown below:
If you have not enabled the option 'Show all settings', you will see the Basic Settings tab. Switch to the Basic Settings tab. Scroll down till you see the 'Shutdown command' item. There you will be able to set the desired default shutdown action:
If you have enabled the option 'Show all settings', go to the tab named 'Main Menu'. Again, scroll down till you see the 'Shutdown command' item and set the desired power button action:
If you don't want to locate this setting by navigating tabs, type into the search box of the Settings window: shutdown and set it.
Forever faithless the greatest hits zip. This is for the Windows 7 style. For the Classic styles of the menu, follow these steps:
- Go to the Customize Start Menu tab and scroll down the left column.
- Select 'Shutdown dialog' and press Enter or double click it.
- Change the command 'shutdown_box' to the action you want - lock, logoff, restart, shutdown, hibernate, sleep etc. This changes the default action when you click the main Shutdown button itself. You still get a submenu showing other actions.
That's it. The Classic Shell app is one of the best Start menu replacements and it is free. So it is worth learning its settings to use it efficiently.
Targeting, maneuvering, and combat are all driven by the iconic interface, but the feel is very tactical nonetheless. Though the control system is far from the WWII dogfighting paradigm used in most space sims, it's still fun. Freelancer is huge.
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Windows 10 Classic Shell Error
We no longer set up Classic Shell as the default user environment on Windows 10 (due to freezing sessions that we discovered after rollout). If you are a user with an old Classic Shell setup (or decided to experiment with it), this is how you can disable it.
Reconfigure Classic Shell
To disable Classic Shell starting on login
Remove Classic Shell. The tool will attempt to manually remove the Classic Shell software from your system. Use it in case you are having problems uninstalling using the conventional methods. It is designed to work even after a failed attempt to uninstall the software when some of the registry may be corrupted or some of the files may be missing. Recently I keep seeing this, after Power Up the computer: ' Classic shell needs to configure itself for the new OS'. The computer is running Windows 10, and found that I had Classic Shell installed in my computer earlier. The classic shell is by ivosoft. Should I click OK and let it reconfigure itself? I don't know if it is safe to do this.
- I've been using Classic Shell for years, and suddenly my desktop reverted back to Win 10 style, from my chosen plain old Win 7. Now, I can't seem to find the Classic Shell setting to get back to Win 7. Has it changed, or am I just unable to find.
- You will get the following message at startup. 'open-shell needs to configure itself for the new operating system' If the user doesnt have admin right it will prompt.
First, open the Classic Start Menu settings. Just right click the Start button and pick Settings as shown below:
If you have not enabled the option 'Show all settings', you will see the Basic Settings tab. Switch to the Basic Settings tab. Scroll down till you see the 'Shutdown command' item. There you will be able to set the desired default shutdown action:
If you have enabled the option 'Show all settings', go to the tab named 'Main Menu'. Again, scroll down till you see the 'Shutdown command' item and set the desired power button action:
If you don't want to locate this setting by navigating tabs, type into the search box of the Settings window: shutdown and set it.
Forever faithless the greatest hits zip. This is for the Windows 7 style. For the Classic styles of the menu, follow these steps:
- Go to the Customize Start Menu tab and scroll down the left column.
- Select 'Shutdown dialog' and press Enter or double click it.
- Change the command 'shutdown_box' to the action you want - lock, logoff, restart, shutdown, hibernate, sleep etc. This changes the default action when you click the main Shutdown button itself. You still get a submenu showing other actions.
That's it. The Classic Shell app is one of the best Start menu replacements and it is free. So it is worth learning its settings to use it efficiently.
Targeting, maneuvering, and combat are all driven by the iconic interface, but the feel is very tactical nonetheless. Though the control system is far from the WWII dogfighting paradigm used in most space sims, it's still fun. Freelancer is huge.
Advertisment
Windows 10 Classic Shell Error
We no longer set up Classic Shell as the default user environment on Windows 10 (due to freezing sessions that we discovered after rollout). If you are a user with an old Classic Shell setup (or decided to experiment with it), this is how you can disable it.
Reconfigure Classic Shell
To disable Classic Shell starting on login
- Right click on the Start Menu Icon.
- Click on Settings.
- Check Show all settings on the classic shell settings window.
- Click on the General behavior tab.
- Un-check 'Start automatically for this user.'
- Finally to close Classic shell now, right click on the Start Menu Icon and click Exit.
After Classic Shell is closed, the Windows Start Menu may be slow to respond or unpopulated with many items. This is one of the reasons we installed Classic Shell, but it should be temporary after a couple logins.
Classic Shell Needs To Configure For The New Operating System
As always, contact The CAT if you experience additional issues, or have questions.
