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Whenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've m

by ajdude 3y ago

Whenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've made the operating system look very close to Windows XP visually, and they always appreciate it. [1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu [2] https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar

matthewfcarlson 3y ago
My grandpa in particular is very technologically savvy but his real expertise stops around 1999. He uses windows 11 but detests it and frequently encounters issues that no one else on the internet have. One time while visiting, I set up windows 3.1 in a virtual box VM and he lit up like a candle. He was very excited about getting his old pascal programs running again.
- exikyut 3y ago
  You're probably already aware there are some hilarious drivers for I think VirtualBox that let ~Win3.1 achieve practically infinite VGA resolution. And then you have your choice of networking via eg SLIP or (more sanely lol) a program that can mount VHDs offline.
belltaco 3y ago
I hate it when visual oriented products make it difficult or impossible to see a screenshot of how they look like. Both of those products' github pages don't have screenshot, the first does have a website but no screenshots or links to them there either. Do you have to install a tool that modifies the internals of your OS in order to see how it could look like? Imagine if you had to set up a painting on your wall before you could even see what it's a painting of.
- ajdude 3y ago
  Open shell could definitely benefit from some screenshots. For retrobar, at least, there is a screenshot on the first line of the readme (it really does just look like the windows XP, windows 98, etc. taskbar nothing special going on).
- hyperific 3y ago
  Retro bar has a screenshot right at the top
_the_inflator 3y ago
Thanks. Definitely worth a look.
jaktet 3y ago
I haven’t gone looking yet but is there a tool to make sure you have all tracking, bing, IE, and anything else like that turned off, uninstalled, or disabled? I usually just go through it as I see things that annoy me but I’m probably missing some privacy and default overrides.
- ewzimm 3y ago
  This one is my favorite. Just a series of switches. Run it after a large update. https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
  - jaktet 3y ago
    Awesome thank you!
dmitrygr 3y ago
regrettably no arm64 compat for classicshell :(
Sohcahtoa82 3y ago
How do those compare to WindowBlinds and Start11? I'm still on Win10, but I use WindowBlinds to skin it to look like Win2K. Eventually, when I upgrade my CPU, I'm going to need Win11 to get the Intel Thread Director, so I know I'm going to need to either buy a new version of WindowBlinds and Start11. Would be nice to run a FOSS alternative.

by ajdude 3y ago

matthewfcarlson 3y ago

My grandpa in particular is very technologically savvy but his real expertise stops around 1999. He uses windows 11 but detests it and frequently encounters issues that no one else on the internet have. One time while visiting, I set up windows 3.1 in a virtual box VM and he lit up like a candle. He was very excited about getting his old pascal programs running again.

exikyut 3y ago
You're probably already aware there are some hilarious drivers for I think VirtualBox that let ~Win3.1 achieve practically infinite VGA resolution. And then you have your choice of networking via eg SLIP or (more sanely lol) a program that can mount VHDs offline.

belltaco 3y ago

I hate it when visual oriented products make it difficult or impossible to see a screenshot of how they look like. Both of those products' github pages don't have screenshot, the first does have a website but no screenshots or links to them there either. Do you have to install a tool that modifies the internals of your OS in order to see how it could look like? Imagine if you had to set up a painting on your wall before you could even see what it's a painting of.

ajdude 3y ago
Open shell could definitely benefit from some screenshots. For retrobar, at least, there is a screenshot on the first line of the readme (it really does just look like the windows XP, windows 98, etc. taskbar nothing special going on).
hyperific 3y ago
Retro bar has a screenshot right at the top

_the_inflator 3y ago

Thanks. Definitely worth a look.

jaktet 3y ago

I haven’t gone looking yet but is there a tool to make sure you have all tracking, bing, IE, and anything else like that turned off, uninstalled, or disabled? I usually just go through it as I see things that annoy me but I’m probably missing some privacy and default overrides.

ewzimm 3y ago
This one is my favorite. Just a series of switches. Run it after a large update. https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10
- jaktet 3y ago
  Awesome thank you!

dmitrygr 3y ago

regrettably no arm64 compat for classicshell :(

Sohcahtoa82 3y ago

How do those compare to WindowBlinds and Start11? I'm still on Win10, but I use WindowBlinds to skin it to look like Win2K. Eventually, when I upgrade my CPU, I'm going to need Win11 to get the Intel Thread Director, so I know I'm going to need to either buy a new version of WindowBlinds and Start11. Would be nice to run a FOSS alternative.