The operating system Windows 10 by default has quite extensive options for customizing the interface. However, this is certainly not enough for real computer enthusiasts. And then third-party utilities come to the rescue, allowing you to get to the most interesting hidden options of the operating system.
Winaero tweaker
Winaero Tweaker is a well known utility for users. Its latest version contains everything you need to tweak Windows 10 in one compact interface. Here you will find complete information about the components, operating system and installed programs, links to all important system utilities and a set of useful tweaks that improve the appearance and stability of Windows.
MyFolders
A very simple utility that places a new item in the context menu to access any folders you need. In the MyFolders settings, you just need to specify the paths to the directories you use most often so that you can instantly navigate to them from any window and application.
Ultimate Windows Tweaker
True to its name, Ultimate Windows Tweaker is a comprehensive tool for tweaking your operating system. It was from this program that the creators of most of the fresh utilities in this category took an example.
It has many options to customize the interface, improve performance, ensure security and privacy, and increase the speed of Windows 10. Among the most requested features are the activation of sleep mode in the power menu, control of Windows animations, tweaking Microsoft Edge, deleting items from the taskbar, changing system colors, removing the paging file, disabling unnecessary system utilities, removing Windows tracking functions, and much more.
Start10
Start10 is designed to customize the Start menu in Windows 10. You can completely change the behavior of this menu, for example, return to the image it had in previous versions of the operating system. Or just tweak its appearance a little to your liking, setting your own colors, fonts and animations. For fans of quick settings, there are several ready-made themes.
7+ Taskbar Tweaker
7+ Taskbar Tweaker allows you to customize the Windows 10 taskbar to make it more user-friendly. You can either change existing functions or add completely new ways of interacting with the buttons of running applications. For example, turn off the display of thumbnails of windows, change the way applications are grouped, add new actions that can be performed on a mouse click, and much more.
WindowBlinds
WindowBlinds was created by the developers of Start10 described above. This program will not force you to poke around in the settings for a long time, but in one fell swoop will change the appearance of Windows 10 using the built-in styles. Their use completely transforms the appearance of windows, buttons, applications, fonts, icons and other design elements of the operating system.
CustomizerGod
This tool focuses entirely on customizing system icons. With it, you can change their size and appearance, as well as hide those that you do not need. All icons are displayed by category, so you can quickly find the one you want. For replacement, it is allowed to use any of your icons in PNG, JPG, BMP format with a size of 64 × 64 pixels.
Editor program for changing and creating Windows themes.Windows 7 theme editor program. You can how to create
new and change existing styles of the Windows interface
7 and Vista. If you have installed a very original Windows theme, but you,
some details you would like to change will help
program for creating and changing themes Windows 7.
But if desired, using the Windows program
Style Builder you can create your own themes from scratch. You only
you need some knowledge of creating Windows themes. So that you
quickly mastered the creative skill of styling theme designs
Windows in the package with the program, the archive contains detailed instructions for
work with the program. Instructions which describe in detail how it works
the program for creating and changing themes is designed with explanatory
screenshots that are very easily described. You will quickly become a master
to create themes and visual styles for Windows 7 and Vista. Program
all the resources are available to you to create themes
operating system interfaces. Change the style of your work environment
so that the beat is more pleasant and convenient to work. Give uniqueness to your
Windows using their pictures and sound files. Tuning is very
an exciting and useful activity. Improve and develop
creatively with benefit and comfort.
How good is Windows 7 theme maker?
5 minutes after reading the instructions in the archive,
where is the program for creating and changing Windows themes. You can
start designing visual styles. Here is a summary
program features instructions:
- Ability to create and edit your
Stylehack. - Change colors and backgrounds vertically and horizontally
scrolls. - Customizing window titles.
- Image when clicking on the START menu.
- Color of text, highlight and GLOW effect on the left and right
half of the START menu. - Change the background of the START menu.
- Customize backgrounds and test menus all
programs. - Styling fonts, backgrounds, colors and clock effects
Windows. - Design and customization of the calendar in the tray.
- Customize the notification area.
- Setting the context menu by right-clicking the mouse.
- Customize fonts, backgrounds, colors and Aero window effects
Windows. - Place bars design.
- Assigning background pictures to windows.
- Clearance of information about hard and removable drives.
- Customization of the personalization window.
- Customize windows my computer.
- Decoration of GLOW effects for the Windows taskbar.
- And many other customization of styling.
Year of issue: 2016
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Stardock Corporation
Developer site: http://www.stardock.com/
Build Type: RePack by Tyran
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
Operating system: Windows 10
Description: Start10 - returns the "Start" button and menu to Windows 10, there is also access to the search, as well as through the context menu of the "Start" button, you can turn off the computer and access the "Run" item. It is possible to choose a different icon for the button, change the color, texture, blur and a number of other parameters of the taskbar; search can be removed and ...
25
jul
2016
Year of issue: 2016
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: stаrtіsbаk.com
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Assembly type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
03
jul
2016
StartIsBack ++ 1.3.1 x86 x64
Year of issue: 2016
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: stаrtіsbаk.com
Developer site: httr: //stаrtіsbаk.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Assembly type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10 Superrt for Windows 10 Аnnіvеrsаru Uрdаtе Іmрrоved Plаіn10 flуоut menus
Description: The StartІsBask utility creates a 100% original full-featured Start menu from Windows 7 for Windows 8-8.1 and 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different icon), as well as disable some other in ...
23
june
2016
StartIsBack ++ 1.3.0 x86 x64
Year of issue: 2016
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
10
feb
2016
StartIsBack ++ 1.2.1
Year of issue: 2016
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original full-featured Start menu from Windоws 7 for Windоws 8-8.1 and 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different icon), as well as disable some other interface innovations of Windows 8-8.1 and 10 (hot corners).
19
dec
2015
Strygools 0.0.4
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Desktop Decoration
Developer: [email protected]
Developer site: http://strygools.com/
Interface language: Russian
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
Operating system: Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10
System requirements: -
Processor: 1 GHz -
RAM: 128 MB -
Video memory: 8 MB
Description: Strygools is a free program for viewing cartoons taking place right on your desktop. The application contains 19 cartoons (gingerbread man, bees, paratrooper, race, satellite, etc.). Cartoons do not take up much space and will simply help you distract yourself from monotonous work. ...
22
but I
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.8
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 8, 8.1, 10
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original full-featured Start menu from Windоws 7 for Windоws 8-8.1 and 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different icon), as well as disable some other interface innovations of Windows 8-8.1 and 10 (hot corners).
17
but I
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.7
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 8, 8.1, 10
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original full-featured Start menu from Windоws 7 for Windоws 8-8.1 and 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different icon), as well as disable some other interface innovations of Windows 8-8.1 and 10 (hot corners).
15
but I
2015
Windows Customization Station 2.0
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Changing the GUI
Developer: Egorov Ilya
Developer site: Amber Sun Software
Interface language: Russian
Build Type: Standart
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
Operating system: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10
System requirements: -
Processor: 2 GHz -
Memory: 1 GB -
Video card: 256 MB - DirectX 9 or higher
Description: The program is designed to change the graphical interface of Windows 7/8 / 8.1 / 10 through the installation of visual themes, icons, cursors and welcome screens.
27
oct
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.6
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10
13
oct
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.5
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original full-featured Start menu from Windоws 7 for Windоws 8-8.1 and 10 Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different icon), as well as disable some other interface innovations of Windоws 8-8.1 and 10 (hot corners).
19
sep
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.2
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10
14
sep
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.1.0
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original fully functional Start menu from Windows 7 for Windows 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different Start button icon, changing the color (hue, contrast, brightness) of the taskbar to your liking (of your choice), as well as disabling some ...
05
sep
2015
StartIsBack ++ 1.0.4
Year of issue: 2015
Genre: Change Start Menu
Developer: Tihiy
Developer site: http://startisback.com/
Interface language: Multilingual (Russian is present)
Build Type: Standard
Bit depth: 32/64-bit
System requirements: Windows 10
Description: The StartIsBack utility creates a 100% original fully functional Start menu from Windows 7 for Windows 10. Activates direct download to the desktop. You can change the appearance of the Start menu (including choosing a different Start button icon, changing the color (hue, contrast, brightness) of the taskbar to your liking (of your choice), as well as disabling some ...
HoverDesk is a true alternative desktop with no compromises. There is no trace of the usual elements of the Windows interface - this program takes over the entire burden of interaction with the user.
HoverDesk has a very compact distribution kit for its class of products and is quickly installed on a hard drive. And, warning you during your first launch about a thirty-day trial period, plunges you into the dark colors of the default theme.
The HoverDesk taskbar is used to display a list of running processes and is home to the system tray. The main menu is invoked by right-clicking on an empty space on the desktop. In addition to being able to invoke all programs installed on the system, the foundational Windows interface tool contains Internet Explorer Favorites along with invoking multiple search engines, a local file system navigation tool using a submenu structure, shell configuration tools, and several system functions.
If you click on the title of any menu, it will turn into an independent window and will remain on the desktop until you manually close it. A similar mechanism of work is implemented in the GTK library, which is highly popular in the world of open source software.
HoverDesk has a virtual desktop manager. However, its functions are quite primitive - you can only switch between the four tables by clicking on the corresponding icons. Many of the alternative skins discussed in the previous article allowed you to view thumbnails of windows, manually move them between tables, and see their reduced content. There is nothing like this in the hero of this review.
The default theme has a sidebar with many service features. HoverDesk has a modular structure, you can close any of the active components, as well as run additional plugins. The sidebar displays the current time in various cities around the world, system uptime, memory, processor, and paging file utilization.
You can organize the shortcuts of your favorite applications on the panel. Most likely, the set suggested by the authors does not match your priorities. Right-clicking on any of the shortcuts opens its properties. You can customize many subtle application launch parameters, as well as flexibly control the design of each element. And finally, at the bottom of the sidebar are the main Windows service tools. My computer, Control Panel, search for files, launch applications, minimize all windows (in Aston, this command is implemented differently, using the “show desktop” function; windows are not minimized).
The rest of the themes included in the distribution offer only a different arrangement and design of the elements described above. There are no major functional differences between the themes.
HoverDesk is configured using a single tool. You can, for example, define a keyboard shortcut to hide / show icons on the desktop. A large number of settings are associated with various design subtleties. You can adjust the transparency of many elements, brightness, contrast and even color saturation. You can adjust the sizes of all interface elements with pixel precision, set fonts, textures. Many "alternative" products have a strange feature - the ability to very flexibly control a large number of parameters of the program. You can, of course, say that you cannot spoil the porridge with butter, but most users do not install programs in order to waste their time endlessly studying the intricacies of each element. A large number of settings in places where this is not necessary - rather a minus than a plus. HoverDesk is an excellent desktop, it is the only program in this review, in which we have not found any obvious flaws. But the authors clearly overestimated the enthusiasm of potential users. When calling the properties of a shortcut, you need to examine a window in which there are three tabs and only the first of them has 26 (!) Options. For comparison: a similar standard explorer.exe window has only 7 options. Moreover, the position “it does not concern me” does not work in this case. You are not going to have on the desktop a set of links to applications that are not on the system.
HoverDesk is a powerful, original, reliable desktop. But if the authors paid more attention to ergonomics, ease of configuration, the popularity of the product would be much higher.
