Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups
Register | Login

Classic Shell VS Active@ Boot Disk

Compare Classic Shell VS Active@ Boot Disk and see what are their differences

Lunatask
All-in-one encrypted to-do list, habit tracker, journaling, life-tracking and notes app. featured
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.
Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Classic Shell logo Classic Shell

Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

Active@ Boot Disk logo Active@ Boot Disk

System can't start normally? Easy way to access you data and repair your PC!
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Active@ Boot Disk Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-13

Classic Shell features and specs

  • Customizable Start Menu
    Classic Shell allows users to customize the Start Menu to a significant extent, including changing the style and appearance to resemble earlier versions of Windows (XP, Vista, and 7).
  • Performance Enhancements
    The software is lightweight and generally does not consume significant system resources, making it a performance-efficient alternative to the default Start Menu.
  • Enhanced Usability
    It brings back certain features and functionalities that are familiar and preferred by users, enhancing overall user experience, particularly for those transitioning from older Windows versions.
  • Frequent Updates
    Classic Shell is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with new Windows updates, providing a reliable solution over time.
  • Free of Cost
    Classic Shell is available for free, making it an accessible option for anyone looking to improve their Start Menu without financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of Classic Shell

  • Limited Official Support
    As Classic Shell is developed primarily by volunteers, official support may be limited compared to commercial software.
  • Complexity
    The extensive customization options might be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Although updated frequently, there can be temporary compatibility issues with the latest Windows updates, requiring users to wait for the next release.
  • Lack of Modern Features
    Classic Shell aims to replicate older versions of Windows Start Menus, which might lack some of the modern features available in the default Windows Start Menu.
  • Discontinued Development
    Official development of Classic Shell was discontinued in December 2017. While community forks like Open-Shell continue the project, the lack of official development could be seen as a disadvantage.

Active@ Boot Disk features and specs

  • Comprehensive Toolset
    Active@ Boot Disk provides a wide range of tools for data recovery, partition management, disk imaging, and password resetting, making it a versatile toolkit for various system tasks.
  • Bootable Environment
    The software creates a bootable environment independent of the operating system, which is crucial for troubleshooting and recovery on systems that can't boot normally.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Despite its powerful features, Active@ Boot Disk offers an intuitive interface that is accessible to both novice and advanced users.
  • Secure Data Erasure
    It includes tools for securely erasing data, ensuring that sensitive information cannot be recovered by unauthorized users after deletion.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize the boot disk according to their needs by adding additional drivers and tools, providing flexibility in different scenarios.

Possible disadvantages of Active@ Boot Disk

  • Cost
    Active@ Boot Disk is a paid software, which might be a drawback for users looking for free solutions for system recovery and data management.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Active@ Boot Disk has limited features compared to the professional version, potentially necessitating a purchase to access its full capabilities.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic interface is user-friendly, some of the more advanced features and tools may require additional learning or technical knowledge to use effectively.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    There can be occasional issues with the compatibility of certain hardware devices, which might require additional driver installation or updates.
  • Lack of Real-Time Support
    Users may find the lack of real-time technical support challenging, as they might have to rely on online resources or documentation for troubleshooting assistance.

Analysis of Classic Shell

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Classic Shell is considered a good tool for those who want to enhance their Windows experience with more customization and a nod to classic Windows aesthetics. It's reliable, widely used, and addresses some of the usability concerns people have with newer Windows versions.

Why this product is good

  • Classic Shell is popular among users who prefer the familiar interface and user experience of older versions of Windows, particularly Windows 7 or even XP. It offers customization options for the Start Menu, Explorer, and other UI elements, allowing a more personalized and comfortable experience for those who are not fond of newer Windows UI changes.

Recommended for

    Classic Shell is recommended for users who miss the classic Windows Start menu and layout, those who find the new Windows designs less intuitive, and individuals who want more control over their interface customization. It's particularly suitable for people transitioning from older Windows versions to newer ones who wish to maintain a certain level of familiarity.

Classic Shell videos

+ Add

Classic Shell with Windows 10!

More videos:

  • Review - Classic Shell Review | Make Windows 8 Like Windows 7 with Classic Shell
  • Review - Classic Shell 4.0.2 Review

Active@ Boot Disk videos

+ Add

How to make Active@ Boot Disk Suite Bootable USB 2018

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and Active@ Boot Disk)

Classic Shell

Active@ Boot Disk

Note Taking
100 100%
Note Taking
0% 0
OS & Utilities
84 84%
OS & Utilities
16% 16
LMS
100 100%
LMS
0% 0
Backup And Disaster Recovery
0 0%
Backup And Disaster Recovery
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Classic Shell and Active@ Boot Disk. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Classic Shell seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Classic Shell mentions (18)

View more

Active@ Boot Disk mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Active@ Boot Disk yet. Tracking of Active@ Boot Disk recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Classic Shell and Active@ Boot Disk, you can also consider the following products

Fences - Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

UBCD4Win - "UBCD4Win is a bootable recovery CD that contains software used for repairing, restoring, or...

Open Shell - Open Shell is a fork of the Classic Shell project for Windows that getting back the classic start...

Hirens BootCD - Hirens BootCD is a powerful, all-in-one boot disk utility that will help you resolve and make reformatting your computer easily.

Start Menu X - Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.

AOMEI PE Builder - Free tool to create bootable USB drive, CD/DVD or ISO file based on Windows PE.

Loading...