Start8 v1.29 beta - White default Windows 8 Start button missing?

from Stardock Forums

My Start8 updated to v1,29 beta last week while I was still using Windows 8 Pro but I noticed that the default icon for the Start button, which was previously the white Windows 8 logo, changed to an odd looking one with a mix of solid and outline squares, which I didn't like at all. The Custom options only have one in blue but at least it is the same design as the white one I was using previously so I switched to that.

My first thought on upgrading to Windows 8.1 Pro over the weekend, which adds a Start button to the desktop, is that the icon redesign was done to better differentiate between the Windows 8.1 Start button and the Start8 one since it is all too easy to click in the "wrong" place and switch to the Modern UI Start screen instead of the Start menu itself on the desktop if you're not careful. I'm gradually getting used to it now though.

So I'm fine with using the blue custom icon but I've noticed that it doesn't quite match the one used by Windows 8.1 so I'd like to see that fixed, albeit it is a very minor thing really, so that only the colours appear to change depending on where you click and not the icon as well. Hopefully, you'll know what I mean.

 

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14,301 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Unfortunately, that image won't return as the default image.  However, you can always have custom start buttons and we even have a gallery on WinCustomize dedicated to them.

https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/start8_buttons

https://www.wincustomize.com/article/443803/

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I found on the Classic Shell forums there's a template for a pixel-perfect 8.1 start button template which can be used with Start8 and it works *nearly* perfectly. You can also customize the color of the button when hovering/clicking the icon, like Windows 8.1 does. However, it's not perfect as the true 8.1 button has an additional "shine" animation that's used when you hover on it.

http://www.classicshell.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=1015

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm sorry to say I have not a "perfect" Start8-button like the one in the old version of the program. :-(

Is there some way to extract the exact default button if I re-install the old version?

 

 

 

 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I created some buttons that look decent if anyone's interested...

EDIT: Link removed.

 

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Still, it would be nice if anyone could tell me where the original picture is stored in v1.20?

EDIT: It's a copyright thing?

 

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting muyfa82, reply 5

Still, it would be nice if anyone could tell me where the original picture is stored in v1.20?

EDIT: It's a copyright thing?

  
End of muyfa82's quote

I also would like to know where the image of the good start button is located. I've ripped the previous version of start8 to shreds, and I still can't find the image.

Stardock will just tell you to talk to the hand if you ask why it is gone. It is probably something like copyright, but again, us lowly users don't deserve any explanation whatsoever. Much like we can't be told the number of activations before the software is rendered useless. The price for start8 might seem cheap, but that is because you're not getting all that much. They may let you use the software for awhile before they turn it off or refuse to activate it, and they may change bedrock graphics in the software - and don't bother asking about any of this, just suck it up. And just maybe we will let you use it for a little while longer before we turn you off on the activation server.

 

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

No version of Start8 has ever shipped the image.

The image was loaded from twinui.dll.

Unfortunately Microsoft are sensitive over the use of their trademarked logo and are actively seeking out anyone who uses it and stopping them, but there is nothing to stop a customer using their own image, either downloaded from the internet or created on their own.  We did try to argue the case with Microsoft over many months, but they stuck to their position and is isn't worth a potentially large cost to argue it further.

Regarding activation counts, if you hit the max limit you just need to contact support@stardock.com as the message should have indicated.  They will be able to reset it for you.  The counts are not hard limits and vary based on things being detected and may change from time to time to better accommodate customer needs while balancing it against the danger of mass piracy.

Stardock have never turned off an activation server, even the first products from 2005 which used activation continue to activate just fine to this day.