Is it possible to COMPLETELY replace the start menu?

Posted by Subaru Tashiro on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Subaru Tashiro
Published on 2012-10-07T13:46:21Z Indexed on 2012/10/07 15:39 UTC
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windows-7

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start-menu

I plan to make a replacement for the Windows 7 start menu, and I would like to know if that's even possible. I understand that the start menu is part of explorer.exe but I do not intend to replace explorer.exe.

Is it possible to launch the replacement start menu by clicking the native start orb?
Is it also possible to launch the replacement by pressing the Windows key or ctrl+esc ?
Is the Windows key a macro for ctrl+esc ? or is it two different hotkeys that do the same thing?
May I know if there is any software that do any one of these things?

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