So you’ve purchased a new computer or upgraded your existing computer to Windows 8 and discovered the Start Menu has been removed. You can use the new Windows 8 interface to search for programs pretty easily, but wouldn’t it be nice if some part of the Start Menu lived on?
Well good news everyone, a severely trimmed down version is back! Now I know what your thinking “Uh oh, I don’t like the sound of that” and while it’s not the full Start Menu we all know and love, it does provide quick access to a lot of Windows functions. To access it in Desktop view, simply move your mouse to the lower left corner of the screen and an icon with the new Start interface will appear. Once the icon appears click the right mouse button.
You will be presented with a menu once you right click with the following options:
This interface is a long way from the power of the traditional Start Menu but many of the functions including quick access to control panel, run, power options and device manager make life a lot easier. Don’t be confused though: the first option, Programs & Features, is not a list of programs you can run but the old uninstall programs/turn windows features on or off feature.
-Tim
We just replaced the wife’s 6yr old Gateway xp pro laptop with a win8 Toshiba. We were very disappointed with win8,at first. We have several win 7 machines and had gotten accustomed to the interface. Worldstart’s tips are always very helpful. Although win8 seems to have new features, to users like myself, who aren’t doing boardroom presentations with projectors plugged into the laptop and so on, win8 is just a fat pig in a fancy dress.