Solved Windows 8 Start Button on Desktop

faoltaem

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Is anyone aware of a way to add a Start Button to the desktop. To be specific what I want is just a button, essentially like the windows button on the keyboard or the button of the charms bar, except on the desktop.

I want the button to open the current windows 8 start menu, not the previous windows menu. I would love for this button to be on the taskbar/quick launch menu, where the traditional button was. I feel that the easiest way would be to rightclick the desktop and use the create a shortcut thing, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that.

Any ideas?? Or forums with this solution that I've missed? All I can find is how to get the traditional start menu back.
Cheers.
 

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  • OS
    windows 8
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S550CA (vivobook)
Are you wanting something like this :

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
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    Gateway
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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
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    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
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    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
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    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
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    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
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Sorry but your request is hard for me to understand -- because you're mixing terms in a way I find confusing.

In Windows 8, the "desktop" mode is what you see that looks a lot like Windows 7. There are no Tiles on the Desktop; instead, you can have shortcuts just like you did with Win7.

The other area is the Start Screen mode, which is a bunch of Tiles, one of which takes you to the Desktop.

Are you asking for a shortcut in Desktop Mode that puts you into the Start Screen mode?

There may be a way to do this manually, but I run Stardock's Start8, and in the Desktop Mode there is an entry you can click on the start menu that takes you into the Start Screen mode.
 

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Thanks for your input so far, unfortunately that's not what I'm after.

Although yes to the Mark Phelp's question
"Are you asking for a shortcut in Desktop Mode that puts you into the Start Screen mode?"

Currently I have to either switch from using the touchscreen to hit the windows button on the keyboard or swipe from the right to bring up the charms menu which has a start button (windows icon) which opens the start menu. Instead I just want the button in the traditional spot that does what those 2 functions currently do. Like I said in my original post all I could find before posting was ways to have a traditional (windows 7) start menu and that's not what I want.
 
Last edited:

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System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S550CA (vivobook)
There are some good options !

Classic Shell (Free)
ViStart (Free)
Start8 (US$4,99)

:)
 

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Thanks for your input so far, unfortunately that's not what I'm after.

Although yes to the Mark Phelp's question
"Are you asking for a shortcut in Desktop Mode that puts you into the Start Screen mode?"

Currently I have to either switch from using the touchscreen to hit the windows button on the keyboard or swipe from the right to bring up the charms menu which has a start button (windows icon) which opens the start menu. Instead I just want the button in the traditional spot that does what those 2 functions currently do. Like I said in my original post all I could find before posting was ways to have a traditional (windows 7) start menu and that's not what I want.

I understand.I think.

You want a link that will open the metro start screen, pinned to the taskbar in the location of the traditional Start button.

You would like logo on the button (icon) to be like the one on the Windows Key ?

I think I can help.
I need a little time to research it.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
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    AMD K140
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    Technology 40nm
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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
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    Extended Family 14
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And whilst I appreciate your contribution, I'm going to repeat that is not what I want.

I like the new windows 8 start menu with the tiles, it's excellent for a touchscreen computer which is what I have. I just want a faster way to access it from my desktop.

It's annoying to have to have to change from using touchscreen (including onscreen keyboard) to having to use a button at the bottom of the keyboard, or to have to swipe to access the button onscreen, I want it to already be on the screen (and remain there whilst I'm using desktop applications).

I don't want to go back to the old start menu. I agree there are plenty of options to do that. Does anyone know how to get just the button? I mentioned earlier that creating a shortcut on the desktop was probably going to be the easiest option, but I don't know what program, or whatever it is you link the shortcut to, to use to make that happen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S550CA (vivobook)
Medlab, that's looking more like it, I'll give it a try when I get home from work.

Thank you so much!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus S550CA (vivobook)
Medlab, that's looking more like it, I'll give it a try when I get home from work.

Thank you so much!

I figured it was what you wanted.

Getting a custom icon on it is easy. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
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