Solved Shortcut to Start Screen on Desktop?

kmgw8f

New Member
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8
Been playing with this new PC, getting to know Windows 8. Metro isnt gonna work for me, so I'll be using the desktop mostly. Don't like the little corner popups - these probably have a name but I have not seen it - I disabled them with classic shell. But at times I want to go to the Metro start screen. Classic shell does not have a menu item for this. Only way is to select something from the Apps menu then back out of that thru the lower left corner popup for the Start screen. I've searched quite a bit and found nothing on this, is it possible to make a desktop shortcut to the Start Screen?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hello, kmgw8f. Welcome to Eight Forums.

Simply hit the Windows key from anywhere. Hit it again and it's back to last screen/window,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Thanks but I don't want a key, I want an icon to click. I disabled the win key activating Metro with classic shell as I will hit it by accident too often.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Create a text file and name it something.vbs
Edit the file and paste in the following code
Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
objShell.SendKeys "^{ESC}"
Save the file and create a shortcut to it.
Right-click the shortcut and choose Properties, then in the Target line preceed the target with Explorer.exe
Make shre you have a space between Explorer and your target path.
Change the icon to something from System32\imageres.dll then pin the shortcut to your Taskbar.
Shift + Right-Click on the taskbar shortcut and choose Properties and remove the Explorer.exe stuff and click Ok to close. You now have a fancy Start Menu shortcut.


^I found this thru google. Works if Classic Shell is not present, doesnt work with it running. Another item maybe for Windows 8.1.....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
With some digging into the Sendkeys VBS command I made it work.


In classic shell setup, you can define another hotkey for the Start Screen. I used Alt p, a combination I'd be very unlikely to hit accidentally. So my vbs file now is this:


Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
objShell.SendKeys "%p"


The definition for sendkeys is:
For SHIFT prefix with +
For CTRL prefix with ^
For ALT prefix with %


So if your shortcut key is defined as Ctrl y your vbs script file would contain:


Set objShell = CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
objShell.SendKeys "^y"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
If you are using Classic shell, I made the Start button take me to the start screen on Center Click.
No need for any additional shortcuts....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
Yeah I like the cusomization of Classic shell, it would be enough just for me. But I wanted a desktop icon for some family members who cant progress to using advanced techniques like middle click.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
With Classic Shell, you can also set shift+Win to take you to the start screen. Also (when I had it installed), there is a start screen entry at the top of the start menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows Server 2012 Standard w/Hyper-V
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ProBook 4430s
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-2310M
    Memory
    16GB DDR3
    Hard Drives
    80GB Intel 320 SSD
    500GB Samsung Momentus
Yeah I like the cusomization of Classic shell, it would be enough just for me. But I wanted a desktop icon for some family members who cant progress to using advanced techniques like middle click.

Yeah,, gotcha. We need national PC Drivers License. You can't operate a computer without one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
You can create a shortcut to ClassicStartMenu.exe with the "-togglenew" parameter. It is described in the Command Line section of the Help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Is there anyway to "sendkeys" Shift+Win?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1750
    CPU
    Duo Core 2.5 G HZ
I don't have classic shell installed, but I am certain there was an option to leave the windows key as it was, so that it took you back to the modern screen, as always?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
I don't have classic shell installed, but I am certain there was an option to leave the windows key as it was, so that it took you back to the modern screen, as always?

Your are correct: Settings > Controls > Windows Key opens
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 1750
    CPU
    Duo Core 2.5 G HZ
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