Great 8 Start Menu

pcRat

New Member
Power User
Messages
724
Location
Bay City Michigan USA
Thanks to Brink.
Pin this to your Desktop Taskbar "All Apps" Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

  • It is sweet. Tiles are reduced in size, neatly organized in columns of 11
  • If you don't see the App you want, just click anywhere and scroll right
  • click your app and back to desktop you go

You can also create a Recent Files tile & desktop shortcut

  • From the desktop, create a new shortcut
  • For the "Browse to" entry, type C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent replacing your name or account where shown
  • Right click the shortcut and Pin to Start Menu, causing a new metro tile to appear

• The TOTALLY CUSTOMIZABLE ability for our Start Screen in 8 is awesome.
We can pin our documents, pictures folders & whatever files wherever we want to on the Start Screen.

Find many more adjustments here Windows 8 - Tutorial Index

For those who prefer clicking a 'Start Screen' icon in taskbar with mouse instead of pressing windows key
"Start" Screen Shortcut - Create in Windows 8
this take you to normal Start Screen, with your regular tiles, not the All apps
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
Very cool. Thanks for posting. Will be checking it out. mbratch, among others, will be appy, er happy, about the recent files thing, me thinks.

And, Brink (Shawn) way to go.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Thanks to Brink.
Pin this to your Desktop Taskbar "All Apps" Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

  • It is sweet. Tiles are reduced in size, neatly organized in columns of 11
  • If you don't see the App you want, just click anywhere and scroll right
  • click your app and back to desktop you go
Checked this one out. Per Shawn on either option:

"If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use."

Gr8 desktop start-menu replacement, I think, although am yet to try it. I will try it. And, much better than right clicking on start screen, then clicking all apps, especially because of the size reduction. Looks like, per category, the arrangement is alphabetical on start screen, but that's fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
You can also create a Recent Files tile & desktop shortcut


  • From the desktop, create a new shortcut
  • For the "Browse to" entry, type C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent replacing your name or account where shown
  • Right click the shortcut and Pin to Start Menu, causing a new metro tile to appear
This one is your creation, right? Also, way to go. I will try it too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
This is not much good what are the haters going to do now, there's got to be more stuff to hate.:dinesh:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
You can also create a Recent Files tile & desktop shortcut


  • From the desktop, create a new shortcut
  • For the "Browse to" entry, type C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent replacing your name or account where shown
  • Right click the shortcut and Pin to Start Menu, causing a new metro tile to appear
This one is your creation, right? Also, way to go. I will try it too.

I posted it but thought I mentioned I do not remember where I seen it online.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
This is not much good what are the haters going to do now, there's got to be more stuff to hate.:dinesh:
:D To be clear, I, for one, do not hate metro. Some seem to though.

The new options are very nice, but their existence is not overly likely, IMO, to be the driving force for substantially changing the apparent strong general preference for using the desktop versus metro--at least for those currently onboard here. After all, for example, there are plenty of start-menu substitutes available, and I think that the start-screen enhancement is not likely to substantially change the preferences of many in the "desktop camp" because the start menu already is easily managed for adequate efficiency. For example, my metro start screen does everything I could want from it efficiency-wise (see snip). Given what's already available, if this apparently strong preference changes, then I think that the current emphasis on phones and tablets and the elapse of time, allowing an increase in familiarity, if anything, will be the driving forces.

Note that my desktop tile now is in the left uppermost position--so a return takes me directly to the desktop. Also, note that I can still add more apps. Still the smaller tile size generated under the Brink start-screen enhancement could be useful if I wanted, for example, to show all apps. Its use still wouldn't be a game changer for me though. I'd still access most everything from the desktop. My start screen is setup so that I can exit it quickly, when I happen to end up there, to whatever I am likely to want to do next. And, note that it is very easy to do a little clicking on the start menu to access all apps--especially if one wants to access one that is very seldom used. Of course, I can't classify apps using my start-screen approach--which would be nice if I wanted to display a very large number.
 

Attachments

  • MetroStart2.PNG
    MetroStart2.PNG
    207 KB · Views: 147
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
You can also create a Recent Files tile & desktop shortcut


  • From the desktop, create a new shortcut
  • For the "Browse to" entry, type C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent replacing your name or account where shown
  • Right click the shortcut and Pin to Start Menu, causing a new metro tile to appear
This one is your creation, right? Also, way to go. I will try it too.

I posted it but thought I mentioned I do not remember where I seen it online.
Whatever, good post, and thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Thanks to Brink.
Pin this to your Desktop Taskbar "All Apps" Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

  • It is sweet. Tiles are reduced in size, neatly organized in columns of 11
  • If you don't see the App you want, just click anywhere and scroll right
  • click your app and back to desktop you go

You can also create a Recent Files tile & desktop shortcut

  • From the desktop, create a new shortcut
  • For the "Browse to" entry, type C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent replacing your name or account where shown
  • Right click the shortcut and Pin to Start Menu, causing a new metro tile to appear

• The TOTALLY CUSTOMIZABLE ability for our Start Screen in 8 is awesome.
We can pin our documents, pictures folders & whatever files wherever we want to on the Start Screen.

Find many more adjustments here Windows 8 - Tutorial Index

For those who prefer clicking a 'Start Screen' icon in taskbar with mouse instead of pressing windows key
"Start" Screen Shortcut - Create in Windows 8
this take you to normal Start Screen, with your regular tiles, not the All apps

I just added the regular start screen shortcut to original post. So now we can have
"Start" Screen Shortcut - Create in Windows 8 & "All Apps" Shortcut - Create in Windows 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
This is not much good what are the haters going to do now, there's got to be more stuff to hate.:dinesh:
:D To be clear, I, for one, do not hate metro. Some seem to though.

The new options are very nice, but their existence is not overly likely, IMO, to be the driving force for substantially changing the apparent strong general preference for using the desktop versus metro--at least for those currently onboard here. After all, for example, there are plenty of start-menu substitutes available, and I think that the start-screen enhancement is not likely to substantially change the preferences of many in the "desktop camp" because the start menu already is easily managed for adequate efficiency. For example, my metro start screen does everything I could want from it efficiency-wise (see snip). Given what's already available, if this apparently strong preference changes, then I think that the current emphasis on phones and tablets and the elapse of time, allowing an increase in familiarity, if anything, will be the driving forces.

Note that my desktop tile now is in the left uppermost position--so a return takes me directly to the desktop. Also, note that I can still add more apps. Still the smaller tile size generated under the Brink start-screen enhancement could be useful if I wanted, for example, to show all apps. Its use still wouldn't be a game changer for me though. I'd still access most everything from the desktop. My start screen is setup so that I can exit it quickly, when I happen to end up there, to whatever I am likely to want to do next. And, note that it is very easy to do a little clicking on the start menu to access all apps--especially if one wants to access one that is very seldom used. Of course, I can't classify apps using my start-screen approach--which would be nice I wanted to display a very large number.

•note that it is very easy to do a little clicking on the start menu to access all apps--especially if one wants to access one that is very seldom used.
→ I agree 110%. If we remember the program name we type a letter on the start screen. Or type any letter & Backspace real quick to view all apps when we can't recall name. [Instead of right clicking]

Of course, I can't classify apps using my start-screen approach--which would be nice I wanted to display a very large number
→ Advantage of regular start screen= custom tile organization & larger tiles
→ " All apps screen= alphabetical organization

• I click a tile and if it opens in Metro its fine. if it opens on Desktop its fine. it doesn't matter except I prefer Netflix on Metro!

• I have to love 8. It ruined me.
On XP-7 I used 'RandyRants SmartKeys' to switch left window & alt keys. Allowing me to press & hold Shift+Ctrl+Alt with one finger and press another key (A-Z or 0-9) to open programs. Shift+Ctrl+Alt+W =Wordpad Shift+Ctrl+Alt+X=MS Word I=IE J=Firefox
33 programs I opened like that. Today I can only remember 24.
8 is GR8. Not only can I pin programs to metro start screen, I can pin documents to metro start screen as well. Like my medication record that I access every 4 hours.

• Unless I have a program icon on my taskbar; if my desktops are not visible (covered up or hidden) I don't believe I can open a program faster using a toolbar shortcut or 3rd party start menu than I could using either taskbar icon for 'Start screen shortcut' or 'All apps shortcut' or the windows key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
• I have to love 8. It ruined me.
On XP-7 I used 'RandyRants SmartKeys' to switch left window & alt keys. Allowing me to press & hold Shift+Ctrl+Alt with one finger and press another key (A-Z or 0-9) to open programs. Shift+Ctrl+Alt+W =Wordpad Shift+Ctrl+Alt+X=MS Word I=IE J=Firefox
33 programs I opened like that. Today I can only remember 24.
8 is GR8. Not only can I pin programs to metro start screen, I can pin documents to metro start screen as well. Like my medication record that I access every 4 hours.
I am sort of a plodding user. Never have done much with key combos, etc. I admire your desire and fortitude.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Actually it was easier to memorize the key combinations than keep straining my eyes on smallness of old standard start menu
But I still keep my print size down because I don't like sliding page left & right. Like my wife who increase it to 275 %
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" 24"
    Hard Drives
    1 TB WD
    PSU
    550w
Back
Top