Start Screen Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

How to Download a "Start" Screen Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1

information   Information
This tutorial will provide you with a Start button shortcut that will open your Start screen directly on your main display in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.



Here's How:

1. Click/tap on wither the icon or Download button below for what you want to use for your Start shortcut, and to download it's ZIP file.
Metro_Start.png
download
Start_Orb.png
download
Windows-8-Logo.png
download

2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Start.exe file to your desktop.
NOTE: This is a standalone .exe file that has a digital certificate and does not install or add anything to your computer.

4. You can now move the .exe file to where you would like to keep it saved at, then Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, or create a shortcut from the .exe file.

NOTE: If you create a shortcut from the Start.exe file, then you could also assign a keyboard shortcut to the created shortcut.

Tip   Tip
If you create a shortcut from the Start.exe file, then you will also be able to change the shortcut's icon to be any one of the included icons or a custom icon of your own.

shortcut.jpg





That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Start_Flag_Shortcut.zip
    501.6 KB · Views: 2,106
  • Start_Metro_Shortcut.zip
    501.5 KB · Views: 1,948
  • Start_Orb_Shortcut.zip
    501 KB · Views: 1,254
  • Start_Screen.png
    Start_Screen.png
    520 bytes · Views: 285
Last edited:
Very Very Nice Tutorial Shawn...... :)

It will help many people who want to keep their Metro Start menu but want a shortcut to it so that they don't require to click the hidden place at the corner.

Nice tutorial...... :)
 

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Thank you Narayan. I'm glad you like it and find it helpful. :)
 

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Thank you, Shaun, except I am unable to download the start.exe file. When I click on one of the .png files, then I see a page with only the .png file. I can then of course right-click on the .png file to download it, but there is no .zip file there, only the icon. Could you please provide a link to download the start.exe file, or the .zip files?Thank you.PS Was the start.exe file your creation? Thanks for it.
 

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Hello Maiki,

I added download buttons under the icons as another option to use. Please see how they work for you to download the .zip file. :)
 

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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks, Shaun. I just downloaded it that way. Will try it out.Is it customizable, like the start menu in xp or 7? Can one add and delete and rearrange folders, etc.? If so, what folder can one find the links and folders, etc.?
 

My Computer

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Thanks, Shaun. I just downloaded it that way. Will try it out.Is it customizable, like the start menu in xp or 7? Can one add and delete and rearrange folders, etc.? If so, what folder can one find the links and folders, etc.?

That's great news Maiki.

This is just a shortcut to open the same default "Start" screen in Windows 8.

The only thing customizable for this shortcut is the icon you can use for it.

The "related links" at the bottom of the tutorial can help you customize the Start screen more. In addition, look under "Start Screen..." in the tutorial index at the link below for more Start screen related tutorials to help. :)

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6795-windows-8-tutorial-index-2.html#post185904
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Oh, I see. It is not a Start Menu (as in earlier versions of windows) replacement. I don't really see why one would want a shortcut to get to the Windows 8 Metro Start screen? One can very easily get there by pressing the Windows key. Also in the far left bottom corner of the desktop, I think an icon appears for the start screen.
Thanks, Shaun. I just downloaded it that way. Will try it out.Is it customizable, like the start menu in xp or 7? Can one add and delete and rearrange folders, etc.? If so, what folder can one find the links and folders, etc.?
That's great news Maiki.This is just a shortcut to open the same default "Start" screen in Windows 8.The only thing customizable for this shortcut is the icon you can use for it.The "related links" at the bottom of the tutorial can help you customize the Start screen more. In addition, look under "Start Screen..." in the tutorial index at the link below for more Start screen related tutorials to help. :)http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6795-windows-8-tutorial-index-2.html#post185904
 

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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
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Shawn— Thanks for all your tutorials.
but all of a sudden I can't get this 'Start screen shortcut' to work.
I download, unblock, open , Pin to taskbar. Then it won't work . Avast antivirus gives me option to ignore it but wants info about its manufacturer ...

I'm having same problem with others as well. Logoff, Shutdown & Restart
 

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Shawn— Thanks for all your tutorials.
but all of a sudden I can't get this 'Start screen shortcut' to work.
I download, unblock, open , Pin to taskbar. Then it won't work . Avast antivirus gives me option to ignore it but wants info about its manufacturer ...

I'm having same problem with others as well. Logoff, Shutdown & Restart

Hello Ron,

Did you keep the .exe file where it was saved at before pinning it to the taskbar? If not, then it would break the shortcut on the taskbar.

If you haven't already, double check to make sure that these .exe files are added to Avast's exclusion list to see if that may help. It sounds like Avast may be blocking them still.

Avast Internet Security - Create an exclusion
 
Last edited:

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    64-bit Windows 10
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    Logitech MX Master 3
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks Brink.
My goofy pill wore off and I set Avast to ignore it.
 

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Anytime Ron. :)
 

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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
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    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Going through the exe it's a compiled AutoIt script. Can you post the script for people who prefer to run it themselves? Thanks.
 

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Hello aph, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Yep, it's just an AutoIt script.

I'd prefer not to post the script though to help prevent it from being copied everywhere. :(
 

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    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    Logitech MX Master 3
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    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
It's too bad that no one's found the way to do this yet that doesn't involve faking a keystroke (and there has to be one), because I think the Start Screen and its live tiles would make a perfect screen saver.
 

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Hi, thanks. All you're doing is Ctrl+Esc anyway. That doesn't work for anyone using a start button replacement, which is a prime reason this would be needed

There is a way that doesn't involve keystrokes but it's involved. I did a stack trace of the start screen shortcut that comes with StartIsBack and it involves elevating the security context into a background console session on the local host so that process can invoke the start screen, on its own like it would normally. The process is then run as the current user so it shows up on your screen. Not exactly a Ctrl+Esc but give that a download if you want to check it out
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro/Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
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    12 GB DDR3
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    SSD RAID 0
    Mouse
    Razer Naga 2012
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    100 Mbps
    Antivirus
    virustotal.com
Hey Aph,

Sure, I'll have a look.

Usually if you don't change what the Windows key opens to in the 3rd party Start menu program settings, the shortcut should still work to open the modern Start screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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