Wednesday, January 30, 2013 by Island Dog | Discussion: Personal Computing

Whether you upgraded to Windows 8 from a previous version of Windows, or just bought a new PC, you may have noticed that the start menu in Windows 8 is missing. You didn’t do anything wrong, this is just how Windows 8 was designed. For those users who miss it, I want to show you a way to get the start menu for Windows 8 back.

Start8 from Stardock brings the start menu/button back to your Windows 8 desktop.

Along with the start menu/button, Start8 allows for further customization in both appearance and functionality. Pin your desktop and Metro apps to the Start8 start menu, boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop, shut down with one click, and much more.



After the quick/easy install…



Start8 gives you a choice of styles for your start menu. Choose from the Windows 7 style - which most are probably familiar with - and the Windows 8 style, which gives you a start menu in the Modern UI (aka Metro) style. Additional options allow you to tailor the start menu to a size and style that works for you. Start8 also gives you several choices in start buttons to be displayed on the taskbar, you can easily create your own or download buttons created by others and shared on WinCustomize.com.



Customize the start menu…



Users can also configure Start8 to function in the way that best suits them. For example, have the Windows key on your keyboard set to show the Windows 8 start screen, and clicking the start button on the desktop will bring up the start menu. Another option is to have Start8 show the start button on a secondary taskbar, and it can also disable Windows 8 hot corner when at the desktop. Those are just a few examples, but you have the ability to set Start8 as you like.

Start8 is available as a free trial, and just $4.99 for the full version. It is also part of the Object Desktop subscription which includes Fences, and many other desktop enhancement and productivity applications for Windows. Object Desktop subscribers also enjoy the benefit of trying out any new software before our other customers.

More info can be found at Start8’s website.

Start8 - https://www.stardock.com/products/start8/

Object Desktop – http://www.objectdesktop.com