{"id":7855,"date":"2012-03-02T17:02:59","date_gmt":"2012-03-02T15:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.borncity.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/02\/windows-8-computer-preview-hurray-the-start-menu-is-back\/"},"modified":"2024-08-31T10:57:24","modified_gmt":"2024-08-31T08:57:24","slug":"windows-8-consumer-preview-hurray-the-start-menu-is-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/borncity.com\/blog\/2012\/03\/02\/windows-8-consumer-preview-hurray-the-start-menu-is-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows 8 Consumer Preview – hurray, the start menu is back!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[German edition] \"\"I don't know, what thouse guys at Microsoft are thinking, but removing the start orb in Windows 8 Consumer Preview was one of the most foolish things I ever saw. Have you ever tried to invoke computer management, using search? Welcome back to the old dos 1.0 days. Finally I though, why not try to get the start menu back\u2026<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I crossed some wrong and stoney paths \u2026<\/p>\n

Here<\/a> I've already discussed, how to get a start menu back in Windows 8 Developer Preview. But classic shell and other tricks doesn't work anymore for consumer preview. Stumbled upon this site created some hope. But the tool ViStar did not work on my test machine (it stalls with an access violation). Don't know what went wrong \u2013 but I dumped that thing.<\/p>\n

At least I begun to develop a few \"hints\" to ease access to important Windows features and programs. Desktop shortcuts are one solution to access programs. And we can use another trick: If we point with the mouse cursor to the lower left desktop corner, the Start window will hover. Right clicking to that point invokes a context menu, that grants access to the most important Windows 8 commands.<\/p>\n

What I'm still missed was a smooth way to access applications. I have had developed \"some kind of survival solution\" for Developer Preview (as discussed here<\/a>). We can create a folder on Windows 8 desktop and name it:<\/p>\n

Applications.{4234d49b-0245-4df3-b780-3893943456e1}<\/em><\/p>\n

This folder will be shown as Applications <\/em>gains quick access to several Windows applications and features. Combined with desktop shortcuts we got a little bit more comfort.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And we can also create some custom toolbars in taskbar (as I discussed in this German article<\/a>). Right click to taskbar, select the context menu command Toolbars\/New Toolbar <\/em>and choose the required folder (as discussed here<\/a>). You can try to create two toolbars pointing to the following folders:<\/p>\n

\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows\\<\/em>
\n\\Users\\Born\\ AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\Startmen\u00fc<\/em><\/p>\n

The first path points to the start menu entries used for all users. The second path creates a pseudo start menu with entries for the current user. The screen shot shown above shows such a toolbar with a pseudo start menu (with German entries).<\/p>\n

The disadvantage: We have two toolbars named \"start menu\" and we need to decide, which toolbar (for local or a global entry access) may be clicked. Not the best solution at all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, there is another trick in the bowl: You can create a third toolbar in your Taskbar and point it to the folder<\/p>\n

\\Users\\Born\\ AppData\\Roaming\\Microsoft\\Windows\\WinX<\/em><\/p>\n

This folder contains some subfolders with helpful short cuts. Here is a screen shot of my German Windows 8 with the Toolbar WinX still open.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We have here an entry Group2<\/em> with shortcuts to search, run, Windows Explorer and control panel. Group3<\/em> contains shortcuts for device manager, computer management, system network, command prompt windows and so on.<\/p>\n

But overall, that wasn't what I espected. Hello Microsoft \u2013 I wan't my Startmen\u00fc back \u2013 basta & pronto!<\/p>\n

Here comes the solution: Vista Start Menu<\/h3>\n

I nearly decided to program my own solution, because all hints discussed above can't fulfill my requirements. I searched a bit, and came across Classic Shell \u2013 but that won't work in Consumer Preview anymore (the start orb is missing at all). Then I stumbled upon a short post in German MS Answers forum, and that did it.<\/p>\n

This website<\/a> offers a small freeware Vista StartMenu<\/em> with the motto \"Start working with pleasure!\". The tool was developed long time ago to present an alternative to Windows XP and Windows Vista start menu. Well, \"Start working with pleasure!\" could give hope also for Windows 8 CP.<\/p>\n