ARCHIVED: In Windows, what is the Start menu?
The Start menu in Windows provides a quick way to perform
many common tasks, such as launching programs or using control
panels. In Windows 7, Vista, and XP, the Start menu appears
when you click the Start button, which is located at one end
of the Taskbar, typically at the lower left corner of the
desktop.
Note: If this doesn't match what you see, refer to About navigation settings in Windows.
With Windows 8, Microsoft has redesigned the Start menu to
take advantage of touch screens, as well as live tiles designed to
provide you information from your applications (e.g., the current
weather or the number of unread messages in your Inbox). While the
classic Start button has been removed, you can still access
the Start screen by clicking in the lower left corner of the screen,
or by pressing the Windows key.
The Start menu includes options for:
- Running programs, either by selecting from a menu (which you can
customize) or by entering text in a dialog box
- Accessing recently used documents
- Accessing control panels
- Finding files, folders, or computers
- Getting help
- Shutting down or logging out of the computer
Last modified on January 03, 2013.







