A Start menu substitute can greatly reduce the shock of using Windows 8. Here are three alternatives that produce a reasonable experience.

If you're running Windows 8.1 today and want the Start menu back, take a look at our list of the best, least expensive, and most authentic Windows 8 Start menu replacements.

Windows 8: Revolution or disaster? How to get the old start menu back in Windows 8 Third-party developers responded quickly, offering apps to restore the Start button and Start menu.

The Windows team has been re-inserting the Star button, one-click shutdown, boot-to-desktop and a host of other features designed to make Windows 8 more like Windows 7, as well as friendlier to ...

How does the Windows 8.1 Start Button work? Microsoft will be only changing the Start “tip” or Power Menu or WinX Menu to the familiar Windows logo.

It's available as a separate application for Windows 8.1 x86 and Windows 8.1 x64. Alternatively, you can install the free app 7+ Taskbar Tweaker which will allow you to hide the start button.

Most internal builds of Windows 8.1 do not include the Start button or boot to desktop options, but Microsoft is said to be planning how to add these into the operating system.

Ditching the Start button in Windows 8 is consistent with these broader trends. The Start button is something that people will use many times a day; it's an interface that will inevitably be learned.

According to the latest leaked build of Windows 8.1 (Blue), the Start button and menu will make their triumphant return -- but they won't look or work like the Windows 7 Start menu.

Leaked screenshots of the latest Windows 8 build show that Microsoft has jettisoned the traditional Windows 8 Start button but tweaked the Charms Bar and other settings.

Microsoft took the bold steps of removing the traditional Windows 8 Start menu and Start button orb from its Windows 8 Consumer Preview last week. Desktop PC users are currently debating the ...