In Windows 10 build 9926 Microsoft has removed both the Start screen and the Start menu features. Instead of them, Windows 10 offers the unified new Start menu, which can be used as the Start screen, a sort of. Here is what you have to do if you want to get the Start screen back in Windows 10.
Tag: Start Screen
Switch between Start menu and Start screen without logging out
In the currently released Technical Preview build of Windows 10, Microsoft has implemented the Start menu and the Start screen separately, and you are able to choose between them using Taskbar properties. This requires you to sign out and log in back to your account, which can be a bit annoying. Every time you log out, you lose your open apps and files. Let's see how to avoid this and switch between the Start menu and the Start screen without logging out.
How to switch to Start screen instead of Start menu and vice versa in Windows 10
Windows 10 features two options to launch apps - it now has both, a Start screen and the Start menu. While the Start menu was the most anticipated change of Windows 10 for many users, there is a group of users who are comfortable with the Start screen and just do not want to switch back. Thankfully, Windows 10 provides you an appropriate option to satisfy both categories of users. Just follow the simple instructions in this article.
How to pin Favorites to the taskbar or the Start screen in Windows 8.1
The Favorites folder in File Explorer is a very useful way to visit your favorite hard drive locations quickly with one click. It is a folder located at the top of the Navigation Pane of the File Explorer window. The user is able to add folders to Favorites by dragging the select folders to the Favorites icon or clicking the 'Add current location to Favorites' context menu item of the Favorites icon in the Navigation Pane. Here is how you can pin the Favorites folder to the taskbar or the Start screen in Windows 8.1.
How to pin Switch between windows to the taskbar or the Start screen in Windows 8.1
Switch between windows is a special button which can open the same dialog as you see when you press the Alt + Tab shortcut keys together on the keyboard. Using that dialog you can quickly preview all of your open windows (for example, open files, folders, and documents) without having to click the taskbar. It displays your open windows in a table. To switch between windows, you can press Alt + Tab the required amount of times. In Windows 7 and above, the Switch between windows button is gone with the Quick Launch toolbar. It is possible to get that button back again. Here is how.
How to pin Run to the taskbar or the Start screen in Windows 8.1
In Windows, the Run command is used to start various documents and applications quickly. Using the Run command is a quick way to open programs, files, folders, and - when you are connected to the Internet - websites. Even some built-in tools like Registry Editor can be executed only via the Run command as they do not have a shortcut in the Start menu or on the Start screen. In Windows 8, Microsoft has removed the Start menu, where the Run command was located in previous versions of Windows. If you are using the Run command very often, you might be interested in pinning it to the Start screen or to the taskbar for easy access. Here is how you can do it.
Tweak the hidden secret options of the Start screen and Charms with ModernUI Tuner
Windows 8, as everyone knows by now, comes with brand new user interface called "Modern UI". It features the Start screen, the Charms and the new PC Settings app which is designed for devices with touchscreens. In Windows 8.1 Update 1, Microsoft has improved some aspects of the Modern UI, made it more customizable and tweakable. However, some useful and interesting parameters are not accessible with the default set of options. My little freeware application, ModernUI Tuner, will allow you to control some mighty useful parameters. Let's take a closer look at the app.
How to change the icon of a pinned desktop app on the Start screen
The Start screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 allows you to pin Desktop app shortcut for fast access. After pinning a shortcut, the Start screen shows a tile with the app's icon and its name. In Windows 8.1, Microsoft has improved the visual appearance of such tiles by making the background color of the tiles match the icon's predominant color. The one thing the Start screen lacks is the ability to change the pinned app's icon. Let's look how it can be done.
How to display Administrative tools on the Start screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Administrative Tools in Windows are system management apps to change important settings of operating system. They include the Disk Management tool, Local Group Policy, Local Users and Group Management, Computer Management, Services and many other important management console tools. By default, they are hidden from the Start screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. To access these tools, you need to use the Control Panel. There you will find them under Control Panel\System and Security\Administrative tools. If you are using them frequently, you might want to show them on the Start screen.
How to select multiple tiles on the Start screen in Windows 8.1 Update
Windows 8.1 Update 1 brings some changes to the Start screen to make it friendlier for classic Desktop users. The App Bar that appeared when you right clicked on tiles is now replaced by a new context menu. Before the update, you could select multiple tiles with just right click, but now when you right click on some tile, the rest of tiles get unselected and the Start screen shows the context menu. Let's see how to select multiple tiles using other ways.
