I’ve been using Windows 8 since the Consumer Preview and have really grew to love it. I’ve seen a lot of posts about people wish they could still have their start button in windows 8. Below is a freeware app I wrote for myself in .NET 4.5 that will provide similar functionality.
Here’s how you install it:
1. Download the StartButtonApp_v1_1.7z files below and extract it to your desktop
2. The zip program should create a directory called StartButtonApp and in that directory there should be a StartButtonApp.exe file
3. Right click the StartButtonApp.exe and click Pin to Taskbar
4. Move the StartButtonApp icon to the desired location on your taskbar and you should be all set
[EDIT: NunoP]
A newer version of the Start Button App was posted that allows users to customize the menuitems that get displayed. To modify the menuitems, simply open the menu.xml file and modify it as per your requirements.
Here’s what the default menu.xml file looks like:
<MainMenu>
<MenuItem
name=“Administrative Tools“
command=“control.exe“
arguments=“admintools“
position=“1“ />
<MenuItem
name=“Control Panel“
command=“control.exe“
arguments=“”
position=“2“>
<MenuItem
name=“Add/Remove Programs“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL appwiz.cpl,,0“
position=“1“ />
<MenuItem
name=“Display Properties“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,3“
position=“2“/>
<MenuItem
name=“Mouse Properties“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,0“
position=“3“/>
<MenuItem
name=“Power Options“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL powercfg.cpl“
position=“4“/>
<MenuItem
name=“System Properties“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL Sysdm.cpl“
position=“5“/>
<MenuItem
name=“Device Manager“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“devmgr.dll DeviceManager_Execute“
position=“6“/>
</MenuItem>
<MenuItem
name=“Shutdown“
position=“3“>
<MenuItem
name=“Shutdown“
command=“shutdown.exe“
arguments=“-s -t 00“
position=“1“ />
<MenuItem
name=“Restart“
command=“shutdown.exe“
arguments=“-r -t 01“
position=“2“/>
<MenuItem
name=“Log Off“
command=“shutdown.exe“
arguments=“-l -f“
position=“3“/>
</MenuItem>
</MainMenu>
To add HIBERNATE and SLEEP, simply add the following two line of code underneath the Log Off element to the menu.xml file:
<MenuItem
name=“Hibernate“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“PowrProf.dll,SetSuspendState“
position=“4“/>
<MenuItem
name=“Sleep“
command=“rundll32.exe“
arguments=“powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0“
position=“5“/>
· Now runs on top of .NET 3.5 (instead of 4.5)
· The menu is now customizable via an XML file
The StartButtonApp app is totally free so enjoy.
Nuno F. Pereira