How to Add the Start Button to Windows 8

This guide will show you how to not only add the Start button back to Windows 8, but to make it the default view in Windows 8. In other words, Windows 8 will look and behave much more like Windows 7, Vista, XP etc.

Update: The software in this tutorial is no longer free. It now costs $4.99 during the “beta” period, and will likely increase in price after that period expires.

  1. From the default Windows 8 Menu, select Internet Explorer.
  2. Enter the web address http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ – or just click this link.
  3. Click the Download button on the Start8 download page. Enter your email address in the space provided, and again click the Download button.
  4. Now go check the email account you just provided Start8 with. It will contain a new message from the folks at Start8, and in that email there will be a link to download the program. Click that link.
  5. When you’re prompted by your web browser (probably IE), select Run

  6. click to enlarge

  7. The installation is very straight forward – you’ll mostly click “Next” a bunch of times.
  8. Right after you’ve finished installing Start8, the familiar “Start button” will re-appear. Click it and you’ll be presented with the same (well, very similar) menu you’re used to.
  9. Right-click on the Start button itself, and you’ll be presented with several options. One of the defaults is to have Start8 “take over” when you start up Windows 8. This means you’ll go straight to the interface you’re using right now, instead of the the “Metro” interface.You can change these defaults to best suit your needs.
  10. If you leave the On login to go the desktop feature enabled, each time you start Windows 8 you’ll briefly see Metro, and then right away you’ll be taken to the “Windows 7” style desktop.

  11. click to enlarge

  12. One of the great things about this software is that it leaves an entry at the top of the Start Menu so that you can go right to the default Windows 8 “Metro” interface any time you want.

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