Windows 8 Start Screen–Don’t Panic and Don’t Believe the Hype

I work as a Microsoft Premier Field Engineer (PFE).  Every week I'm at a different customer performing some type of Risk Assessment or helping them solve a problem.  As a PFE a my job is to make sure people are happy with the products they own now.  Not sell new products, not design new systems but make sure the products they own now are working properly and they understand how to get the most out of them.  Lately people have been asking question about the new user interface for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 so I decided to create a post and explain in writing what I usually demo to people while onsite.

Since the release of Windows 8 there has been a lot of discussion about the loss of the Windows Start Menu and how the new Windows Start Screen has made the operating system difficult to use for people moving to Windows 8.  Not true.  What people need is a quick primer on how to leverage the new Start Screen and see how it improves desktop efficiency.  There are a bunch of third-party utilities that have been created to provide the old-style Start Menu for people who refuse to change.  If you plan on using these with Windows 8 you should probably just keep using Windows 7.  When you buy a new car are all the buttons in the same place? Is it exactly like you old car?  Would you consider buying a dashboard overlay to make you new car operate exactly like your old car? 

Windows 8 is a unique operating system.  It has two separate user interfaces that lets YOU determine how you want to work.  If you have a touch-enabled device you can use the new “modern” interface with Live Tiles to interact with the computer.  If you are running an older application you can use the same desktop you used on Windows 7 and work the way you always have.  A great deal of thought, research and testing has gone into Windows 8 and you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

 

Windows 8 Start Screen

So let’s change the way we look at Windows 8 for a few minutes…

The Start Menu is not missing.  It has been redesigned ( and renamed) to provide additional functionality.  In the "old days" the Start Menu was a multi-level, nested menu with static icons.  You had to have some idea where the icon was for the application you were trying to start or you would have to troll through every sub-menu until you found it.  You could customize the Start Menu but most people lacked the knowledge to do so.  They just used it in whatever state the operating system and multiple application installs had left it.   In contrast Windows 8 Start Screen is an entire SCREEN of content to enable you to find your programs and files fast and easy.  An entire screen you can customize to the way you work.  An entire screen the is fully indexed and searchable for not only applications but files and operating system settings also (more on that in a few). 

Using the Windows 8 Start Screen

In Windows 8, if you want to Start Microsoft Word, you could use your mouse to scroll the Windows Start Screen until YOU find the Word icon (so last decade!).  Or you can start typing the program you want to open, W-O-R-D and by the time you reach the letter D Windows 8 has narrowed you search to one or two icons (NOTE - If the Windows 8 Start screen is not showing jut hit your Windows key to display it).  At this point  select the one you want and press the ENTER key and Word is running.  If you want to change you display settings start typing D-I-S-P-L-A-Y and you notice the search box over to the right-side of the screen.

W8 Search-settings

By default Windows will search Apps, Settings and Files.  If you look at the lower portion of the search menu you will see other locations like Store, Mail etc. we could also search (go try it, I’ll wait). 

As you can see from the screen shot below Windows 8 is very thorough when searching.

W8 Search-Display2

 

Using Windows 8

There are plenty of articles on using the new touch interface.  I want to take a couple of minutes and demonstrate how to get the most out of Windows 8 on a non-touch device.  The first thing you will need is a keyboard that has a Windows key (Windows logo key.)

As described earlier if you are already viewing the Windows Start screen just start typing to search for your program or file.  If you are using the legacy Desktop just press the Windows logo key.to return to the Windows Start screen and start typing to find what you are looking for.. 

The Windows logo key+ C combination wills display the Charms bar.  The Charms bar is a context sensitive toolbar that lets you search, share and adjust settings for the operating system or applications.  If you are on the Desktop or Windows Start screen and press Windows logo key+ C you will be able to search Windows, modify computer settings etc.  If you press Windows logo key+ C when an applications is displayed the search, settings, and share choices will be related to the application you are using.

Pressing Windows logo key+ X displays a Quick Link Menu of some common Windows tasks such as CMD Prompt, Device Manager, Task Manager etc.

W8 -Quick Menu

Here are a few others I use regularly:

  • ALT + TAB t cycle through open programs
  • Windows logo key+ L to lock computer
  • Windows logo key+ P to display second monitor configuration screen,
  • Windows logo key+ D show the Desktop
  • Windows logo key+ R show the Run dialog
  • Windows logo key+ E open Windows explorer.

 

  

A more complete listing of keyboard and mouse shortcuts can be found at the links below.

 

Mouse and keyboard: What's new in Windows
https://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/mouse-keyboard-whats-new

New keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8 and Windows RT
https://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/new-keyboard-shortcuts?woldogcb=0#1TC=t1