ARCHIVED: In Windows, what is the Start menu?

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The Start menu in Windows provides a quick way to perform many common tasks, such as launching programs or using control panels. In Windows 7, Vista, and XP, the Start menu appears when you click the Start button, which is located at one end of the Taskbar, typically at the lower left corner of the desktop.

Note: If this doesn't match what you see, refer to ARCHIVED: Get around in Windows.

With Windows 8, Microsoft has redesigned the Start menu to take advantage of touch screens, as well as live tiles designed to provide you information from your applications (e.g., the current weather or the number of unread messages in your Inbox). While the classic Start button has been removed, you can still access the Start screen by clicking in the lower left corner of the screen, or by pressing the Windows key.

The Start menu includes options for:

Running programs, either by selecting from a menu (which you can customize) or by entering text in a dialog box
Accessing recently used documents
Accessing control panels
Finding files, folders, or computers
Getting help
Shutting down or logging out of the computer