Background
One of our machines was recently upgraded from MS Windows 2008 to MS Windows 2012.
Needing to check its state, I connected over a remote desktop to the machine.
Review
Current State
Let us review our current state
Desktop
Images
Image – Desktop
Image – Desktop – Start
Explanation
The start menu bar is not available on our MS Windows 2012 install.
Remediate
Options
- Start Menu
- Access Start Menu by accessing the bottom-left or the bottom-right screen corners
- Access Start Menu over Remote Desktop by using special keystrokes
- Toolbar – Add Programs Toolbar
Start Button – Screen Edges – Bottom-Left / Bottom-Right Corner
Though, by no means obvious one can access the start button by inching ever so closely to the bottom left corner of the screen.
Images
Image – Screen bottom left
Image – Screen bottom right
Start Button – Remote Desktop via special keystrokes
Description | Windows shortcut | Remote Desktop shortcut |
---|---|---|
Displays the Start menu | Windows key or CTRL+ESC |
ALT+HOME |
Displays the system menu | ALT+SPACE BAR | ALT+DELETE |
Toolbar – Add Programs Toolbar
Outline
- File Explorer – Options – Hidden Items
- Launch File Explorer
- Access the “View” Tab
- Access Options
- Enable the following options
- Hidden items
- Task Bar – Add A New Task Bar
- Access Task Bar
- Keep in mind that your Task Bar is usually at the bottom of one’s screen
- Right-click on an unoccupied area of your taskbar
- TaskBar Menu
- Right Click on the toolbar and a drop-down menu will appear
- Choose the menu option Toolbar / New Toolbars
- The “New ToolBar – Choose a Folder” File Dialog is shown
- Please choose the targeted folder; in our case “Programs”
- Syntax:- [System Drive]:\Program Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
- Usual:- C:\Program Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
- There are a couple of pathways to supplying the targeted folder
- Manually entering the path
- Via the GUI ( Mouse )
- Please affect your choice by choosing the “Select Folder” button
- Access Task Bar
- Task Bar – Programs
- Your newly added Task Bar is accessible from the toolbar
- Please choose the Program’s entry
- The list of install applications will be displayed
Images
Explorer
Options
Toolbars – Add a New Toolbar
Toolbars – New toolbar – Menu
Toolbars – New Toolbar – Choose a folder
Toolbars – New Toolbar – Folder Selected
Toolbars – Review Added Toolbar
Toolbars – Added Toolbar – Programs
Toolbars – Added Toolbar – Programs – List of Programs
Summary
Please consider and evaluate the steps detailed above if you find out that your Start Button is missing.
We noticed this post one of our upgrades.
BTW, the upgrade targeted MS Windows 2012.
Dedicated
Dedicated to Keith Mayer [MSFT].
References
- SpiceWorks
- Keith Mayer ( Microsoft )
- How to: Miss the old Start Menu on Windows Server 2012? Try this!
Authored By:- Keith ( Microsoft )
Date Authored:- 2013-June-13th
Link
- How to: Miss the old Start Menu on Windows Server 2012? Try this!
- Keith Mayer ( Microsoft )
- Microsoft
- Windows Developer
- Windows > Apps > Win32 > Desktop Technologies > System Services > Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services Shortcut Keys
Link
- Windows > Apps > Win32 > Desktop Technologies > System Services > Remote Desktop Services
- Windows Developer