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

1. 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
2. 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

 

 

Toolbar – Add Programs Toolbar

Outline

1. File Explorer – Options – Hidden Items
   • Launch File Explorer
   • Access the “View” Tab
   • Access Options
   • Enable the following options
     • Hidden items
2. 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
3. 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

1. 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
2. Microsoft
   • Windows Developer
     • Windows > Apps > Win32 > Desktop Technologies > System Services > Remote Desktop Services
       Remote Desktop Services Shortcut Keys
       Link