Glossary Entry: Start Menu
Quick Definition
The Start Menu is a feature on most version of Windows. Specifically, it's a menu that you use to start various programs and tasks.
Other operating systems usually have something similar, but it will probably be called something different.
Other operating systems usually have something similar, but it will probably be called something different.
More Details
The Start Menu was first introduced in Windows 95. In this version (and many that followed), it was accessed by clicking on a button in the corner of your screen marked "Start".
Later on, the label was replaced by the Windows logo, and the menu's functions were expanded a little.
In Windows 8, this was replaced by the Start Screen (also called Metro). Customer response was instantaneous and overwhelmingly negative, prompting Microsoft to bring the Start Menu back in Windows 8.1 and later versions.
Later on, the label was replaced by the Windows logo, and the menu's functions were expanded a little.
In Windows 8, this was replaced by the Start Screen (also called Metro). Customer response was instantaneous and overwhelmingly negative, prompting Microsoft to bring the Start Menu back in Windows 8.1 and later versions.