Tame the Windows 8 Start Screen [video]

The Start Menu is a powerful tool. Users click the Start button in the bottom left corner of the Windows desktop, pull out the Programs menu and begin tweaking and modifying. Users can right click to add new folders or shortcuts and move shortcuts from one subfolder to another. Deleting folders and shortcuts is just as simple and straightforward. If you've been stumbling around Windows 8 wondering why you can't find the Start button, there's a reason: It's gone.

In Windows 8, all that easy tweaking is, well, not so easy. Users are not able to directly change, add, or delete subfolders and shortcuts in the Start Screen All Programs view. Don’t worry. I've got you covered. Before you know it, that wildcat Start Screen will be a tamed house feline. 

I provide pretty much all the instruction you'll need in the video above. After watching it, you'll want to remember these four tips below, which are important when you dig into the file structure:

1. Do not delete the Windows Store or desktop shortcuts. This will make accessing the Windows Store impossible or will delete the Desktop Live Tile from the Start Screen. You are able to move them from one folder to another, just do not delete them.

2. Turn off UAC (in Control Panel) if it blocks you from editing the folder and file structure. Or just go to Start Screen, Type UAC, It should show up in Settings on the far right side.

3. c:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Startmenu\Programs. This structure of the Start Menu is used for all users. Any tweaks or changes you make here will affect all accounts on the PC, and they will be visible via the Start Screen, All Programs.

4. c:\users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\windows\startmenu\programs. This structure of the Start Menu is a single user. Any changes you make here will only show up for that user alone and not systemwide.

Travis Boyko has worked with computers since he was 3 years old. While other children played with toys, he learned DOS commands. He has used every Windows version, as well as Linux, OS/2, OS X, Unix and Windows Server. His software collection goes back to the 1980s and includes original boxes of Windows 1.0, Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0, Lotus 1-2-3 and Windows 7 Signature Edition 32-bit and 64-bit full versions.