The main menu of the Windows operating system implements the main method for launching application programs and system controls installed on the computer. To access this menu, an element of the graphical interface is placed on the taskbar, which, by habit, is called the "Start" button, although in the latest versions of the OS there is no longer such an inscription. In addition to accessing programs, the main menu is used to turn off the computer and various search operations in the system.
Instructions
Step 1
Click the "Start" button with the left mouse button - this is the most frequently used method of expanding the main menu. This button is always on the taskbar, but the panel itself can be placed along any of the four sides of the screen. Considering that the appearance of the button can also be changed by the user beyond recognition, and the taskbar can be hidden, then it is possible that in an unfamiliar system you will have to spend some time to find out the location and identify this interface element.
Step 2
Press the flag button (stylized Microsoft logo) on your keyboard. It is usually located next to the left and right ALT keys. This button is commonly called WIN, and pressing it should have the same effect as clicking the Start button in the Windows GUI. Therefore, if you cannot find the button itself, then use this key to access the main menu of the operating system.
Step 3
Cancel the automatic hiding of the taskbar and start button if they only appear when you move the mouse cursor to the edge of screen space. To do this, press the WIN key, right-click the free space of the appeared taskbar and select the "Properties" line from the context menu. Uncheck the Automatically hide the taskbar checkbox and click the OK button.
Step 4
Change the width of the taskbar if the main menu access button does not appear at all when you open the menu by pressing the WIN key. To do this, find a narrow strip of a few pixels at one of the edges of the screen (usually at the bottom) and hover over it. When it changes from a pointer arrow to a double-headed arrow, press the left mouse button and drag the border of the taskbar a sufficient distance from the edge of the screen.
Step 5
Move the taskbar along with the Start button located on it to place this menu access item on the side of the screen that is most convenient for you. To do this, right-click the taskbar and make sure that there is no checkmark next to the "Dock taskbar" item in the pop-up context menu. If there is a label, click that line. Then move the cursor over an empty space of the taskbar, press the left button and drag it to the desired edge of the screen.
