Have you just bought yourself a new computer or laptop that comes with Microsoft Windows 8 pre-installed and finding yourself searching for the classic windows start menu?

For many users of Microsoft Windows, it is vital that there is a windows start menu; you either love it or hate it, but for most it is a requirement.

Windows 8 took a touch-screen approach, which is great if you're using a tablet or phone, but for a desktop PC or laptop, it ruins the experience, you lose much of the fast multi-tasking ability.

You can switch into desktop mode and get your multi-tasking back into place, but without the start-menu it can be a pain to use the modern Metro interface, especially using a mouse.

Microsoft released the 8.1 update which added a very simple start-menu, however, it does not contain a program list or other shortcuts that everyone is accustomed to having. A rumour suggests that the 8.2 update will bring back the classic start menu, but it could be some time before it is released.

Don't panic and try to remove windows 8! There are many software solutions available that will bring back the classic start-menu, some are free and others paid.

MM-iNEWS' favourite is Classic Shell; it is free, fast and comes packed with features. Classic Shell can also load your operating system and directly display the desktop, instead of the dreaded Metro interface.