How to Add an All Programs Button to the Windows 8 Taskbar

Millions of users bemoan the fact that Windows 8 has done away with the classic Start menu button. Fortunately, there’s a way to resurrect a skeletal version of it in Windows 8’s Desktop UI by attaching the Programs folder to the taskbar. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the desktop if you’re not there already.

2. Right-click on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen to pull up a menu.

3. Highlight the Toolbars sub-menu to reveal more options.

4. Click on New toolbar.

5. Type or Paste “%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs”(without the quotes) into the Folder field at the bottom of the New Toolbar window that appears and click Select Folder.