8StartButton

8StartButton is a simple-to-use program that brings back the Windows 7 Start menu to Windows 8. It includes other useful features as well, targeting all users who want quick access to frequently used applications, files and folders.
During the installer, you can enable the tool's autorun at startup, as well as disable the Windows 8 small Start area in the bottom left corner of the screen. A system restart is required to apply the new changes.
8StartButton creates a button in the bottom left corner of the screen that, once triggered, brings up six other buttons assigned to the 8StartButton Start menu, Windows 8 Start screen, Windows 8 apps screen and search panel, along with computer shutdown, restart and sign out.
The Start menu offers four viewing modes: the one in Windows 7 (with a search function included), Start tiles, recent documents, and file browser. You can adjust the transparency level, hide watermarks, choose the list or file view for the file browser mode, as well as create shortcuts to applications, files or directories.
Right-clicking the app's button lets you access system tasks and the Task Manager, activate a power management option (lock, sign out, sleep, restart, shutdown), run a program, and change the left mouse click action (radial quick access menu, 8StartButton Start menu, Windows 8 apps screen and search panel, or Windows 8 Start screen).
A few settings can be configured for this tool. For example, you can make the app screen and search panel translucent, change the Start button image (preset or custom), allow custom color settings for the Start tile, as well as apply a smooth fade effect for the 8StartButton Start menu.
The application uses low CPU and RAM, and doesn't interrupt normal activity or affect the computer's overall performance. It has a good reaction speed and works well, without causing the OS to hang, crash or pop up error dialogs. All in all, 8StartButton should please all Windows 8 users.