Where is the start menu and start button on Windows 8?

For those who have tested out the newest Windows version, Windows 8, you may have noticed that a classic Windows feature – the Windows start menu with the start button – is absent.  The decision to change the start button is part of a new overall Windows 8 User Interface, which is a dramatic change from the Windows 7 interface and all previous Windows operating systems.  Read on to learn more about this change: Why Windows decided to change the start button and menu, how you can access the same functionality from the new Windows 8 interface, and how, if you miss this feature, you can add back the start menu and start button on Windows 8.
Why did Microsoft change the start menu and start button in Windows 8?
In previous versions of Windows, like Windows 7, Microsoft reported fewer users using the start menu, so Microsoft made the change to the Windows start menu in the new version of its product.   When using Windows 8 there are many other ways to access the programs and apps that were in the Windows 7 start menu and the start menu of earlier versions of Windows.  Using Windows 8, you can use the desktop to pin apps you use most frequently instead of having to go into the start menu to access these.  You can also use the Windows 8 charm bar to access apps quickly and easily.
What can I use instead of the start menu or start button?
There are a number of commands you can use to bring up some of the features available in the old Windows 7 start menu.  The Windows 8 Charm bar is the best way to access some of the functions previously available in the start menu. To access the charm bar, simply drag your mouse to the top right corner of your screen.  You’ll notice that a menu will pop up on the right side of the screen, this is the charm bar.  Click on settings to access what you previously had in the Windows 7 start menu, including the ability to restart and shutdown your computer. Learn how to use the charm bar and how to shut down your PC in Windows 8.

Additionally the new Windows 8 User Interface makes it easy to access your favorite apps by pinning them on the left-hand side of your desktop screen.  In earlier versions of Windows, like in Windows 7, you could pin programs and apps to the start menu so that when you clicked on the start button, your favorite apps would appear.  In Windows 8 this step is removed, so that you can pin your favorite apps on your desktop for easy access.  To pin an app click on the app and drag it to the left side of your starts screen, under the desktop icon.  While users who have grown accustomed to the traditional Windows and Windows XP interface may miss going to the start menu to access these favorite apps, the way that the new Windows 8 UI is set up it’s actually quicker to access your favorite apps using the pinning method.  Find out how to download apps for Windows 8 and pin apps using the new Windows 8 UI.
How do I access the Control Panel?
The Control Panel, which, on previous versions of Windows sat in the start menu, is still available in Windows 8. All you need to do to access the control panel is start typing “control panel” from either of your Windows 8 screens, and it will show up in the Windows 8 search bar.  This control panel is the same as it was from previous versions of Windows.

How can I get the start button for Windows 8?
If you miss the start button and the start menu, Soluto enables you to bring back this familiar feature. Using Soluto, you can set your PC to start up in Classic Desktop mode, restoring some of the functions from previous versions of Windows, including the start menu and start button.  This can be done after you install Windows 8, and then register and download Soluto to use the Windows 8 settings feature.