(2012-03-06) Start Menu And Shutdown/Restart Buttons In Windows Server “8” Beta

Right after the installation of Windows Server “8”, one thing you definitely note is the absence of the good old Start Menu. To find the Start Menu, just press the Windows Key or move your mouse to the lower left corner of the screen. A small windows pops up and when you click that small window the Start Menu in tiles format (Metro UI) appears.

Figure 1: Finding The Start Menu In Windows Server “8”.

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And as already shown in Windows Server “8” Developer Preview, the new Start Menu looks like you see below. In the developer preview it was possible to switch back to the good old start menu layout by using the steps as mentioned here. Unfortunately that does not work anymore. I have not found the way yet, to get the old Start Menu back as in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Figure 2: The Start Menu In Windows Server “8” In Tiles Format (Metro UI).

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Although the above looks fancy I do not think I would want this on my servers. On servers I still prefer to have the old Start Menu. But now you have found the Start Menu, try to find the Shutdown/Restart/Logoff buttons! These are available, but not in the Start Menu as you are used to. To find the Shutdown/Restart button move your mouse to the upper right corner of the screen (or the lower right corner of the screen). Three icons on the right side of the screen popup as you see below.

Figure 2: Finding The Shutdown/Restart Button In Windows Server “8”

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The upper button is the Search button.

The middle button also provides access to the Start Menu.

The lower button is the Settings button and that’s the one you need as you can see below!

Figure 3: The Power Button

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The power button is the one you need to be able to shutdown or restart the server. Weird enough no logoff option is shown. I have not found it either. For now to just logoff, open up and PowerShell window and type LOGOFF, or press CTRL+R and type LOGOFF, or press CTRL+ALT+DEL and select “Sign Out”.

Figure 4: The Shutdown And Restart Buttons In Windows Server “8”

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UPDATE 2012-03-16:

The logoff button can be found by clicking on the new start menu followed by clicking on the user name in the upper right corner. After that you will see two options.

Figure 5: The Lock And Sign Out Buttons In Windows Server “8”

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Cheers,
Jorge
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