How to make a simple Start Menu

Make a simple Programs Start Menu using built-in Windows 8 functionality.

1. Right click the Taskbar.

2. Select Toolbars > New toolbar...

3. In the Folder field type:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

This will place the toollbar to the left of the System Tray at lower right of screen.
This is by far the easiest and simplest method of having a Start Menu in Windows 8.
It won't contain all installed programs but it can be modified by copying any shortcuts from
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to the one above.

It looks like this:

 

This still works on the release version: Missing the Start Menu in Windows 8 Consumer Preview?

 

And I've reviewed some replacement Start menu's in my latest article on the topic:

Missing the Start Menu in Windows 8?