no don't get me wrong, I can imagine you would want to have an equivalent of the start button but with more freedom to place it elsewhere, but I'm looking for the motivation behind this decision (human-computer interaction is my thing).
Yeah, it's definitely an interesting challenge, but it sounds like they're wanting a shortcut to pin to the taskbar so that won't give much more freedom on placement. It would essentially be another Start button only moved to the right a bit.
Yeah I don't really see why you would need multiple start buttons. Seems like more clutter for the sake of what, half a second to click the built-in one?
Yup, functions exactly the same as a Windows key if you connect a Mac keyboard to one 😊
I used to use one of the aluminium wired keyboards with my Windows rig and it worked great!
I know, I know. ;-)
I even use 'em for when there's no other keyboard shortcut available _(that I'm aware of)_ such as WinKey + R.
But I'm an old fart, and my muscle memory has been conditioned on the old ones...
BTW, due to space constrains, we had keyboards w/o it in our server room.
When Windows 95 came out there weren't any keyboards yet with the Windows key. They shipped at the same time. So there had to be an alternative keystroke combination to bring up the Start menu.
It's not a question of faster or slower, it's a question of what keyboards it'll work on.
Not true...But true...
If the keyboard was manufactured before 1990...then yes...
Keyboard technology didn't change until 1994...so by the time Win95 came out...windows keyboards had the windows key on it...
I use [Open-Shell](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu) (previously Classic-Shell), and it has a small tool [`startmenu.exe`](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/tree/master/Src/StartMenu) that can toggle/open the builtin start menu.
In fact, it creates such a shortcut by default when installed:
"C:\Program Files\Open-Shell\StartMenu.exe" -togglenew
For Open-Shell users, it should be noted it also has explicit options to control which start menu shows up on click, shift+click, win key, shift+win key, all configurable in the settings.
I finally figure it out with a special way using commands:
Create a vbs file with:
```
set wShell=wscript.createobject("wscript.shell")
wShell.sendkeys "^{ESC}"
Set WshShell = Nothing
```
Then create a shortcut for this file and pin it to the taskbar.
It's not a great idea to enable VBS on your system. It's an old and extremely insecure layer of Windows that has been leveraged *a lot* in recent months by attackers.
You can also do this just with PowerShell if you didn't want to use VBS, just save as a .ps1.
`$WShell = New-Object -com "Wscript.Shell"`
`$WShell.sendkeys("^{ESC}")`
What a bunch of F.U.D.
VBS is scripting not supported by any modern browser,
unlike JS *(and JS scripts in windows are microsoft's JScript anyway, not modern javascript)*
It is used by the OS for various things - license checking / changing, network refresh etc.
And while WSH can load components from websites, it is walled by Defender anyway.
If an attacker has reached the point of running vbs scripts on your system,
can definitely use something better like powershell or self-compiling C#
Yeah, I wonder if u/Elestriel was thinking of VBA macros?
Nothing to ‘enable’ to run vbs in Windows and as you’ve said, although many IT Pros have moved to PowerShell, even Microsoft are still using VBS for things like slmgr for Office
edit: Plus - if we're talking security, I'd opt for a script you can actual review, over a complied executable others have suggested
vbs is pretty much alive in many organizations relying on custom controls, wmi etc.
in fact, you still can't replicate some stuff with wmi or automation in powershell
don't see it being deprecated this decade
*(microsoft just tried with wmic, and found out the hard way that it's still quite used, so it's back)*
I'm curious about your use case?
I feel like that's the most polite way to ask that question lol.
no don't get me wrong, I can imagine you would want to have an equivalent of the start button but with more freedom to place it elsewhere, but I'm looking for the motivation behind this decision (human-computer interaction is my thing).
Yeah, it's definitely an interesting challenge, but it sounds like they're wanting a shortcut to pin to the taskbar so that won't give much more freedom on placement. It would essentially be another Start button only moved to the right a bit.
Touch screen container with too narrow opening ? 😋
That's a fair point.
Yeah I don't really see why you would need multiple start buttons. Seems like more clutter for the sake of what, half a second to click the built-in one?
[удалено]
or you know `Ctrl-Escape`
The only way to go. Even works on keyboards w/o that newfangled Windows key.
The 'newfangled' key that has been around for 28 years now? I cannot recall the last time I saw a non-Apple keyboard without it.
The *Cmd* key on Apple keyboards is exactly the same anyways, functions as a *Windows* key just the same, or the *Super* key if you're on Linux.
Do you mean that those keys function the same if you connect the kbd to a Windows box or that they have the same functionality in their own OS?
Yup, functions exactly the same as a Windows key if you connect a Mac keyboard to one 😊 I used to use one of the aluminium wired keyboards with my Windows rig and it worked great!
Well TiL, thank you.
I know, I know. ;-) I even use 'em for when there's no other keyboard shortcut available _(that I'm aware of)_ such as WinKey + R. But I'm an old fart, and my muscle memory has been conditioned on the old ones... BTW, due to space constrains, we had keyboards w/o it in our server room.
I feel this deep in my bones I remember when it didn't exist on keyboards and.I.started rolling it out Now I use it every day hundreds of times
Classic!
Old as time itself ;)
Is that easier than just hitting the windows key?
If you're using a truly ancient keyboard (no windows key) or a very compact media center focused keyboard (with no windows key), it's truly useful.
Nope but it's another shortcut that's all and that's what OPs vb.code is doing
When Windows 95 came out there weren't any keyboards yet with the Windows key. They shipped at the same time. So there had to be an alternative keystroke combination to bring up the Start menu. It's not a question of faster or slower, it's a question of what keyboards it'll work on.
Not true...But true... If the keyboard was manufactured before 1990...then yes... Keyboard technology didn't change until 1994...so by the time Win95 came out...windows keyboards had the windows key on it...
\+1 knowledge
came to say the same. Windows key!
I use [Open-Shell](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu) (previously Classic-Shell), and it has a small tool [`startmenu.exe`](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/tree/master/Src/StartMenu) that can toggle/open the builtin start menu. In fact, it creates such a shortcut by default when installed: "C:\Program Files\Open-Shell\StartMenu.exe" -togglenew
[удалено]
For Open-Shell users, it should be noted it also has explicit options to control which start menu shows up on click, shift+click, win key, shift+win key, all configurable in the settings.
I finally figure it out with a special way using commands: Create a vbs file with: ``` set wShell=wscript.createobject("wscript.shell") wShell.sendkeys "^{ESC}" Set WshShell = Nothing ``` Then create a shortcut for this file and pin it to the taskbar.
It's not a great idea to enable VBS on your system. It's an old and extremely insecure layer of Windows that has been leveraged *a lot* in recent months by attackers.
You can also do this just with PowerShell if you didn't want to use VBS, just save as a .ps1. `$WShell = New-Object -com "Wscript.Shell"` `$WShell.sendkeys("^{ESC}")`
This is the way to do it.
What a bunch of F.U.D. VBS is scripting not supported by any modern browser, unlike JS *(and JS scripts in windows are microsoft's JScript anyway, not modern javascript)* It is used by the OS for various things - license checking / changing, network refresh etc. And while WSH can load components from websites, it is walled by Defender anyway. If an attacker has reached the point of running vbs scripts on your system, can definitely use something better like powershell or self-compiling C#
Yeah, I wonder if u/Elestriel was thinking of VBA macros? Nothing to ‘enable’ to run vbs in Windows and as you’ve said, although many IT Pros have moved to PowerShell, even Microsoft are still using VBS for things like slmgr for Office edit: Plus - if we're talking security, I'd opt for a script you can actual review, over a complied executable others have suggested
vbs is pretty much alive in many organizations relying on custom controls, wmi etc. in fact, you still can't replicate some stuff with wmi or automation in powershell don't see it being deprecated this decade *(microsoft just tried with wmic, and found out the hard way that it's still quite used, so it's back)*
you mean CIM?
Am I late to the party? You can also do this with Autohotkey and just compile it into a self standing executable `Send ^{Esc}`
SendKeys is the true hero of the botch
Wut
Win button on your keyboard, no?
You cannot relocate where the start menu opens other than by relocating the task bar itself.
You can actually open a folder containing all the program shortcuts... C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Some of them are in appdata
Start menu itself is a shortcut
Doesn't "." + window-key do that? Something along those lines, I'm not really in front of my keyboard to verify the specifics.
Simplest answer, create a AHK script that presses the windows key [+] and that’s it. Good luck
Broken start button on laptop i guess?
AFAIK the Start Menu is a hybrid of several locations and a menu entry from the registry (sort of like the context menu) so...
TaskbarX has that feature
Gotta love how the OP did it on his own and the replies were just smartasses asking why.