Start menu

  The start menu is a user interface feature than began in Windows 95. The start menu began August 1995 at the release of Windows 95 and continued through Windows 7.  In it's early stages it only had a list containing Programs, My Documents, Help, Run and the Shutdown option.  Then, Windows XP came and widened the Start Menu.  Now it contained Your personal folders, Run, Control Panel, Internet Programs, and basically any utility you would want in the All Programs menu. After that Vista came with more on the start menu than eve before.  This continued into Windows 7 then, got away in Windows 8x. This is when Microsoft introduced the Start screen in Windows 8 and removed the start menu.  It is rumored the Windows 9 will have a start menu.
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                                                                                                                    Windows 9x Start Menu
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                                                                                                                    Windows XP Start Menu
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                                                                                                                    Windows Vista and 7 Start Menu
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                                                                                                                    Windows 8x Start Screen