Start Menu

The Microsoft Windows Start Menu is the primary location in Windows to locate your installed programs and find any files or folders. By default, the Start menu is located in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and is accessed by clicking the Start button. In the below picture, is an example of what the Windows 7 Start Menu may look like. In this example, the Start Menu has five important sections.

Left Pane

First, the left pane shows recently ran programs or any pinned program shortcuts. In the above example, there is one pinned program separated by a line and then the recently ran programs.

All Programs

Next, at the bottom of the left pane is the "All Programs" option, which displays all programs that have been installed on the computer.

Search

Next, directly below All Programs is the "Search" bar, this useful feature allows you to type in the name of the program or file you're looking for and have the results displayed above.

Right Pane

Fourth, the right pane shows each of the more commonly accessed sections of the computer such as your computer, control panel, documents, music, and pictures.

Shut down

Finally, the Shut down button allows you to Shut down the computer or click the arrow next to the Shut down button to switch user, log off, restart, and sleep the computer.