since windows 95, the button used to show the start menu, called the "start button", is found at the bottom left corner of the screen, on the far left side of the taskbar. clicking this button will make a list of menu items appear, from which the user can find a list of programs, documents or settings, search their computer for something by name (find), enter the location of a file to open it (run), get help on using windows, or turn off the computer (shut down).