What happened to the Start icon on the desktop in Windows 8 Consumer Preview?
I’ve installed the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, and the Start icon in the bottom left corner of the desktop is missing.Where did it go and how do I get back?
The desktop has been redesigned since the Windows 8 Developer Preview.
The Start button we’ve become familiar with has been moved from the taskbar to the charms.The charms will appear by moving the mouse to the bottom-right or top-right corner of the screen, or by pressing the Windows Logo key + C, or by swiping from the right edge on a touch device.
Besides using the Start charm, there are several additional methods for returning to the Start screen:
Press the Windows Logo key on your keyboard or device.
Hover the mouse cursor over the bottom left corner of the screen until a thumbnail of the Start screen appears.Click on the thumbnail to return to the Start screen.
Press Ctrl+Esc on your keyboard.
For more information on getting around Windows 8, please check out this article on the Windows Experience Blog.