where is" all programs" in windows 8

I use the Desktop rather than the Apps screen as follows:

1. Put a Shortcut to the Start Menu on the Desktop by navigating in File Explorer (was Windows Explorer) to the hidden folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu, right-click or press and hold Programs and click or tap Send to (Desktop shortcut). You may have to tick ‘Hidden items’ in the View Ribbon of File Explorer.
2. Put a shortcut to msconfig on the Desktop to give you access to about 18 programs on its Tools Tab, including regedit, event viewer and system restore. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32, right-click or press and hold msconfig.exe and choose Send to (Desktop shortcut).
3. Further programs can be accessed by pressing the Windows Logo key+X (or right-click or press and hold off the bottom left corner) and choose from a list. The full list is Programs and Features, Mobility Center, Power Options, Event Viewer, System, Device Manager, Network Connections, Disk Management, Computer Management, Windows PowerShell, Windows PowerShell (Admin), Task Manager, Control Panel, File Explorer (was Windows Explorer), Search, Run, Shutdown (Restart, etc.) and Desktop.

The shortcuts to access these programs are stored in the hidden folder C:\Users[Your User Name]\Appdata\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WinX. There are 3 folders named Group 1/2/3.

Group 1 has the Desktop, Group 2 has Control Panel, File Explorer, Run, Search and Task Manager. Group 3 contains the remainder. Check spelling/naming, etc. Note, Appdata is a hidden file.

Doesn't work in Windows 8.1. Right-clicking as suggested brings up the option to customise the display. There is no option to enable the listing any of the installed programs, let alone all of them.

Windows is now so un-intuitive. It requires Internet searching to perform the most simple tasks and Microsoft seem to have deliberately built obscurity into the system. Worse still, the searches bring up examples like this - that don't work for certain circumstances.

For me - I have installed Virtual Box but in order to run it I have to type Windows_key-X, select search, then type Virtual into the search box.

Obviously this will only work if you know the name of the application you want. You can view what's installed by using the File Explorer (again from Windows_key-X) then navigate to The Windows_OS (C:) drive, then Program Files. Not for the faint hearted.

Maybe this will help someone else with 8.1....

stop making it sound so complicated. here's one example

in the start screen there is an arrow pointing downwards near the bottom left. click it. there you go, all programs (or just swipe the screen upwards if you have a touchscreen device).

I also don't understand why you are doing crtl+x and clicking search and then searching for your program. here are a couple of tips:

• just hit the windows key and simply start typing. (this is exactly the same as in windows vista and windows 7, by the way).
• hit windows+S and you get the search pane directly. no fiddling with the ctrl+x menu.

Thanks for the tips. Windows+S works fine and is definitely quicker. I only need to type a letter V and it is displayed.

Going to the start screen and clicking the arrow pointing down does not show anything that I have installed - just the stock programs that were pre-installed on my machine (most of which I don't want).

I still cannot list all the all the installed programs.

EDIT: I have now installed the Classic Start Menu Button from ninite.com.