Description of Windows 8 Start screen behavior when docking/undocking a laptop

In a multi-monitor configuration, Windows 8 provides several methods for moving the Start screen between monitors:

• You can bring up the Start screen on any monitor by moving your mouse to the bottom-left corner, or via the Start charm that you can invoke from the top and bottom-right corners of any monitor
• Pressing the Windows logo key launches the Start screen on the last monitor where it or a Modern-style app appeared
• Windows logo key +PgUp or Windows logo key +PgDown moves Modern apps or the Start screen across monitors

The key takeaways from this are:

1. The Start screen is easily moved to any monitor using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts
2. The Start screen will launch on the monitor where it last appeared (assuming that monitor is still available)

The documented behavior remains the same in docking and undocking scenarios. Below are some scenarios and the behavior of the Start screen for each scenario:

Scenario 1: Laptop is docked in multi-monitor configuration with the Start screen on external monitor

Action: User undocks the laptop with laptop display in the open position. After undocking the laptop, the user presses the Windows logo key  on the laptop keyboard to launch the Start screen

Result: The Start screen appears on the laptop display since this is only display available after undocking the laptop


Scenario 2: Laptop is docked while leaving the laptop display in the open position

Action: User presses the Windows logo key

Result: The Start screen appears on the laptop display per takeaway number 2 above: "The Start screen will launch on the monitor where it last appeared (assuming that monitor is available)"


Scenario 3: Laptop is docked with the laptop display in the closed position

Action: User presses the Windows logo key  on a dock-attached keyboard

Result: The Start screen appears on the external monitor since the last display (laptop display) is no longer available


Note: Windows 8.1 includes an additional option for managing the location of the Start screen. The Taskbar and Navigation properties page, includes the "Show Start on the display I'm using when I press the Windows logo key" option which forces the Start screen to the active display.