"Refreshed" Windows 8, and now Windows key is missing

Hello

Refresh mean, a fresh installation of windows?

Did you check the propreties of the taskbar?

Did you install all updates for Windows 8?

If you mean the GWX (Get Windows 10) icon
Then yes, you need to visit Windows Update and bring your "refreshed" install completely up-to-date.  Then the icon will reappear with update KB3035583.

Did you mean Windows 8 or 8.1 though? - if you're back to Windows 8 you'll need to upgrade to 8.1 before you do anything else.

You don't actually need the icon to upgrade though, if you've a qualifying version of the operating system you can move to Windows 10 by downloading the Win10 installer and running it from inside Windows 8.1

Windows 8 doesn't have the start menu icon on the taskbar. but it still works if you press the windows key. Windows 8.1 added it back

Arghh!  "Lower left" - good call David :)

Thanks, this answers all issues around my question. The "refresh" rolled it back from 8.1 to 8.

So was it the "Start" button or the Windows 10 Upgrade icon you were looking for?
If it was the "Start" button then you've accepted the wrong answer!

I agree with MASQ

Hi, I'm looking for the icon that looks like the picture I attached, only it's in the lower left corner of the screen, on the taskbar. When I click on it, it does the same thing as hitting the actual key on the keyboard.

Don't I have to upgrade to 8.1 before installing any other upgrades?

If I have misunderstood your answer, then is there a way to correct my awarding of points? I have to make sure we're talking about the same thing.

David should get the points for  40975246  at best I highlighted that you're back with Win8 and need to get to 8.1 before adding the updates but I was looking at the Upgrade to Windows 10 icon which is on the right of the screen.