when you click on the round icon with the windows flag on it, is the start menu meant to fade in/out or just appear/dissappear?

it depends on how you have it set up, as default its set to faze in and out, all to do with a nicer look to it all lol

if you have your computer set for better performance rather than visual aspects then the start menu will just pop up and then disappear

i went into that and it set on best appearance but the start menu just pops on and off no fade, but all other windows fade in/out.

it should fade in and out, there maybe a setting where you can change it for the start menu itself im not sure on that one mate