If you have windows 8 RTM editions you will have recently had to complete the browser choice wizard. This is great until you realise it unpins desktop IE from the taskbar and the Start Screen only provides Windows Store/Modern UI (Metro) IE.
There are 2 simple solutions:
1. Start > type “iexplore.exe” > right click > Pin To Taskbar
2. Open Windows Store style IE > click the spanner/tools option > View on Desktop > right click IE on taskbar > Pin To Task Bar
Anyway, hope that helps some folks out.