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Start -> Programs not working

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6 replies

by mdupont_2000

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

When I click on Start, then Programs the program list just locks up. Control Panel, Printes, ect... all still work. Windows itself doesn't freeze but I can't launch any programs from the Start button. If I browse out to the exe files I can launchthem that way or if I create shortcuts on the desktop that works too.

Thanks

6 replies

by rapidad

You didnt say what operating sys you were using, but if it was w2k then you could rightclick on the program in the start/programs dropdown and you then could look at properties and see where the target was. this is usually where a problem occurs. Compare this target with the executable exe files foe location. let us know what you find.

by mdupont_2000

Sorry, I'm using NT. I'll be a little more specific about the problem. When I click on Start, all the shortcuts in all the folders work fine with the exception of Programs. When I go into Programs the list opens up with all my installed apps. Ican go into 1 of those folders but clicking on any one of the shorcuts does nothing. Then if I navigate back to the main list it just stays pointed at the group I was just in, I cannot go into another folder and try to launch a different app.

Thanks again.

by lizzy

Look for your Startup folder and see if it was perhaps moved somewhere else which would give you the invalid shortcut that the first answer refers to. You may need to move it back to the root of the C:\Windows\ or C:\WINNT\ folder. Does right clicking on the Start button allow you to start Windows Explorer? Please post a comment with the answer to this and the first answer's questions before closing this thread.
HTH

by mdupont_2000

Sorry I forgot to mention the OS, I am using NT. The Programs folder is in the right place, I can get into the Programs group but it locks up when I go into any of the sub folders.

by lizzy

Well, you will have to do what rapidad suggests when you get to the first program (not another folder--choose Word or something like that--one you use frequently) in the Programs folder, right click on it to pull up a context menu and choose the last option which should be Properties. When the Properties dialog box comes up, go to the Shortcut tab and see where it says the program is. Post a comment to your question after this, don't reject our answer until this is solved. I have subscribed tothe question so I will see your comment.

by mdupont_2000

As an example, I go to the MS Office group. That group opens up with MS Access highlighted. Clicking or right-ckicking does nothing. I also cannot highlight Word or Excel, only the top program in the group is highlighted when that group is opened. If I leave that program group to go to another, the second group wont even open. Sorry about rejecting the first two answers, I thought I had to accept them and close the question or reject them to keep it open. I didn't realize I didn't have todo neither.

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