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XP Start Menu

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by jardinier

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I have recently downgraded from Windows 98 to Windows XP Pro, including SP 2.

On Windows 95/98 it is very easy to customise the Start Menu. It is a folder in the Windows directory, and it is easy to add or rename folders and manipulate shorcuts.

However in XP I cannot find any facility for doing this. There is no Start Menu folder in the Windows directory, so that if some program installs and plonks an excessively long name in the Start Menu, it make the whole thing too wide.

Using the Help File in XP, the only options available seem to be to add or remove a program from the primary start menu. I cannot find any way to rename or add folders to the secondary start menu.

5 replies

by thechas

Hi Julian,

It's still there, just moved.

I have my start menu set to "classic" mode, so my options are different than XP mode.

I have been able to right click on any start menu item and select rename.

Also, on the start menu, under settings, taskbar and start menu, it just takes a couple of extra clicks to get at the "Advanced" Windows Explorer style screen that allows you to move and edit the start menu just as you did under W98.

Just so you understand things better, the XP start menu is split among several locations in the Documents and Settings folder.

Common items are stored under all users and default user.

Programs that have been installed just for your profile are stored in the start menu folder under your user name.

I did not like XP at first. After I got used to it, I find W98 a bit slow and awkward.

Still, I stick with Classic view for both the Start menu, and Windows Explorer.
Make sure to set folder view options in Explorer to show all files and to not hide known file extensions.

Chas

by jardinier

Learning to love XP. My friend Patrick Li who owns a computer shop disliked it so much that for the first two years after its release he refused to install it on a new computer unless the customer specifically asked for it.
But I rather like Colin's comment: "I guess like beer it's an acquired taste, but I haven't yet acquired a taste for this ........ t."
But it seems that everyone likes it once they have gotten used to it.

by softcorp.us

The shortcuts and folders on the Start menu exist on Windows XP, but not under the Windows directory. To open the folder they exist in, just right click on the "Start" button and choose Open (or Open All Users if that is available to you).

By "secondary start menu", I presume you mean the Programs folder. That folder is inside the Start menu folder opened as described above. Just drill down into it. You can add, edit, or delete any folder or link there.

Finally, if you're longing to go back to a Windows 98-style Start menu, right click the Start button and choose Properties. In the popup dialog, choose "Classic Start Menu" and click OK.

Give Windows XP a chance. It will likely grow on you. It is much more stable and reliable than Windows 95/98. Good luck!

-----Steve Jackson

CEO/CSA
Software Corporation (Softcorp)
http://www.softcorp.us/softclock
Live time of day in cities around the world

by jardinier

My thanks to Chas and Steve. I had already set the thing to Classic View for Windows Explorer and Start Menu, now I can customise the Start Menu to my liking.

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