Group programs into folders in Start Menu?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pat
  • Start date Start date
P

Pat

In Start Menu, how can I create common folders like Graphics, Photo, Sound,
Utilities etc and then place programs into those folders to make it easy to
find the app I want to start?
Thanks
Pat
 
You could drag shortcuts to any folder, name it, exchange any icon for it,
and drag the folder onto the start menu, or while the Start Menu is a custom
and a concept in space on the Windows desktop, you could easily do the same
in one folder composed of folders in those categories on the desktop.

We have several threads on organizing programs, but you won't be able to
hack/change the way the Vista Start menu operates, thanks to the tin ears on
the shell team at Redmond.

They even had Lili Cheng, an architect, moved from MSFT Research along with
some of her team, --what Lili did for over a year at Vista is a great
question. What LIli was thinking when she did it is another. What Lili
thinks when she clicks that Start Button is an even better one.

It is pathetic and totally lacking in imagination and resource the way they
rigidly locked in the Vista start menu.

CH
 
Pat

Basically, you do this the same way that it was done in XP.

You have 2 separate locations where the All Programs shortcuts may be
located.

1. The All Users folder which is located at
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. To access this folder,
right click All Programs and select Explore All Users.

2. The User folder which is located at C:\Users\<user
name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. To access this
folder, right click All Programs and select Explore. (Where <user name> is
the currently logged on user)

The shortcuts in these folders are placed there by the installation program
for the particular application and may be in either one or both of these
locations depending on how the installation program was configured.

If you want all of the program shortcuts to be seen by any user on the
computer, then customize the All Users folder. If you want these programs to
be seen by only the currently logged in user, then customize the <user name>
folder.

Create the sub-folders you want like Graphics, Sound. Utilities etc under
the All Programs folder and then drag the shortcuts into those folders.
 
Pat,

I understand what you want to do. I customize my start menu as well... I
make folders called Toolbox, Graphics, Video, etc. Anyway I switched to
classic view in Vista Business Retail and started to create my folders. If
you read the post below, it will show you where they are located. If you
have duplicate folders in the user start menu folder and the vista start menu
folder, it messes things up. I moved all folders to the vista start menu
folder and deleted all the folders in the user start menu folder. Then all
my folders show up. Likewise, if you have folders in both and one of them is
empty, it will not display that folder. The new start menu is all messed
up... I like the xp classic one better, but I guess after you figure it out,
then it's fine. I have the feeling there will be a lot of figuring out in
Vista.

Another way to customize the start menu is by opening gpedit.msc from the
run menu. Once it opens, go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates
Start Menu and Task Bar > then just enable the things you want.
Click to expand...

example: enable, "Remove user folder link from Start Menu", this does what
it says...

You can also remove pictures, documents, help, etc. You get the picture?

Post back if you need more help.

Danny
 
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