Start SELECTED programs only?

  • Thread starter Thread starter chm1
  • Start date Start date
C

chm1

Hello. I'm a newbie to Windows XP, so please pardon me for asking this
question if it's really elementary.

I'd like to know if it's possible to start only SELECTED programs via Window
XP's Start function? The Start function allows the opening of (1) ALL
programs or (2) those programs above the "All Programs" command. (Examples
of the latter include Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, etc.)

I want to know because my list of ALL programs is so extensive that it's
starting to extend beyond the right edge of the monitor. Sure, I could
delete programs, but it would certainly be nicer if Windows XP has an option
to allow only SELECTED programs to appear. I'm thinking of Intenet
Explorer's "Favorites" command, which (if you so choose) will will show only
those web sites that you visited recently. The other web sites, i.e. old
ones you haven't visited recently, are accessible by clicking on the down
arrows below the list of recently-visited sites. Otherwise, the old sites
aren't visible in the Favorites pull-down list.

Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Greetings --

The personalized Start Menu is what you're looking for.
Right-click the Task Bar > Properties > Start Menu > Select Classic
Start Menu > Customize > At the very bottom of Advanced Start Menu
Options, Select "Use Personalized Menus."

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
chm1 said:
Bruce and Ronnie: Thanks for your advice. Two more questions:

1. I selected the "personalized start menu" option, yet there was no
change. All programs still appear. Will it take several days before
the "personalized start menu" is evident -- with fewer programs
showing when I point to "All Programs"?

2. I like your idea of creating categorized folders into which
programs may be relocated. How do I go about creating categorized
folders in the All Programs menu and move all of those individual
programs into those folders?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, it will take a some time before the personalized menu kicks in.

To categorize the menu items, Right click the All Programs button and select
Explore All Users. This will open a window with the Start Menu selected.
Click the Programs folder to expand it. In the left window, you will see all
of the sub-folders in the Programs menu. In the right window, you will see
all of the menu items in the Programs menu.

Right click an empty space in the right side window and select New/Folder
from the menu. Rename the folder to something that makes sense to you for a
category ( ie: Utilities, Office Programs, Imaging Programs, CD Programs,
etc ) This folder will appear on the left side. Look for all of the menu
items that you wish to move into this folder and use the right mouse button
to drag and drop them there, select "Move Here" from the pop up menu. Try to
move as many of the menu items into their own folders to reduce the All
Programs menu to a manageable size.
--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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