Smaller start menu listing on XP

[FourWheelDrift]

I've got a very long start menu listing covering 3 columns, I have tried to shorten in by moving folders into groups but in c-Documents&setings etc....programs I can't see all of the start menus items in there either so can't move them around or group them (hidden folders option is set to show all hidden files/folders) The only option I have is to physically drag and drop them as I select the item on the pop up start menu.

Is there an easier way to do it?



>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Saturday 14th May 22:26

[agent006]

Right click on the programs menu and select Open All Users should be a few more in there.

In other words, ratehr than c: docs and settings/you/start menu. got to c: docs and settings/all users/start menu

>> Edited by agent006 on Saturday 14th May 23:14

[Big Al.]

Mate,

You you talking about the task bar where the clock is in the bottom LH coner?

If so move your cursor over the start button and right click you can then turn off or make inactive if not required via the customise button.

[FourWheelDrift]

No, when you press the start button on the bottom left then all your programs come up in a list. I have a big HDD and lots of programs and they were listed over 3 full columns. I've just spent a long time clicking on each one and dragging them to a grouped folder....pain in the preverbial.

[Annodomini2]

Turn on the quick launch bar, put stuff you use regularly in there.

[FourWheelDrift]

Annodomini2 said:

Turn on the quick launch bar, put stuff you use regularly in there.

I've already done that I want to reduce the size of the entire start menu listing, when it pops up (eventually since it's very big) it covers the entire screen.

Although to add I have done it now a very long winded way of creating new folders then clicking and dragging them on the list to the new folder (since most never appear in the users programs folder). I have managed to reduce it to 2 columns pic below.

Actually before I edited it, it was going over into a 4th column.

This used to work in previous Windows versions, but XP seems not to want to let you do what you want to do....funny that

[Plotloss]

It serves to have as many 'layers' as possible in the start menu because the drawing and the memory handling of that 3 column list is VERY bad. So its in your interest to ensure that as few options as possible get thrown at the initial level.

Can you not turn on hidden files breifly and then do it through explorer?

c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu will contain some and c:\documents and settings\[your username]\start menu will contain the others.

[FourWheelDrift]

Plotloss said:

Can you not turn on hidden files breifly and then do it through explorer? c:documents and settingsall usersstart menu will contain some and c:documents and settings[your username]start menu will contain the others.

Done that already (mentioned in my first post ), not all of them show up..

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Sunday 15th May 20:11

[Plotloss]

Must...Learn...To...Read

...\All Users\Start Menu, ...\Default User\Start Menu and ...\Your Username\Start Menu are where the Start Menu is composed from.

[FourWheelDrift]

I tried all variants (all Users, All users.windows, me etc...) all.users had less than my own so wasn't of use. I guess since it Windows XP there is probably something screwed up somewhere like a data dictionary that's been corrupted.

I have reduced the size of my listing now the long way though by dragging & dropping on the list itself.