Start Menu Customization

I've had to install Custom Shell to get the start menu to work the way I want. I like to create folders and move my app shortcuts into the folders. It clears up the clutter. Problem is, you have to go hunting for the folders to do this. Also, I prefer
a windows 7 style start, so give that option to us.

Hi,
Windows 10 Technical Preview already make great progress on Windows Start Menu. If you prefer a Windows 7 style start, you can adopt to unpin all app from Start Menu, then you can got the Start Menu like the screen below:
You also can choose pin Folder to Start Menu if you like.
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support

Similar Messages

Search in start menu don't work, Windows 7, sp1.

Hi guys!
I have this really annoying problem with my newly install Win7 pro, sp1.
The Start Menu Search doesn't work. All I get are 3 files that look like categories (Programs, Control Panel and Files).
The normal search , in file explorer, works though.
What I've tried so far:
I have enabled search in the Start Menu Settings. In Customize Start Menu I have enabled "Search with public folders" and "Search programs and Control Panel".
I have reset my search indexing several times. I have tried different registry tweaks suggested in forums like these like these:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/cc594db0-dbe8-4255-a259-5c1914318c3d/search-in-start-menu-stopped-working
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/windows-7-start-menu-search-not-working/1b0bf595-a246-4397-8d05-73e117f046fe?page=6
Non of these suggestions worked for me. I tried importing the registry keys below as suggested by some posts above:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}]
"CanonicalName"="StartMenu"
"Mode"=dword:00000001"
PerceivedType"=dword:00000000
"Theme"="default"
"MostRelevant"="prop:System.Author;System.Keywords"
"LayoutType"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}]
"Name"="NoName"
"Order"=dword:00000000
"GroupBy"="System.StartMenu.Group"
"PrimaryProperty"="System.StartMenu.Group"
"SortByList"="prop:-System.Search.Rank;-System.DateModified;System.ItemNameDisplay"
"LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001
This also didn't do anything.
I can't find anything else online that addresses this problem. Now I'm getting a little desperate. I'm no novice when it comes to Windows. I have spoken to seasoned Windows tech support people (not from MS). None of them nor I have ever seen this problem
before. There is very not much help online. Can anybody please help pointing me in the right direction.
Cheers

Hi,
Anything recorded in the event log? You can check the event viewer.
Regarding to the index option you mentioned, verify that the Start Menu is in the list of indexing option, then check the selected location under indexed location of start menu
If possible, I suggest you create a new user account, then copy the old files to the new user profile, please refer to this link
Fix a corrupted user profile
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/fix-corrupted-user-profile#1TC=windows-7
Yolanda Zhu
TechNet Community Support

Windows server 2012 RDP Session - Default Start Menu Layout Downloaded Apps Not Displayed

Hi,
Hopefully someone can help me to resolve a problem that's holding me back a little regarding the start menu for all users that connect to remote desktop sessions on Windows Server 2012.
I would like all users to have the same default application set upon login. Using a temporary user called 'Start Menu' I created the exact layout that I require all users to have. I installed the tile apps from the store with the 'Start Menu' user.
I then used the PowerShell command:
PS C:\> Export-StartLayout -Path "C:\Layouts\Marketing.xml"-As XML
This then gave me the following XML file:
<launcher version="2"><view name="Start"><group><tile AppID="AccuWeather.AccuWeatherforWindows8_8zz2pj9h1h1d8!App" size="wide310x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="Microsoft.BingNews_8wekyb3d8bbwe!AppexNews"
size="wide310x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="Microsoft.Windows.Desktop" size="wide310x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\logoff.exe" size="square150x150"
FencePost="0"/></group><group name="Office Apps & Storage"><tile AppID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\Microsoft Office\Office15\WINWORD.EXE" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile
AppID="Microsoft.SkyDrive.Desktop" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\Microsoft Office\Office15\EXCEL.EXE" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile
AppID="C27EB4BA.Dropbox_xbfy0k16fey96!App" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\Microsoft Office\Office15\POWERPNT.EXE" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile
AppID="F:\" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="{6D809377-6AF0-444B-8957-A3773F02200E}\Microsoft Office\Office15\MSPUB.EXE" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\calc.exe"
size="square70x70" FencePost="1"/><tile AppID="{1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\notepad.exe" size="square70x70" FencePost="0"/></group><group name="Mail & Calendar"><tile
AppID="microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Mail" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Microsoft.WindowsLive.Calendar"
size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="10631PaolosAdventures.559711D6C5976_ntpp077zx3tm0!App" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="BRICKMAKERS.gmailcalendar_wps5hyj3streg!App"
size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/></group><group name="Internet & Social Media"><tile AppID="Facebook.Facebook_8xx8rvfyw5nnt!App" size="square70x70" FencePost="1"/><tile
AppID="9E2F88E3.Twitter_wgeqdkkx372wm!App" size="square70x70" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="Microsoft.SkypeApp_kzf8qxf38zg5c!App" size="square70x70" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="1168WindowsDexter.LinkedInHD_b3sam9s7hsbar!App"
size="square70x70" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="19120CensoredUser.HyperforYouTube_c0tqyanwsgfn6!App" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="Microsoft.InternetExplorer.Default"
size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/><tile AppID="eBayInc.eBay_1618n3s9xq8tw!App" size="square150x150" FencePost="0"/></group></view></launcher>
Using GPO I then applied this layout to all users. However when I login as any other users I only actually get the OneDrive app and none of the others.
Can someone please point me in the right direction. The store can not be run as administrator and the 'Start Menu' user had administrator rights when the apps were added from the store.

Hi,
Thank you for posting in Windows Server Forum.
You can check the GPO setting “pin Apps to Start when installed” which will pin the new program to start and other setting “Start Screen Layout” which will lets you specify the Start screen layout for users and prevents them from changing
its configuration. You can find this setting under below mention path.
<Computer Configuration> | <User Configuration> \Administrative Templates\Start Menu and Taskbar
In addition please check beneath article.
Customize the Start Screen
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134269.aspx
Hope it helps!
Thanks.
Dharmesh Solanki

DESKTOP USERS NEED ABILITY TO EDIT START MENU

One cannot currently edit the Windows 10 Tech Preview Start Menu, in the Windows 7 and earlier manner. Desktop users need this ability back, pronto.
For example, one cannot right-click an empty folder in the Start Menu and choose to delete it. To delete an empty folder from the start menu, one must navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs,
then delete the offending folder or file, then LOGOUT and log back in for the changes to take effect.
We ALSO need the ability to organize the "metro-style" apps into a folder, sort them, drag-and-drop them, etc., etc., just like any other program. Currently, on this PC I have over 70 "metro-style" apps installed. In the "All
Apps" view of the Start Menu, I now have to scroll past 70 items just to get to the "regular" programs installed on the PC. Not good. Not good at all.
I hope the development team has this on their plate or, if not, is listening. This one is very important to desktop users!!

I agree whole heartedly with Furry Panther poster but think the problem is more basic than that. To address the concerns of LuisHMex, this variation on the start menu issue is very much an IT consern. I've already documented this issue here Remote
Install Customize Start Menu but was asked to go to TechNet because the other site was too consumer oriented.
This one issue more than any other has stopped us from deploying Windows 8 on our 14,000 computers and it seems to be continuing on to 10. I have a software library of 200 titles that have to be installed remotely after imaging. There seems
to be no way to publish these applications to the start menu via script and it is not feasible to have group policies for every subset of software. Not only do they need to show up, but show up before the Metro style apps. We'd get non stop calls
to the help desk if users had to scroll right to find an app they are looking for. I'd love to have a start screen category called "desktop apps" where I could publish all the titles installed post imaging.
Going beyond that, has anyone ever installed Smart Notebook? It installs 15 icons of different utilities. I was hoping that the start screen would support folders like an Android or iPhone does. While the start screen is friendly with one
button access, it is difficult to find the tile you want due to the sheer number of tiles available. With this new hybrid start menu, perhaps all the desktop apps could go back to the Win7 style menu with folders and leave the Metro one for the start
screen style part. It just needs a way to manage that separation.

How to remove Toshiba Assist from start menu?

http://www.imagemule.com/uploads/untitledaigw.png
anyone?
How can I remove the icon?

Hi
I have checked the screen shot and it seems that you use the Windows XP Start menu and not the Classic Start menu.
Please click right on the green Start button and select Properties.
Then the window Taskbar and Start Menu Properties should appear.
Then switch to the tab Start menu and press the Customize button.
There you could try to clean the list of the programs
Please also check the Advanced tab and the Start menu items list.

Removing Adobe CS6 Start menu shortcuts

Hey all,
I've created seperate packages for every program inside CS6, these will be deployed using ZCM, the installation including exceptions all works fine.
My problem is that it creates shortcuts for every application, including some of the exclusions and programs like Bridge in my start menu.
I've tried creating a transform to run with the msi that removes the shortcuts, but checking both the shortcuts option, and the shortcuts table in the msi, there is nowhere where I can find where and/or how it creates these shortcuts.
I want to install CS6 without any shortcuts at all.
Any help would be appreciated,
Irfan

Hello Irfan,
You can add an additional 'Install action' to your Windows Bundle in which you run the Creative Suite MSI, created with the AAMEE, which then runs this script:
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Illustrator CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Illustrator CS6 (64 Bit).lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Extension Manager CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Dreamweaver CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Fireworks CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe InDesign CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Bridge CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Flash Professional CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Media Encoder CS6.lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit).lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe Design and Web Premium CS6\Adobe Bridge CS6 (64bit).lnk"
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit CS5.lnk"
You can also have a look at the new 'Creative Suite Customization Wizard' for Bundle Commander Professional Edition. If you would like to test this, please contact us at http://www.bundlecommander.com
regards,
Roel van Bueren

Start menu icon & taskbar is gone

My start menu icon & taskbar is gone. I cannot find any way to restore them. Customize shows nothing for putting them back. How do I do this?

I was up too late and not thinking at all. Please forgive me for this last message. The question just has no meaning in Firefox. Thanks for being here.

Pinning Apps to Start Menu

I keep trying to pin a date from the save date app to my start menu and it will go there but if I try to drag and drop it elsewhere it just disappears.

The trick is to pin the tiles the way you want them, then export the start screen layout and inject into your image.
It's an awkward system, I know.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/deploymentguys/archive/2012/10/26/start-screen-customization-with-mdt.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134269
http://keithga.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/windows-8-1-start-screen-behind-the-scenes/
Keith Garner - keithga.wordpress.com

Deleted Start Menu Shortcuts - Please help!

Hello,
I have accidentally deleted my start menu shortcuts (silly, I know!). I have not been able to recover them (Windows Restore disabled, no backs up, etc). I have managed to use some recovery software which has found many shortcuts but only appears to have the filename and not the actually path to which it points. Therefore, can somebody please tell me where the following Lenovo shortcuts point? Thank you!
Access Connections
Access Help
Active Protection System
Backup
Client Security Solution
Create Product Recovery Media
Creaet Recovery Media
EasyEject Utility
Fingerprint Software
Help Center
Keyboard Customizer
Lenovo Camera Center
Lenovo Fingerprint Software
Lenovo Registration
Lenovo System Toolbox
Lenovo ThinkVantage Toolbox
Lenovo Welcome
Magnify
Message Center
Power Manager
Presentation Director
Productivity Center
Rescue and Recovery
Security Configuration Management
System Migration Assistant
System Restore
System Update
ThinkVantage Productivity Center

It could be a new installation of some other software that's causing it. Like a VST or DX effect or maybe even some Nero product... This link might help:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/330/330271.html
The DirectX managers at the bottom of that page should allow you to disable or enable any effect that could cause Audition to fail...
If that doesn't help then try uninstalling and then deleting or renaming any Audition folders in the %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local folder. Then install Audition again...
Still not working? Then I suggest testing your memory using something like Memtest86, but you'll have to burn a boot CD, DVD or make a bootable floppy disk. Once you boot from the disc then it's pretty much automatic and might take 15 to 20 min to complete...
Once you're sure it's not a memory problem then run ScanDisk on all of your drives. Make sure to select 'Automatically fix file system errors' and 'Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors'. If it asks you if you want to perform the scan next time windows starts then click yes, but go through and scan all the other drives before restarting...
If the memory and hard drive scans don't find anything then I'd say it's your windows installation or possibly an undetected virus... Go and re-install windows. It would probably take less time to re-install windows then to do all that, but it's better to know your in complete working order...

Pin shortcuts to Taskbar and Start Menu for all users in Windows 7

How can i Pin shortcuts to Taskbar and Start Menu for All Users in Windows 7? Office 2007 Word, Excel and Outlook.

There are a few ways...
You can configure a default profile which will give you the ability to setup the Start Menu as you want it with the items pinned how you like. However, in my experience customizations done to the Taskbar are not maintained in a default profile.
So, one way to get around that would be to create a script and use the "Active Setup" hooks that are built into Windows 7 to achieve the desired results.
If you combine this script...
http://blogs.technet.com/deploymentguys/archive/2009/04/08/pin-items-to-the-start-menu-or-windows-7-taskbar-via-script.aspx
With Active Setup...
http://www.visualbasicscript.com/Active-Setup-Examples-m67461.aspx
You can get the results you want to get...
Pinned items on the Taskbar have two components, one is in the file system and the other is in the registry. You could also use GPO Preferences to add both components to a new profile and therby get similar results. I played around with this method a little and did get it to work also.
Mike N.

WCS 11g Contributor UI - New & Search menu customization

Hello,
is there any way to customize New & Start start menus display in Contributor UI? We have quite big number of start menu items and we would like to separate in some way content and content categories (parents).
For example:
1. Firstly display content menu items, horizontal divider and then content categories (parents)
2. Move start menu categories to another top menu item (Content -> New Category)
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Kamil

Would suggest to go through "webcenter_sites_11gr1_bp1_ui_customization.pdf" first.Let me know if you need more help in that.

How to add shortcuts to user Start Menu and Taskbar using Microsoft Office 2013 OCT?

Hello, I am kindly seeking your help. How do I add the shortcuts for Word 2013, Excel 2013, and PowerPoint 2013 to the users Start Menu and taskbar when installing MS Office 2013 from a network installation point? I am using Office2013
OCT to customize setup and deploying MS Office to Windows 7 x64bit clients. I tried [StartMenuFolder] and [AppData], but they did not work.

Hi
There is a known issue about
changing the shortcut location for an Office 2013 application:
When you try to change the shortcut locations for Office 2013 applications in the Office Customization Tool (OCT), you receive the following error message:
Invalid start in folder. Please try again.
Then, you add the Start in location for Office 2013 and run a customized installation. When you double-click the shortcuts that are displayed on the desktop, Configure shortcuts does
not work and you receive the following error message:
Sorry, we couldn’t find your file. Is it possible it was moved, renamed or deleted?
To work around this issue, type a single open bracket ([) in the Start in
field.
In addition, refer to the link below on "Configure shortcuts" in OCT:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc179097.aspx#Configure_shortcuts
Regards
Tylor Wang
TechNet Community Support

As of this morning, I can't access the "normal" FF start menu, which includes access to my bookmarks.

As of this morning, I can't access the "normal" FF start menu, which includes access to my bookmarks. I can't see the normal Microsoft shortcuts usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. I thought you might have rung in some kind of involuntary upgrade, but when I actually upgraded to the newest version I get the same problem. How do I get back my original start view? edit
Details What more do you need?

'''''"menu items such as Bookmarks,Tools , etc"''''': That's the Menu Bar; see below.
'''''"Also there is no back arrow"''''': That's on the Navigation Toolbar; see "'''Navigation Toolbar, Bookmarks Toolbar and other Toolbars'''" below. Also see the articles under "Also see:" at the end of the instructions.
'''Can't see the Menu Bar''' (File, Edit, View, History, Bookmarks, Tools, Help)?
Turning the Menu Bar on and off is a new feature in version 3.6.
''(~~red:Linux & OSX see~~: [[Menu bar is missing]] )''
''Windows'' Method 1. '''''Hold down''''' the key and press the following letters in this exact order: V T M then release the key
''Windows'' Method 2. Tap once on the F10 key, while the Menu bar is visible, choose "View > Toolbars", click "Menu Bar" so that a check mark is placed next to Menu Bar
''Windows'' Method 3. Tap once and release the key. The Menu Bar will be displayed; then choose ~~red:V~~iew > ~~red:T~~oolbars and click on ~~red:M~~enu Bar so that a check mark is placed next to Menu Bar
The Menu Bar should now be displayed permanently, unless you turn it off again using View > Toolbars. Check mark = displayed, NO check mark = not displayed.
See:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Menu+bar+is+missing
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Toolbar_customization#Restoring_missing_menu_or_other_toolbars
'''Navigation Toolbar, Bookmarks Toolbar and other Toolbars''' under View > Toolbars. Clicking on one of them will place a check mark (display) or remove the check mark (not displayed).
'''To display the Status Bar''', View, then click Status bar to place a check mark (display) or remove the check mark (not displayed).
'''Full Screen mode'''
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Netbooks#Full_screen
Also see:
''' [[Back and forward or other toolbar buttons are missing]]'''
'''[[Navigation Toolbar items]]'''
'''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+customize+the+toolbar How to customize the toolbar]'''

Expanding folders as submenus on the Start menu

You can add shortcuts to the Start menu, in the top left pane. If you add a folder there, when the user clicks on it, prior Windows versions would display its contents as a submenu. Windows 7 instead opens the folder in Explorer.
Is there a way to make it display a submenu instead?

You can do all this is the right pane (Win7, not sure others). R-click on start button, go to Properties, then in Start Menu tab go to Customize. Scroll down until you see Personal Folder and select Display as a menu radio button. Now all files/folders auto-expand
to their contents as you hover over them (click if you want). I added a MyDevelopment folder (just to keep naming conventions a bit, also have a Installs folder there. Now you can put all your development their. If you allready have development folder, navigate
to it. Clicking on an item launches it, or browses a sub-folder. R-clicking on folder allows you the option to open that folder.
As far as the Start Menu their are a lot of articles and utilities to adding expanding folders and moving start menu items to these for better organization. One simple trick is to pick an expanding folder drag copy to another existing folder. Rename that
copy to something and then move back to parent level. I've done this with two folders ("1" and "2") which can be use to create new folders of your own by r-drag/copy 2 to 1 (select copy!), re-name copied folder to what you want, move back to parent level.
Now you r-drag/copy any folder in you system to these (drag and hover over All Programs, continue to drag to your folder, hover, move in till you see a line and let go r-button. The folder and all their sub-folders become expandable.
Copy has to be done (will not copy contents just makes all short-cuts). Looking into making this process easier or write an app for assisting in this method but I sort like the popup menus in right pane.
I have also created my own toolbar on taskbar using my user dir for the new folder. A lot easier to make automatically everything is a popup when hover over. Had to make a "MyPrograms" folder in my user dir and create logical catagories there for programs.
Then same thing having to r-drag/copy folder/itmes in start menu to "MyPrograms" folder.
Have documented all this and if want to you can email me
[email protected]. Soon will have StartMenuOrganized doc done both detailing steps to accomplish all this. I don't know about you, I've looked at Win8 and why clutter up your screen with all these windows (in their new UI Metro/Aero?). Can allready do
this in other windows and drag drop items to apps and launch! Rather have clean desktop w/organized access to programs and data.

Start Menu Thoughts

I had a whole paragraph typed up in word but since I can't post images forget that.
Anyway here's what I want to see. Remember that list on XP, Vista and 7 that had options such as "This PC" Control Panel" and Documents", well that is gone and although I am very, VERY grateful that they brought back the Start Menu they
need to add this back in too.

start menu is not yet finish, MS currently rebuilding start menu. if you check the settings, customize is currently disabled.
Control Panel is still in the start menu, located at all apps -> windows system.

Start Menu Customization

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for