Customize the Start Menu Options

There's a limit to the number of changes you can easily make with the Start Menu. You can right click on the Start button and select properties but that will only get you so far. If you're a user of Windows XP Home Edition you're going to want to be familiar with registry editing. If you're using Windows XP Pro or you're an administrator using Group Policies then you've already got some decent tools at your disposal.

Note to users of XP Home Edition:
 Before attempting the following make sure you read and understand Registry Editing Warning.

After you've read that page point your browser to:
Policy Settings for the Start Menu in Windows XP

Rather than copy/paste all of that information over here or throw it into a frame we'll just send you on your merry way to the actual source of the information itself. However, as an added bonus try this:

The Microsoft Knowledge Base site doesn't really explain it so in order access the registry editor:

1. Press the Start button
2. Click on Run
3. Type regedit
4. Click OK

Once you dig your way down to the Key (as is on the page referenced and thus not repeated) before you do anything you should try this:

1. Locate the Key you're going to be editing
2. Right-click on it
3. Select "Export" and save it to a safe place with a descriptive name

If you're the type of person who crashes their PC often then you probably also will have made some settings to the Start Menu options and when you reformat your PC it would be nice if you didn't have to make the same changes all over again. If you wanted to you could finish your changes, make sure that they all worked, and when you were done you could export the newly made changes and back them up to CD, an alternate hard drive, or some other type of storage media if you wanted. This is one of the universal keys that you can import easily (and without any fears) to any other PC. To import an exported Key (a .REG file) just double click on it and when asked if you want add the information to the registry just select OK or press Enter.

However, if you're that type of person you should probably also see this page:
Backup! Image/Clone

Additionally you will need to logoff or restart your computer to see the effects of the changes you make to the Start Menu.

OS: XP > Tips / Tweaks
Date: 01/15/06

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