XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs?

Eck · April 27th, 2005

Alright, so here's a pic of my start menu. The area of the shortcuts to the commonly used programs, such as AIM, Word, and notepad in mine -- is it possible to put what you want in there? Or arrange them even? So far I haven't been able to figure out if there is a special folder that contains those shortcuts or anything. Then again, I haven't looked hard. If possible, I would like to put my "Downloads" shortcut in there, as opposed to the upper "pinned" region. Not a big deal I know, but I would also like to customize the lower area as well. It's gotta be possible.

**zeke_mo** · April 27th, 2005

You can drag Icons to the upper part of the list till it just over takes the one blow it

**Johnny** · April 27th, 2005

what zeke said is the easiest way. Just drag the icons you want to use .. You can also set the number of icons to 0, this will get rid of the list below them ..

**muzikool** · April 27th, 2005

Zeke's idea is best because the area of shortcuts below the separator is dynamic. Those are your recently accessed programs, and I think you'd find that those change if you start opening random applications all of a sudden. I was a hardcore XP tweaker for a couple of years, and I don't know of anything you can do to make that area static without seriously modifying the whole GUI.

Eck · April 27th, 2005

Originally Posted by Johnny

what zeke said is the easiest way. Just drag the icons you want to use .. You can also set the number of icons to 0, this will get rid of the list below them ..

OK, I must be retarded but I cannot drag my "Downloads" folder down into the lower part of the menu. I'm trying to stick it below the AIM shortcut...

Eck · April 27th, 2005

Originally Posted by muzikool

Zeke's idea is best because the area of shortcuts below the separator is dynamic. Those are your recently accessed programs, and I think you'd find that those change if you start opening random applications all of a sudden. I was a hardcore XP tweaker for a couple of years, and I don't know of anything you can do to make that area static without seriously modifying the whole GUI.

Ahh.... so it's not possible then. Alrighty.

**muzikool** · April 27th, 2005

Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there.

IDLE · April 27th, 2005

Originally Posted by muzikool

Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there.

what he said. for your "Downloads" folder, you may need to create a shortcut to the Downloads folder for this to work. i dont think you can move an actual folder there because it thinks you are moving the entire folder there which you cannot do.

**Johnny** · April 27th, 2005

Most cases when you move the folder there it automatically creats the shortcuts. It should do that anyhow ..

skizo · April 27th, 2005

If all you want is easy access to several programs, why not create quick launch shortcuts?

**Johnny** · April 27th, 2005

Or you can get freelaunchbar .. http://www.freelaunchbar.com/

I use it, it is a nice little utility ..

Eagle710 · April 28th, 2005

drag and drop is how i do it!

Eck · April 28th, 2005

Originally Posted by muzikool

Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there.

Pure genius. Why didn't I think of that?

**muzikool** · April 28th, 2005

Ah, if I had a quarter for every time someone called me a genius...

Anyone have an extra quarter so I can buy a Coke?

Glad that will work for you, Eck.

**ming** · April 28th, 2005

Are you wanting to add those shortcuts permanently below the IE and Outlook icons? If so, right click on the shortcut you want to place there then select Pin to StartMenu. Or to remove it, right click and select remove from list.

As far as I know, you cant customise the lower part.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #1
Eck .user Joined: June 2002 Location: United States Posts: 393 Reputation: 0 Power: 121	XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Alright, so here's a pic of my start menu. The area of the shortcuts to the commonly used programs, such as AIM, Word, and notepad in mine -- is it possible to put what you want in there? Or arrange them even? So far I haven't been able to figure out if there is a special folder that contains those shortcuts or anything. Then again, I haven't looked hard. If possible, I would like to put my "Downloads" shortcut in there, as opposed to the upper "pinned" region. Not a big deal I know, but I would also like to customize the lower area as well. It's gotta be possible. • Windows XP Home Edition SP2 • Pentium 4 3.0GHz • 1GB Kingston HyperX DDR 3200 • Asus P4P800 Motherboard • ATI Radeon X850 XT • SB Audigy 2 ZS • WD 36GB 10K Raptors RAID 0 • WD 120GB 7200 HD w/ 8MB Cache • 12x DVD+/-RW • 52x24x52 CD-RW • Screenshot \| Desk \| System Info \| 3D Benchmarks • Cardomain.com - My 96 Camaro Z28

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #2
zeke_mo (value not set) Joined: August 2004 Location: Placerville, CA Posts: 1,964 Reputation: 1290 Power: 122	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? You can drag Icons to the upper part of the list till it just over takes the one blow it "My Mind is a swirling miasma of scintillating thoughts and turgid ideas" ~Sam Zeitgeist Money as Debt, educate yourself.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #3
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,838 Reputation: 2369 Power: 170	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? what zeke said is the easiest way. Just drag the icons you want to use .. You can also set the number of icons to 0, this will get rid of the list below them .. Paul Reed Smith.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #4
muzikool Act your wage. Joined: December 2001 Location: Texas, USA Reputation: Yes, please. Posts: 7,626 Reputation: 2900 Power: 229	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Zeke's idea is best because the area of shortcuts below the separator is dynamic. Those are your recently accessed programs, and I think you'd find that those change if you start opening random applications all of a sudden. I was a hardcore XP tweaker for a couple of years, and I don't know of anything you can do to make that area static without seriously modifying the whole GUI.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #5
Eck .user Joined: June 2002 Location: United States Posts: 393 Reputation: 0 Power: 121	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Originally Posted by Johnny what zeke said is the easiest way. Just drag the icons you want to use .. You can also set the number of icons to 0, this will get rid of the list below them .. OK, I must be retarded but I cannot drag my "Downloads" folder down into the lower part of the menu. I'm trying to stick it below the AIM shortcut... • Windows XP Home Edition SP2 • Pentium 4 3.0GHz • 1GB Kingston HyperX DDR 3200 • Asus P4P800 Motherboard • ATI Radeon X850 XT • SB Audigy 2 ZS • WD 36GB 10K Raptors RAID 0 • WD 120GB 7200 HD w/ 8MB Cache • 12x DVD+/-RW • 52x24x52 CD-RW • Screenshot \| Desk \| System Info \| 3D Benchmarks • Cardomain.com - My 96 Camaro Z28

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April 27th, 2005	Top \| #6
Eck .user Joined: June 2002 Location: United States Posts: 393 Reputation: 0 Power: 121	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Originally Posted by muzikool Zeke's idea is best because the area of shortcuts below the separator is dynamic. Those are your recently accessed programs, and I think you'd find that those change if you start opening random applications all of a sudden. I was a hardcore XP tweaker for a couple of years, and I don't know of anything you can do to make that area static without seriously modifying the whole GUI. Ahh.... so it's not possible then. Alrighty. • Windows XP Home Edition SP2 • Pentium 4 3.0GHz • 1GB Kingston HyperX DDR 3200 • Asus P4P800 Motherboard • ATI Radeon X850 XT • SB Audigy 2 ZS • WD 36GB 10K Raptors RAID 0 • WD 120GB 7200 HD w/ 8MB Cache • 12x DVD+/-RW • 52x24x52 CD-RW • Screenshot \| Desk \| System Info \| 3D Benchmarks • Cardomain.com - My 96 Camaro Z28

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #7
muzikool Act your wage. Joined: December 2001 Location: Texas, USA Reputation: Yes, please. Posts: 7,626 Reputation: 2900 Power: 229	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #8
IDLE OSNN Senior Addict Joined: February 2004 Posts: 374 Reputation: 80 Power: 101	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Originally Posted by muzikool Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there. what he said. for your "Downloads" folder, you may need to create a shortcut to the Downloads folder for this to work. i dont think you can move an actual folder there because it thinks you are moving the entire folder there which you cannot do.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #9
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,838 Reputation: 2369 Power: 170	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Most cases when you move the folder there it automatically creats the shortcuts. It should do that anyhow .. Paul Reed Smith.

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #10
skizo OSNN Addict Joined: March 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 128 Reputation: 80 Power: 86	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? If all you want is easy access to several programs, why not create quick launch shortcuts? The Everything Guide Get forum tips here If you recieved help, click the button under the users avatar to help encourage good posts. Google does not constitute reason or truth. Think for yourself!

April 27th, 2005	Top \| #11
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,838 Reputation: 2369 Power: 170	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Or you can get freelaunchbar .. http://www.freelaunchbar.com/ I use it, it is a nice little utility .. Paul Reed Smith.

April 28th, 2005	Top \| #12
Eagle710 OSNN Senior Addict Joined: March 2005 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 312 Reputation: 40 Power: 88	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? drag and drop is how i do it!

April 28th, 2005	Top \| #13
Eck .user Joined: June 2002 Location: United States Posts: 393 Reputation: 0 Power: 121	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Originally Posted by muzikool Well, if the point is to have your icons there permanently, then it can be done by eliminating the recently used programs menu from the Start Menu. Right-click the taskbar, choose Properties, click Start Menu tab, click Customize. Take the number down to 0 and then you have that blank real estate to add whatever shortcuts you want. Just drag them there. Pure genius. Why didn't I think of that? • Windows XP Home Edition SP2 • Pentium 4 3.0GHz • 1GB Kingston HyperX DDR 3200 • Asus P4P800 Motherboard • ATI Radeon X850 XT • SB Audigy 2 ZS • WD 36GB 10K Raptors RAID 0 • WD 120GB 7200 HD w/ 8MB Cache • 12x DVD+/-RW • 52x24x52 CD-RW • Screenshot \| Desk \| System Info \| 3D Benchmarks • Cardomain.com - My 96 Camaro Z28

April 28th, 2005	Top \| #14
muzikool Act your wage. Joined: December 2001 Location: Texas, USA Reputation: Yes, please. Posts: 7,626 Reputation: 2900 Power: 229	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Ah, if I had a quarter for every time someone called me a genius... Anyone have an extra quarter so I can buy a Coke? Glad that will work for you, Eck.

April 28th, 2005	Top \| #15
ming OSNN Advanced Joined: June 2003 Location: UK Posts: 4,252 Reputation: 1160 Power: 159	Re: XP Start Menu - Customize the commonly used programs? Are you wanting to add those shortcuts permanently below the IE and Outlook icons? If so, right click on the shortcut you want to place there then select Pin to StartMenu. Or to remove it, right click and select remove from list. As far as I know, you cant customise the lower part. Curent system: Intel Quad Core 9450 \| 4GB RAM \| WD Raptor 36GB \| nVidia 8800GT 512mb

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