Start Menu, Programs Messedup

My Start Menu is not working the way it did. I checked C:/Documents and Settings/ Compaq_Owner/ Start Menu/Programs and it is not like what comes up by Clicking Start, Programs. I did a Search for Start Menu and checked them all and they do not match Start, Programs. Something has changed,and I would like put it back the way it was.

 

Have you tried a System Restore to a time when things were working as they should?

mickzer.

 

Something deleted System Restore Points, except for today. I set one this afternoon. Of course that is too late to help. Will keep a watch to see if they will be set each day.

 

Suspicious. May be time to post a HijackThis log over at the Malware & Virus Removal forum.

mickzer.

 

For a test, right-click the Start button and click Explore. See if it takes you to your proper user identity folder.

 

The Start Menu has links to more than one place. While much of what you see on the Start Menu will be present in the Docs & Settings\youruserprofile\Start Menu\Programs directory, the ones missing from that location will be in the Docs & Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs directory.

When you install a program that asks if you want it available to all users or just you, your selection will determine where the shortcut is placed, eg; All Users or your userprofile. Some programs will install to All Users by default, others to your user profile only. It's unlikely that any one of the Start Menu directories contents ever matched exactly what was available by clicking Start>All Programs.

 

To add to Noahdfear’s reply:

1. Go to Start > Run, type shell:start menu (note the space) and press Enter, double-click Programs, reduce the window size to half your screen size and move it to the left.

2. Go to Start > Run, type shell:common start menu (note the 2 spaces) and press Enter, double-click Programs and move the window to the right of the other one.

3. You can now drag shortcuts from one to the other and/or delete/rename them.

 

Just another method of getting to the same locations

Right click the Start button and select Open, then open Programs folder
Right click the Start button and select Open All Users, then open Programs folder

Of course, for an Explorer view, select Explore and Explore All Users instead

 

Noahdfear

The reason I listed it via the shell command is because some people change Explorer to open in a different directory or drive.

 

Agreed, but that won't matter if selecting Explore from Start button>Right click. That's a direct link to the Start Menu folder.

 

I have checked "Compaq_Owner" and "All Users" Start Menu and together they have Programs Folder, Accessories and Aministrative Tools, but they leave out some things that are shown in Start Button, Programs. My problem is that I cannot add some things. Even when I install Applications, they sometimes are not added to Start Button, Programs. I did a Clean Install of XP a few days back and it did not cure this problem. I have run antivirus, Spybot, and Adaware and they found nothing. I ran these apps twice in Safe Mode in the last week, after downloading updates.

 

What specifically is shown in the Start Menu>All Programs list that does not exist in either of the above mentioned directories?

Some programs just don't install a start menu shortcut. Are you able to browse to the program's executable, right click it and select Pin to Start Menu? Please give us some examples of program installations that have not added a Start Menu shortcut. It might help us determine if a shortcut should have been created and thereby give a direction in which to proceed.

 

I opened the Start Menu in the following, "1 All Users Startup ", "2 Compaq_Owner Startup. Everything I need in the Start Menu, is above Programs in #2. The ones missing are in the Start, Programs.
Opened All to Programs. #2 shows 7 folders, with no Startup, and Graphics folders, but with a Documentation folder. #1 has a Graphics Folder, and a Startup folder, no Documentation. In #1 and #2 in the Utilities folder all items are there, except #2 has an Adobe Folder that does not show in Start Button, Programs, Utilities. Oops I was now able to delete Adobe, and I do not need it there. Oops again. I installed 3 Apps, 3 days ago, and in that time
Rebooted several times, and none of them showed in Start, Programs. After starting this Reply I looked now and they are where they should be. This computer has been taken over by aliens. Now I am afraid to install Sp3. Thanks to all who used there time to help me.

 

A friend came here yesterday and suggested that I open a new User Account. I am now Owner. Copied things from Compaq_Owner to Owner and from other places. Reinstalled several applications and they were put into Start Programs. Needed a few changes to the Registry also. I asked him where he has been, but I did not get an answer. He also said he was guessing. So now I can say the problem has been solved.