Resolved Start Menu /All Programs display pane problem

The "All Programs" listing pane only displays a single pane irrispective of the number of links listed. This means that the single pane grows vertically and has to be scrolled, rather than the links spilling into new panes horizontally. This unusual behaviour has endured through two O/S clean reinstallations (Win XP SP2) - I am somewhat bemused and tearing my hair out, can anyone please throw any light on this problem?

 

Remove the check mark next to "Scroll Programs" or "Personalized Menus" as shown here?
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_get_the_entire_programs_menu_to_always_display.html

How do you stop 'All Programs' list from scrolling?
http://forum.soft32.com/win4/stop-Programs-list-scrolling-ftopict203455.html

 

Thank you Flatiron2 and the contributors with the answers to my problem.