Windows Explorer doesn't show all icons in Start Menu

Hi,
This is no problem really but I don't understand something. I use to right click the Start Key, go to Explore (Windows Explorer) and I would see all my files and folders listed as they are listed in the Start Menu, Programs.

Now, when I do this, I don't see all my files and folders, I just see about nine of them. I thought Windows Explorer always showed exactly what was in the start menu.

Also, a friend of mine who is using Windows 98 said some of his programs and files are missing.

Does anyone know what happened and how we can get them back so we can move, rename and delete in Windows Explorer.

I would appreciate some help with this.

Thank you.

Jean

 

When you open Windows Explorer and click on Documents and Settings you will see several different users listed. If you look only under your user name you will only see some of the items that actually appear on your start menu. This means that these programs would be available to you as long as you are logged into the system, but if you have more than one user and the other user is logged into the system they would see a different start menu.

Shared menu items, or those items that are available to anyone that is logged into the system, will be found under Documents and Settings|All Users|Start Menu.

If you want to be able to access all of the start menu shortcuts from one folder you can cut and paste all of the shortcuts into Your User Name Start Menu folder, or the All Users Start Menu folder.

HTH

 

Thank you for your quick reply. When I open the Windows Explorer, I didn't get the Documents & Settings Window, I just got the contents of My Documents. I'm not sure what I did but I did finally find Documents and Settings and I do see all the files listed under the "All Users" seciton. Thanks for your help. Now I understand it.

I guess I may have to write, unless you know the answer, to my friend's missing files and folders under his Startup Menu, but he is using Windows 98, not XP.

Thank you.

 

You're welcome.

I should have been clearer, when you open windows explorer you need to click on + marks to the left of My Computer, then the C:\ drive and then the Documents & Settings folders to see all of the different users.

Though its been a couple of years since I had a 98 system I believe that it could also be set up for multiple users and that the file structure was similar. If that's the case then my directions may work for him also.

Thanks for posting back.