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Windows 7: Organize the Start Menu

13 Jan 2009  
SysElim

Windows 7 Build 7000
1 posts
 
 
Organize the Start Menu

This is a huge thing for a very retentive person like myself. Since about Window 95 I've been able to right-click on the start menu and 'explore all users'.

I use this to then go into the start menu for all users and organize the crap out of it into folders. In Windows 7, it's gone. OK, so I found where the start menu items are stored in:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

I can move items around to existing folders with 'administrator permission', I can create a new folder, but not rename it. There error I receive is something to the effect of 'The action can not be completed because the folder or file is open in another location'

Any thoughts?

My System SpecsSystem Spec

13 Jan 2009  
Compaker

Windows Seven 64-bit
131 posts
Chicago
 
 

Turn off User account control. That should let you rename folders and such.

Open control panel and then click on the user settings. then click on user accounts and click change user account controls.

Last edited by Compaker; 13 Jan 2009 at 04:50 PM.. Reason: forgot to add how
My System SpecsSystem Spec
09 Oct 2009  
mrwright

Windows 7 and Ubuntu
2 posts
 
 

I don't have this path in Windows 7. Do I have to adjust settings to unhide these folders or something?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


09 Oct 2009  
Barman58

Windows 7 Ultimate x64 + x86 + Windows 8 x64
12,082 posts
Newport, South Wales, UK
 
 

The open/explore all users is available if you right click on the all programs entry at the bottom of the main start menu or on individual folders in the all programs menu.

And yes these are hidden system folders

See: Start Menu All Programs - Add or Delete Shortcuts

Last edited by Brink; 09 Oct 2009 at 04:55 PM.. Reason: added link
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10 Oct 2009  
mrwright

Windows 7 and Ubuntu
2 posts
 
 

Thanks Barman, that did the trick.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
09 Aug 2012  
cbleman

XP Media Edition / Vista /Win 7 Home Premium
190 posts
North Central Florida, USA
 
 

There is a long list of annoying icons for programs over the folders in all programs. When I click on all programs, I'm generally looking for a folder and do not want to have to scroll through a list of chaff to get to the start of the folder list. Using the information above, I got rid of most of it. There are still several however that will not go away. I don't see them in the directory to move them. The ones I cannot find are: Default Programs, New Office Document, Open Office Document, Sierra Utilities, and Windows Update. How do I move them to a storage folder. I don't want to delete them, I just want to get them out of the way.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
09 Aug 2012  
Bongo

Win 7 Pro x64
9,592 posts
Council Bluffs, Iowa
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by cbleman View Post
There is a long list of annoying icons for programs over the folders in all programs. When I click on all programs, I'm generally looking for a folder and do not want to have to scroll through a list of chaff to get to the start of the folder list. Using the information above, I got rid of most of it. There are still several however that will not go away. I don't see them in the directory to move them. The ones I cannot find are: Default Programs, New Office Document, Open Office Document, Sierra Utilities, and Windows Update. How do I move them to a storage folder. I don't want to delete them, I just want to get them out of the way.
You'll find all the start menu items in these locations.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Windows Update is located here.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

ProgramData and AppData Are hidden use Step 3 this tutorial to unhide them File and Folder - Hide or Unhide
Jerry
My System SpecsSystem Spec
11 Aug 2012  
cbleman

XP Media Edition / Vista /Win 7 Home Premium
190 posts
North Central Florida, USA
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by Bongo View Post
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by cbleman View Post
There is a long list of annoying icons for programs over the folders in all programs. When I click on all programs, I'm generally looking for a folder and do not want to have to scroll through a list of chaff to get to the start of the folder list. Using the information above, I got rid of most of it. There are still several however that will not go away. I don't see them in the directory to move them. The ones I cannot find are: Default Programs, New Office Document, Open Office Document, Sierra Utilities, and Windows Update. How do I move them to a storage folder. I don't want to delete them, I just want to get them out of the way.
You'll find all the start menu items in these locations.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Windows Update is located here.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

ProgramData and AppData Are hidden use Step 3 this tutorial to unhide them File and Folder - Hide or Unhide
Jerry
Thanks for the reply. aaaaa! I get it! Silly me . Now that I have made a Start Menu folder under all programs, I can just drag and drop the start menu icons above the folders into it.

I wonder why someone decided to put all that clutter into all programs in stead of putting them into a folder. It sure would remove a lot of clutter, Look better, and use up a whole lot less real estate under all programs. Sure... they are easier to find; but if you don't need them, it's a also lot to wade through to get to where you want to go. well.. anyway, thanks again.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
11 Aug 2012  
Bongo

Win 7 Pro x64
9,592 posts
Council Bluffs, Iowa
 
 

Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by cbleman View Post
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by Bongo View Post
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by cbleman View Post
There is a long list of annoying icons for programs over the folders in all programs. When I click on all programs, I'm generally looking for a folder and do not want to have to scroll through a list of chaff to get to the start of the folder list. Using the information above, I got rid of most of it. There are still several however that will not go away. I don't see them in the directory to move them. The ones I cannot find are: Default Programs, New Office Document, Open Office Document, Sierra Utilities, and Windows Update. How do I move them to a storage folder. I don't want to delete them, I just want to get them out of the way.
You'll find all the start menu items in these locations.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Windows Update is located here.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

ProgramData and AppData Are hidden use Step 3 this tutorial to unhide them File and Folder - Hide or Unhide
Jerry
Thanks for the reply. aaaaa! I get it! Silly me . Now that I have made a Start Menu folder under all programs, I can just drag and drop the start menu icons above the folders into it.

I wonder why someone decided to put all that clutter into all programs in stead of putting them into a folder. It sure would remove a lot of clutter, Look better, and use up a whole lot less real estate under all programs. Sure... they are easier to find; but if you don't need them, it's a also lot to wade through to get to where you want to go. well.. anyway, thanks again.
You're welcome, I did the same thing a long time ago I didn't like all that clutter up there either makes it a lot more simpler.
Jerry
My System SpecsSystem Spec
13 Aug 2012  
cbleman

XP Media Edition / Vista /Win 7 Home Premium
190 posts
North Central Florida, USA
 
 

I got rid of all the chaff, and when I updated one of my startup programs, it was right back in all programs. It's not hard to drop it into the startup folder, but does anyone know if there is there a way to get Win 7 to stop putting startup programs under all programs?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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