Windows 7 - Add Custom Folder/Library to the Start Menu

Winnland · 10-14-2010

I did the same thing as timmiej93 but I used the 'My Videos' library.

Right click the library link you want to use (e.g. My Videos) select Rename.
Type in the name you want to give the library (e.g. Programming), hit enter.
Navigate to the folder you want to add to the renamed library (e.g. Python 3.1).
Right click the folder, select 'Include in library' and click the newly renamed library.

After doing the above, I had to restart my machine. Prior to restarting, the folder stores within my libraries would not expand when I hovered on them. After reboot, all works great. I also went back and right clicked on the default My Videos folders to remove them from the now named Programming library just to clean things up.

It's a shame that this work around had to be performed but at least my machine is now customized the way I prefer it. It makes no sense that Microsoft included the option to easily add new libraries yet doesn't allow the user to access a new library from the navigation pane of the start menu.

Tech Addiction · 01-08-2011

You can add the Video Floder to the Right side of the Start menu by right clicking the start menu and choosing properties, then Customize then scroll all the way to the bottom and click display as link beside Videos.

whs · 01-08-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by joshpowers

Adding custom links to the right hand side of the start menu would require a code guru.

Taken that I'm not a code guru and would still like a custom link on the right hand side of my start menu, there are a few work arounds to this.

Option 1:

The Documents, Pictures, Music, Video, Download links can be routed to whatever folder you want.(You can enable/disable these librarys from showing in your start menu by right clicking on the taskbar, going to the start menu tab, and selecting customize.) The downside of this is that you can't change the names of the libraries.

In my example, I have all my documents stored on a secondary internal HDD. (E:/)

Step 1: Start -> Right click on Documents -> Select Properties

Step 2: Click "Include a folder"

Step 3: Browse to your given directory, and click "Include Folder"
(In my case it is "E:\My Documents")

Step 4: In the Library locations box, select the directory you just chose, then click "Set save location"

Step 5(Optional): you can remove the default directories so only the directory you specified is opened when you go to the documents library

Step 6: Click Ok, and it prompts you if you want to move all the files from the old location(s) to your new directory. This is up to you, I say no.

Step 7: Hit Start -> Click Documents to verify it points to your new directory.

Option 2:

Very similar to option 1, but with a little more customization.

Step 1: Enable favorites menu in taskbar properties -> start menu -> customize

Step 2: Right click on favorites when in the start menu, and select properties.

Step 3: Under the location tab, change the directory to whatever you wish.

Step 4: Click ok.

This option is nice because it allows you to browse the directory as a menu.

I think of these as redneck workarounds, but take from it what you want

Option 2 is the way to go. You can really only replace an existing folder and Favorites is a good candidate - although I use Games.

Tech Addiction · 01-08-2011

I was referring to adding Videos to here.

Mike Connor · 01-08-2011

If you want to customise the start menu and also get some useful features back then try this;

Welcome to Classic Shell

This is also excellent for customising;

True Launch Bar • Superior replacement for standard Quick Launch

I use both, along with QtTabBar

QTTabBar

and some other stuff. All works very well and does what I want.

Regards....Mike Connor

Windows 7 - Add Custom Folder/Library to the Start Menu

Add Custom Folder/Library to the Start Menu problems?