Windows 7 - Tweak for Start Menu's "All Programs"?

Is there a tweak that anyone knows that can make the All Programs in the start menu expand like it did with XP?

I don't know why MS made it the way they did without giving an option to expand it if we wanted to.

You know, when vista came out, i really hated how it doesnt expand anymore. I think it is personal preferance on that because some people actually like the space it saves. But myself, i like the xp way too..

If that makes any sense.

But, not sure if there's a tweak or not.

Look what I found and now I have XP style program menu. This will work for Vista too.

1. Open regedit and go to following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders


2. Now you'll need to change the value of Favorites string value:


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


3. That's it. Log off or restart your system and now "Favorites" link in start menu will change to "Programs" and will show all program shortcuts installed in your system just like XP start menu does.


NOTE: If you can't see the new menu in start menu, you'll need to enable "Favorites Menu" from Taskbar Properties -> Start Menu -> Customize.

4. You can also disable the All Programs button in start menu. Open regedit and goto: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
In right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoStartMenuMorePrograms and set its value to 1

I found out something about this tweak and found a better way to do things, so you don't lose your favorites in IE8.

When you go to Customize in Taskbar and Start menu Properties, check "Videos" to display when you click on the start menu then change that in regedit rather than favorites.

Vendetta: NICE tip man!, just did it on 7x64, works ok. I don't mind losing favorites, I'm a firefox man so favorites are of no use for me.
Now if ONLY I could cascade folders like you could do on vista classic start menu, for example: I used to put on top of vista classic menu three of my most used work docs folders, created a shortcut to them, and they cascaded contents beautifully...
What I'm missing also is the xp and vista feature that let you put toolbars on the sides or top of the window, just dragging the folder with the shortcuts in it .... pitty

No problem, hopefully MS will release an update that will allow for some classic stuff to be returned, but at the same time I can understand why they are pushing everyone to adapt to the newer stuff.

Yep I can understand also, new stuff is usefull, in fact, I use it, but for some pc's and for some tasks you cant beat classic menu (the proper one, not the "replacements" that are merely a shadow) and the screen bars, and the cascading folders.

MS should leave BOTH alternatives on, new menu (easier to use than classic on a touch screen for example) and classic with the ability to cascade docs folders on it.

Maybe leave the classic stuff off by default, so that the power users can turn it on if they want.

For me the BEST combination would be new with the possibility to cascade folders on the top (in the "pinned" area) plus lateral and top screen "classic" auto hidding toolbars.

Microsoft, are you listening? On Ubuntu or Linux Mint you can do that
In fact on Mint (an ubuntu spin off) I use the "new" menu, AND I add ubuntu's "classic" to the taskbar, so I get BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY (you don't have to chose one or other)

People love to have options, I know I do, so MS needs to bring some oldies, but goodies back.

I have used this solution to change the all programs and it functions as it should. However, this only uses the global start menu and not the individual user start menu entries.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs (GLOBAL)

%USERPROFILE%\Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs (USER)

If I set the User Shell Folders to the User link I am missing the global ones and vice versa. Is there anyway to correct this issue.

I am assuming I could just copy and paste everything into the global folder, but would this cause problems for when I install new programs and then they only install the links in the user folder. I appreciate any help as I would really like to use this tweak.

Thanks,
Don

UPDATED: Forgot to add that I am the only user account on this computer and that will always be the case.

You can try Classic Shell - Welcome to Classic Shell
One of its features is to create expandable All Programs menu. It is also skinnable.
Look at the Gallery section for screenshots: Classic Shell: Gallery