Windows 7: Start Menu Problem...

Hi,

I have been using Windows 7 for the past 5 months and im having an annoying problem with the Start Menu...



I like to keep me computer like it's brand new and not change any settings ect (it's just an OCD thing i have) and i want the Start Menu to remain like it was from day one. I have noticed with Windows 7 (unlike XP and Vista) when i use an application for the first time, it appears at the bottom like in XP and Vista, but what i find annoying in Windows 7 is when i use the same programme over time it starts to move up the Start Menu list to a point where it is eventually at the top.

I have been searching for weeks/months how to disable it and found nothing. The only thing i can do is right click and "Remove from this list" but the next time i use it, it will be at the top of the list... The only other way i can fix it is to Restore the computer to factory settings which i've been doing every 2 weeks.

Is there anything i can do to disable/fix the problem or do i have to just put up with it ???

Hi LEW, welcome to the forums

If you right-click the taskbar and select properties the first screen you're faced with will have 2 options;

1 'Store and display recently opened programs in start menu'
2 'Store and display recently items in the start menu and taskbar'



Option 1 is the 1 you're after. This should stop Windows from linking recently used apps to the Start Menu.

Hope it helps


OS

you may have some luck by right clicking the start button and selecting properties,there are check boxes to disable displaying recently opened programmes

edit: doh! that sharks too fast ,posted whilst i was still two finger typing

Just finished work and only ever 2 finger type

Nope,

The programms continue to move up the list

P.S I've unchecked both boxes under "Privacy" and now my Start Menu is blank !!! Anyone know how to get the programms back ??? Because re-checking both boxes doesn't do anything...

Are you refering to the recent used programs? If so the list should rebuild as you use programs.

See below:

Windows 7 only gives you three options.

1. Let windows display and manage recently opened programs in your start menu.

2. Tell windows not to display recently opened programs in the start menu, leaving the start menu, as you say, blank.

3. Tell windows how many recently opened programs to display in the start menu.

If you actually want programs to appear in the start menu, but you don't want windows messing with them, you're going to have to locate every program you want to display and "pin" it to the start menu. These programs will appear above the divider line in the menu. Below the divider line are all the recently opened programs that windows puts there. Windows will manage this area on a daily basis depending on which programs you are using most often. Keep in mind, all programs listed above the divider line in the start menu are permanent, pinned items. They will stay there, unchanged, until *you* change them. Windows will not mess with them.
Everything below the divider line belongs to Windows and windows will modify as it sees fit.

THAT has sorted the problem with the Start Menu Recently Used Programms...

Orbital Shark & mborner A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS !!!

(And others contributed)...