Duplicate Programs folder in Start Menu


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional
       #1

    Duplicate Programs folder in Start Menu


    I would like a way to fix this issue. (See screenshot.)

    Note: Default Programs is already unchecked in Start Menu Customization menu.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Duplicate Programs folder in Start Menu-duplicate-programs.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,476
       #2

    You can just delete them. To be honest, I actually deleted all occurrences of Internet Explorer and Windows Update from my Start Menu because I never use Internet Explorer, and I've found that I can access Windows Update faster by just pressing my Windows Key, typing "windows u" (for windows update) and pressing Enter.

    To delete them, right-click one of them, press Shift, and the click "Delete" while holding down Shift. Then release the Shift key after you click Delete. Repeat for both. Holding down Shift makes your deleted item bypass the Recycle Bin and get deleted immediately.

    These are just shortcuts, so deleting them does not affect or harm IE or Windows Update.


    Edit: "Default Programs" is the link to the Control Panel item called "Default Programs". Re-enable it and then you will see the link show up on the Start Menu, and it will bring you to that part of the Control Panel.
    Last edited by TwoCables; 08 Jan 2013 at 21:11.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I should have been much more clear, but yesterday was a bad day.

    The second Programs folder (the duplicate in the screenshot) does not actually exist. Right clicking All Programs and selecting Open All Users (or even just Open) reveals all the normal shortcuts , but not the duplicate folder or *its* shortcuts. Deleting the duplicate folder also deletes the contents of the 'real' folder (I tried it); the folders themselves actually remain (including the duplicate), but ALL of the shortcuts in both folders disappear until the deleted folder is restored from the recycle bin.

    The reason I mentioned the Default Programs link was because making sure that box was unchecked was the only fix I found (and the fix was for Vista machines with this issue).

    Before this started, I had an issue with Windows failing to update properly after restarting because I (foolishly) tried to restart it in Safe Mode to do something with my video drivers at the same time as it wanted to reboot to finish installing updates. It took a couple tries to get the system to boot properly, and afterwards this issue appeared.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,476
       #4

    Yeah, I was going to say that it's extremely weird to have duplicates like this. I regret to say it, but I believe that this is way out of my league.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       #5

    That is less encouraging than it could be.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,476
       #6

    Yeah, but this is SevenForums. :)
      My Computer


 

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