Start menu "All Programs"

There are two things I really miss from XP:

1) Start menu - I like the split start menu with the recently used programs on one side and the links to documents, computer, network, etc.. on the other. But XP had this little thing called "All Programs". Clicking on it would show the programs list spread out taking up as much of the screen as it needed to show all the programs.

I am starting to get really annoyed with having all of my program folders crammed into Windows 7's little start menu and having to scroll up and down to look for something.

Is there any way to have XP's "All Programs" view functionality restored?

Hi, Give this one ago. This is the method I use.

Show the Classic “All Programs” Menu in the Start Menu in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

I can't give you an answer to your question, but I can give this link that explains the changes to the Start Menu in Windows 7.

What's new with the Start menu?

Personally, I prefer the Windows 7 layout, but of course it's all subjective.

Don't forget though that when you click the Start button the first thing you see at the bottom of the Start Menu is All Programs.

You can also use Right-click the Start Button>Properties>Start Menu tab>Customize, and then customize how links, icons and menus look and behave on the Start Menu.

rustberger said:

Hi, Give this one ago. This is the method I use.

Show the Classic “All Programs” Menu in the Start Menu in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

Thanks but I have already tried that one.

Unlike XP which would spread the columns of programs across the screen, this one still requires oyu to scroll if th elist of programs is longer than the height of your screen.

It also somehow broke the Startup folder functionality - all the programs in my Startup folder now trigger a security prompt and ask for my permission to run before they run.

Not only that, but it screwed up the order of icons in my IE favorites bar.

seavixen32 said:

I can't give you an answer to your question, but I can give this link that explains the changes to the Start Menu in Windows 7.

What's new with the Start menu?

Personally, I prefer the Windows 7 layout, but of course it's all subjective.

Don't forget though that when you click the Start button the first thing you see at the bottom of the Start Menu is All Programs.

You can also use Right-click the Start Button>Properties>Start Menu tab>Customize, and then customize how links, icons and menus look and behave on the Start Menu.

The first thing I did when I installed Win7 was get rid of the stupid Duplo block sized taskbar, pinned icons and grouped icons in favor of Quick Launch, small icons and "combine when taskbar is full". Moving from Vista to 7 really felt like going from playing with Lego Technic back to playing with Duplo blocks.

I'm also not a big fan of the "Libraries" feature - I much prefer knowing precicely where my files are. Because the Libraries feature gathers files from various locations, it all just seems a bit too "virtual" for me. Too "In the cloud, over there, somewhere" for me.

As for the start menu programs list, the Win7 style might be OK if you have 20 programs, but mine has 144 of them. I hate scrolling.

And please don't remind me about the search feature

Probably best if you go back to Windows XP if you dislike Windows 7 so much.

Significantly, Windows 7 sales have now outstripped sales of Windows XP, so Microsoft must be doing something right, but obviously not for everyone, eh?

Bongo said:

Have a look at this I think it will do what you want ANN: Classic Shell 2.9.3 is out - Now with Search! and Ivo is very helpful if you need some.
Jerry

Perfect, thanks!

seavixen32 said:

Probably best if you go back to Windows XP if you dislike Windows 7 so much.

Significantly, Windows 7 sales have now outstripped sales of Windows XP, so Microsoft must be doing something right, but obviously not for everyone, eh?

I've been tempted to go back to Vista several times...


And I don't think pinned icons is the primary reason people upgrade from XP to 7.