Windows 7: Start Menu All Programs - Add or Delete Shortcuts

   Information

This will show you how to add or delete shortcuts in the All Programs area of the Start Menu for the Current User or All Users in Windows 7.

   Note

It appears that the context menu items for the Start Menu to open the Start Menu folders has been ommitted in the Windows 7 beta for now. Instead of adding and removing shortcuts directly out of the Start Menu, you could manually navigate to the two Start Menu folder locations.

OPTION ONE

Start Menu for Only Current Logged On User

1. Open the Start Menu.

A) Right click on All Programs and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 4.

OR

2. Open the Start Menu.

A) In the search box, type shell:start menu and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

B) Open the Programs folder.

C) Go to step 4.

OR

3. Open Folder Options.

A) Dot Show hidden files, folders, or drives., and click on apply. (See screenshot below)

B) Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below step 6)

Code:

 
C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

4. You can now Copy and Paste shortcuts, Drag and Drop shortcuts, and create New Folders that you want in the Start Menu in this window below.

5. If you did step 3, then in Folder Options again, dot Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)

OPTION TWO

Start Menu Shared by All Users

1. Open the Start Menu.

A) Right click on All Programs and click on Open All Users. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Start Menu.

A) In the search box, type shell:common start menu and press Enter.

B) Go to step 3.

OR

3. Open Folder Options.

A) Dot Show hidden files, folders, or drives, and click on Apply. (See screenshot below)

B) Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the location below. (See screenshot below step 5)

Code:

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

4. You can now Copy and Paste shortcuts, Drag and Drop shortcuts, and create New Folders that you want in the Start Menu in this window below.

5. If you did step 3, then in Folder Options again, dot Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)