Where is the Start menu location in the registry?

Hey there :)
I have somewhat of a weird problem on my pc that I don't know how to fix it and how I put it like that in the first place lol.

Here's the thing: As far as I know, the windows 7 start menu location is supposed to default to c:\ProgramData\etc... , thing is, when I install new software it creates the shortcuts inside a "Programs" folder (where i keep my stuffs) inside a "Stuff" folder on my desktop (c:\users\username\Desktop\Stuff\Programs). I've moved that folder to the proper one, but somewhere inside the registry (I assume) is pointing me to that folder

Help is appreciated

Welcome to the Seven Forums!

The Start Menu is a combinations of shortcuts and folders that are located in two folder structures.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
and
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

You probably recall seeing options while installing some software that asks you if you want to create Start Menu entries for "all users" or maybe they have called it "everyone". The other option was to just create those shortcuts for your user account. The shortcuts go into the "all users" Start Menu that every user sees or just into your Start Menu folder - depending on your answer.

I have a virtual machine for W7 Pro - so there is not much installed, the registry values should be the default ones. A search of the registry for Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu turned up quite a few locations. Attached is a zip file of the screen shots. The last screenshot (13machine-start-menu.JPG) just shows the different user SIDs where the "User Shell Folders" info can be found for each SID.

After you check the values/data of keys shown in the screenshots, I would suggest that you search the registry for data containing Desktop\Stuff\Programs.