Start menu icons disappear!! WTF!

So i bought adobe flash cs3 and fireworks cs3 because i will be needing them a lot soon. But im running into quite an amazing problem. I install them and everything looks good. The programs launch from the desktop and work good. But when i click start and click All programs there's nothing there!! Just white. I uninstalled flash, and still the problem. Then i uninstalled fireworks, and they're back! I then installed flash because i thought fireworks might be the problem but it happens again.

Please can somebody help me here? A google search reveals nothing. I need this problem solved soon.

performing a system restore is no use because it will also remove the applications. If i uninstall them then the icons come back anyway. And performing a Repair install seems a little drastic, are u sure there's no other way?

If i did do a repair install then i lose my drivers? like graphic driver, volume button drivers (im on a laptop), etc?

I had the same problem, try moving all folders and icons from the All Program folder to a temporary folder on your desktop somewhere and see if the icons come back, it worked for me. Or just rename the All Programs folder so windows wont find it, restart and rename again.

Jacee said:

Adobe Support: Installing and using Windows 7 with Adobe applications

well that wasnt really helpful.

@Hakon, i will try that and report back

it appears i found the solution to the problem :)

well firstly the problem isnt related to adobe programs specifically. I know this because today when i got all the icons back, i went and installed another program, a game, and they still disappeared.

The problem is that i have too much programs installed apparently. After removing some unnecessary programs the icons are back :)

Still this is a pretty annoying bug

I have had the same issue!

I see you've got yours taken care of but FWIW, I'v just started creating new shortcuts from the .exe in the Windows/Programs folder....