Start Menu empty

Right click on an empty area of the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, then click Properties/Start Menu/Customize.

Sorry, I misread your original post. I thought you were having problems restoring the Start menu items.
Did you check for viruses and spyware by updating your AV and AS programs, and then running scans?

It is the Start Menu I am having trouble with, not the All programs list.

Yes I've updated AV and Spybot with no change to the problem.

I'll try the MSCONFIG option that was suggested, thanks.

If anyone else has access to your Administrator account, then they may have caused the problem.