Way to cascade the folder list under All Programs in Start Menu?

[zamar21]

Is there a way to cascade the folder list under All Programs in Start Menu, so that one doesn't have to scroll through it looking for a program?

Also, how to make each folder in All Programs section expandable on Mouse Over instead of clicking on it to expend?

I'm not just asking for an available Win 7 option to select, but may be for a workaroud to add such functionality.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hey zamar21,

Let me know if this is what you're looking for: http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/35712-tweak-start-menus-all-programs.html

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[Ivo]

Adding cascading All Programs to the Windows 7 start menu is one feature I plan to include in the next version (3.0) of Classic Shell (Welcome to Classic Shell).

However at the moment I am still working on version 2.0, so no ETA can be given at this time...

So for now your options are either to follow Walker's suggestion or switch to classic menu (with Classic Shell or other software).

 

[zamar21]

Hi WalkerA

The method described in the linked thread doesn't work anymore (at least for me). Changing these Registry values does nothing visible. I was able to add a cascading All Programs folder to Navigation Pane in Start Menu by changing Start Menu Properties to display Videos as Menu, renaming Videos to Programs, and adding a new Library location C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu in that folder Properties. It didn't add it to Start Menu Pane though.

Also, no easy or known way to remove All Programs folder from Start Menu. And pinning a folder to Start Menu doesn't make it cascadable or expandable, which is another item to fix in Win 7, as this option should be in Start Menu Properties.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Sorry that didn't work for you - but your workaround is actually quite clever! I might try that myself In the meantime keep up with Ivo's progress on the next Classic Shell and hopefully a cascading All Programs menu will be included.

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[zamar21]

Another question: is there ANY way to make a program folder in "Start Menu - All Programs" expandable in the same Pane (not cascadable) on mouse hover instead of currently used mouse click? How to add such functionality to each folder in that Pane, including future folders to be created when programs are installed?

Also, is there a way to activate "All Programs" Pane scrolling up or down by placing a mouse pointer near the Pane's upper or lower border line instead of dragging its Scroll Button, similar how Files can be dragged in Win Explorer up or down with auto scrolling?

 

[dunfiddlin]

No, to the first, which is a touch odd as you can do this when dragging and dropping shortcuts.

And no to the second but you can use the arrow keys to scroll the entire pane and this has the advantage that it loops from bottom to top or vice versa.

 

[zamar21]

Dragging Folder shortcuts to All Programs Pan doesn't make them expandable. There should be a Registry hack at the least to make it work. I can't understand, how endless clicking in Start Menu feels more comfortable to Windows 7 team than mouse hover?

 

[fseal]

One thing I do to make this a LITTLE less painful is increase the number of programs cached on the start menu, this make the menu taller and removes the need to atleast have to scroll constantly as you click through the items

 

[zamar21]

I found several applications listed on Windows Club site to restore Classic Start Menu in Win 7. Some details are given in a similar article Get the Classic Start Menu in Windows 7 in HowTo Geek. I'd however prefer to find the way to make folders in new Win7 Start Menu-All Programs expanding or cascading on Mouse Hover based on user choice in Prefs or Registry tweak, rather than restoring old Start Menu. Any ideas?

 

[dunfiddlin]

Dragging Folder shortcuts to All Programs Pan doesn't make them expandable. There should be a Registry hack at the least to make it work. I can't understand, how endless clicking in Start Menu feels more comfortable to Windows 7 team than mouse hover?

I didn't say it did! When dragging a shortcut to the panel, hovering over a folder does expand it so that you can drop the shortcut into it so the functionality is clearly possible. Whether you can ever find the routine that does it and then adapt it for general use is another issue altogether.

The problem that I always had with cascading is that if you erred and strayed by a couple of pixels in transferring from one panel to the next the whole lot could collapse and send you right back to the beginning. I much prefer the default W7 way - open a folder and it stays open and you don't have to trail half way across the screen for nested folders. Chacon a son gout, of course, but MS clearly thinks there's more me and less you amongst its users!