ANN: Classic Shell - start menu and other features

[jp777cmoe]

Hi again Ivo,
is there a way to add Nvidia control panel in settings?

 

[Ivo]

can you run it from the command line or from the Run box? and if so, what is the command?

 

[jp777cmoe]

Most people used control nvidia.cpl in windows XP but it doesn't work in 7. I located the control panel client and I can run it
it's located C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Control Panel Client\ under the name of nvcplui.exe

I could add that path to the $PATH of windows if that works

edit: added it to the $PATH and now start > run > nvcplui opens up the nvidia control panel

 

[Ivo]

You can create a new menu item in StartMenuItems.ini.
For command use C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Control Panel Client\nvcplui.exe
For icon use some icon you like.

 

[jp777cmoe]

It works thanks a lot. I used the nvidia CP icon too.
I have another question. Is there a way to have more space in the start menu?

http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp27/jp777cmoe/start.jpg

I use two columns and the space is limited on the left. Also, is there a way to make it that it uses your recent programs? Just like the original Windows 7 shell?

 

[Ivo]

I don't understand - the space is limited only by the screen size. If you keep adding items on the left, the menu will grow.
To show recent programs, go to the Settings and turn on "Show Recent Programs".

 

[tanzanos]

How can I have PROGRAMS show all installed programs? For some reason some of my installed programs do not show in the programs menu.

 

[Ivo]

The start menu shows the contents of the two Start Menu folders. No more, no less. There is one folder shared by all users (usually in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu) and one for the current user (usually C:\Users\<yourname>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu). It is the installer's responsibility to create shortcuts to the program in one of those folders. Not all installers do, and even if they do, you can go and delete the shortcuts just to mess with the installer.

That's how start menus have worked since the beginning of time (Windows 95). There is no magic in the start menu - just look in those two folders.

Now since they are just regular folders, you can go ahead and manually add shortcuts to whatever you want. They will promptly appear in the start menu.

 

[jp777cmoe]

I don't understand - the space is limited only by the screen size. If you keep adding items on the left, the menu will grow.
To show recent programs, go to the Settings and turn on "Show Recent Programs".

Ok I didn't know about the space thing. I added a shortcut and it's good now. I turned on Show recent programs but it doesn't seem to do anything. Maybe I have to reboot? Or do I have to clean the list I have right now on the left?

edit: nvm it's just different than the regular windows 7 shell. It works too

 

[tanzanos]

The start menu shows the contents of the two Start Menu folders. No more, no less. There is one folder shared by all users (usually in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu) and one for the current user (usually C:\Users\<yourname>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu). It is the installer's responsibility to create shortcuts to the program in one of those folders. Not all installers do, and even if they do, you can go and delete the shortcuts just to mess with the installer.

That's how start menus have worked since the beginning of time (Windows 95). There is no magic in the start menu - just look in those two folders.

Now since they are just regular folders, you can go ahead and manually add shortcuts to whatever you want. They will promptly appear in the start menu.

I still do not understand how to show all installed programmes in the start menu "PROGRAMS". Is this due to win 7 having two "PROGRAMS" (PROGRAMS and PROGRAMS x 86) ??
Thanks anyway for your feedback. I shall just have to get used to not seeing all my programs in the programs menu! MS really has made win 7 very user "unusable"!

 

[Ivo]

You can add any program to the start menu by creating a shortcut in one of the folders I listed. If the installer for the software doesn't create such shortcut, you have to do it yourself. The start menu has nothing to do with the "Program Files" and "Program Files x86" folders.

 

[tux]

Regarding the new control panel:
You might want to consider making a clearer difference between "Default settings" and "Standard settings".

 

[Ivo]

I don't understand - what "new control panel" and what "standard settings"?

 

[tux]

The Classic Shell 2.9.0 settings panel thingy which looks quite different from its predecessors... under "Menu look", for example, you can choose between "Default" and "Standard" font smoothing...

 

[Ivo]

"Standard smoothing" is a term used by Windows. I don't think I can be more clear than that.

 

[tux]

For non-native English speakers (like me), "standard" === "default", so ... well, dunno. Just noticed it.

 

[cybersid]

Is there anyway to add the search box at the bottom like the default windows 7 start menu?

I usually type stuff like "control panel" or "utorrent" occasionaly and windows lists them, just wondering if it is possible, but the program rocks!

 

[Ivo]

My crystal ball tells me there is a chance that the next version might have a search. Check again in a few weeks.

 

[tux]

A search box ... in my classic start menu .. I love you! (platonically)

(Random idea: What about live results?)

 

[Ivo]

What do you mean by "live results"?