Change Start Menu

[djs]

I realise that the Classic Start Menu option isn't available, but is there a way to get a menu to open when the mouse is hovered over an item.

All Programs, then point the mouse at a menu item and it expands without the extra clicks that the current default menu needs.

I like to set up (in the classic menu) say. Utilities and Media folders and put program menus that correspond into them. This keeps the start menu tidy.

This would make the menu act more like the Classic Menu which I so much prefer.

I've gone though all of the very helpful tutorials, but havn't found anything to help for this.
David.

 

[Mark]

Have you tried using the new Libraries to add a new library, then just add a group of folders to the new library so can gain access to multiple folders in one area.

 

[djs]

Thanks Mr Grim, I'll give that a go.

Back to the tutorials

But back to my question isn't there any way of getting a folder to open by hovering the mouse in the menu ?
I'm almost ashamed to admit, but the very first thing I've always done in the past after a re format, was to change the menu to the classic format, so I'm having to live with the default menu system which I hate.

On further investigation I see that on the, properties, start menu, customization, there is a tick against 'open submenus when I pause on them with the mouse pointer'
Perhaps this is just something that's a 'beta thing' and not working correctly yet.

 

[johngalt]

Remember, that is for the start menu only - not in explorer....

 

[looniam]

i like to have a hierarchy of menus and sub menus myself. i don't know if something like this might help:

make a folder on your desktop and call it utilities. drag it to your start menu, it will open and hover over programs until that opens and drop it in. now drag all your utilities menus and apps and drop them in. they will be alphabetized, if you want them in a different order then number then menus 1 thru 9 along with the name and they will go where you want them.

i like to have high level menus like internet, hardware, audio, video, graphics, along with utilities. keeps the programs menu less cluttered.

i liked the hover effect myself but now i have to click, but in the name of progress, right?

hope that helps.

 

[djs]

Thanks for the info looniam, that's given me another way to try.

Not having the so easy to use Classic Menu is really annoying. It's SO much easier just to move the mouse through folders until you get to what you want, rather than now, having umpteen clicks and then everything else is buried until you click back to another folder. I hate it.

I so hope some clever person can hack this to get back to an easy to use menu.

 

[Captain Zoom]

Not available in the beta.

 

[ustahl]

Disable the Start Menu Search box?

I too would like to use the Start Menu like the Classic one, but the "Search programs and files" box at the very bottom prevents it.
What I mean is that I would furnish my most used Start Menu shortcuts with a number 0-9, and would then launch them by simply opening the Start Menu by pushing the Window button and then the relevant shortcut number with the keyboard - no laborious mouse clicking!
Unfortunately the search box "steals" the number input meant for the program shortcut.
Is there a way to disable the Start Menu search box? Registry?
I never use that search box for searching anyway, I always search within other folders/libraries, so i could well do without it.

 

[rgauchey]

I also love the classic start menu. I hope it is included in the final release.

 

[napilopez]

I too would like to use the Start Menu like the Classic one, but the "Search programs and files" box at the very bottom prevents it.
What I mean is that I would furnish my most used Start Menu shortcuts with a number 0-9, and would then launch them by simply opening the Start Menu by pushing the Window button and then the relevant shortcut number with the keyboard - no laborious mouse clicking!
Unfortunately the search box "steals" the number input meant for the program shortcut.
Is there a way to disable the Start Menu search box? Registry?
I never use that search box for searching anyway, I always search within other folders/libraries, so i could well do without it.

Well, you can kinda do your first thing by pressing Winkey+1-9 for your pinned taskbar items . Tutorials say 1-5, but I get it to work all the way till 9 .

But if you don't like that, its cool. I doubt MS will include it in the final release though. I guess some things you just have to move on from =/

Or hack it

=P

I would recommend you give the search option more usage though, its extremely quick. I never used the search function till 7. Its awesome. I never look for programs in the start menu anymore

 

[ustahl]

Well, you can kinda do your first thing by pressing Winkey+1-9 for your pinned taskbar items . Tutorials say 1-5, but I get it to work all the way till 9 .

Thanks for your reply, but pressing Winkey+1-9 doesn't work for me.
I have an application, the name of which starts with "1.", pinned to the start menu. I want to launch the application by pressing Winkey+1 (like Winkey+R for "Run"), but the "1" only shows up in the start menu search box, to no avail.
I then pinned the same "1."-item to the taskbar, as indicated by you above, but now pressing Winkey+1 does nothing.
Does it really work for you that way? Where is that tutorial you refer to, stating it should work for 1-5?

Tia
Uffe

 

[napilopez]

I believe what you are doing is pressing Winkey and then pressing "1" afterwards correct? What I am saying is that you press them both at the same time, or hold winkey while you press the 1 button. Renaming the program is not necessary. Hope this helps!

 

[ustahl]

I've been pressing Winkey and "1" simultaneously, like when starting "Run" by pressing Winkey+R. Nothing happens. The "1" goes into the search box when first pressing & releasing Winkey and "1" afterwards, of course.
This was my reason for wanting ability to disable the start menu search box, because my thought was that the start menu would then work like the classic start menu, ie. the search box not snatching the "1".

You mentioned some tutorial for Winkey+"1-5" earlier on. Can you help me find it?

 

[napilopez]

It wasn't a tutorial, but rather several websites mentioning Win+1-5 letting you activate the respective pinned taskbar program. Its very strange that it doesnt work. Do you have any particular customized settings for your taskbar?

 

[ustahl]

No, no odd customizations for my taskbar or start menu.
If you are able to launch items by pressing Win+1-5, where are these items located: taskbar or start menu or what? I ask this because I'm trying to launch them from the start menu, but you seem rather to talk abt the taskbar. Also, do the names of your Win+1-5(9) items start with the corresponding number?

My aim is the ability to launch frequent applications by just key combinations instead of mouse labour (as back in the classic start menu).

 

[Mark]

You need to have them pinned in the taskbar for the shortcut to work.

 

[Barman58]

Hi, ustahl

You can add a keyboard shortcut to any program shortcut - just right click and on the shortcut tab there is a box for shortcut key just press a key and then CTRL+Alt +key will launch the program.

Also with the Winkey shortcuts you have to press WINKEY and 1 together to launch the taskbar items if you release the WINKEY before the number then the number will go into the search box

 

[ustahl]

Thanks Grim & Barman, will try those a bit later today and report my findings.

 

[ustahl]

Well, actually I knew abt pinning items to taskbar. But pressing Win+number simultaneously won't launch anything pinned to the taskbar (or start menu).

I'm now adding hotkeys (Alt+1-9) to my frequent apps pinned to the start menu, and that seems to work. I add the hotkey numbers to the names of the start menu pinned items' names so that when I press Winkey I see in the start menu what hotkey to use for launching which application without the mouse. It's quite fast.

Additionally, I have also taken some deeper looks at the new taskbar's potentials, which I did not realize earlier on. Have obviously been stubbornly too pre-occupied sticking to old habits. I'm adding an extra Quicklaunch toolbar for certain items into the taskbar next to the start button, it looks like in Vista. The new taskbar makes it possible to have a totally clean desktop, as opposed to earlier having a plethora of icons cluttering the desktop.

I guess it's time for me to scuttle oldfashioned habits and move on.

Thanks for your input, guys!

 

[rerice]

True Launch Bar

Give " True Launch Bar " a try.

It replaces ( What was the Quick Start ) in XP / Vista and
will configure Directories / folder / folder all you want.

And a lot of other things which I do not use. But it is activates
with just a hover and is completely configurable.

true launch bar - Google Search

Give it a try, It is terrific.

If you do not like TLB than the Quick Launch Bar is recoverable
in Windows 7.

Richard