Opening item on Windows Start menu without it collapsing?

[thx1139]

Sometimes I would like to open more than one thing from the Windows Start menu including multiple items from the recent jump list. When I click on something the Start menu disappears and I have to open it again and move the mouse cursor as necessary but this could be avoided if it were possible to hold the Start menu open. Is that possible?

 

[Ranger4]

I don't think there is any way you can "freeze" the Start menu list, but you could right click on the items you want from the Start menu & pin them to the Task Bar. The Start menu will remain open while you do the pinning to the Task Bar.

 

[Layback Bear]

As far as I know their is not a way of doing what you request.
It would be very handy if their was.

Jack

 

[Lance1]

Yes absolutely it is possible. Open the start menu and go to the program that you want. Hold down the "Shift" key and run the program. "Do Not Let Go Of The Shift Key" Now open another program, and another. As long as you hold the Shift key down the menu will remain open.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Go to your documents... folder change the sorting and select as many as you want too to open at the same time...

 

[Ranger4]

Yes absolutely it is possible. Open the start menu and go to the program that you want. Hold down the "Shift" key and run the program. "Do Not Let Go Of The Shift Key" Now open another program, and another. As long as you hold the Shift key down the menu will remain open.

That does not work on my computer. The Start menu still disappears, the same as it does without holding down the Shift key.

 

[Lance1]

That does not work on my computer. The Start menu still disappears, the same as it does without holding down the Shift key.

Are you holding the Shift key when you click the start icon? If so thats why. Go to the menu, find what you want and "Then" hold the Shift key. Works for me on all my systems.

 

[Ranger4]

Yes, I am holding down the Shift key as you have described & the Start menu still disappears immediately after clicking on one program.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Same Here

Yes, I am holding down the Shift key as you have described & the Start menu still disappears immediately after clicking on one program.

Same here.

When I tried it, the program I selected opened with a different window size (default?) than it usually does.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Funny I did it and the file opened behind my browser window
Start menu still closed though but normally the file would open on top not behind

 

[lehnerus2000]

Weird

Hi,
Funny I did it and the file opened behind my browser window
Start menu still closed though but normally the file would open on top not behind

I tried a couple of different programs.
Solitaire and VLC opened on top, but MPC opened below the browser window.

It must be a Start Menu bug and/or application dependent.

The Start Menu is twitchy.
On my Main PC the "Start Menu Drag & Drop" works differently to my other PC's "Start Menu Drag & Drop".

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yep I only tried notepad file no telling what other program files would do.
All I know is shift while opening something does little towards the question at hand anyway

 

[Layback Bear]

The shift key things doesn't work for me either.

Jack

 

[Lance1]

Works just fine for me! Can't explain it..

 

[Ranger4]

Sometimes I would like to open more than one thing from the Windows Start menu including multiple items from the recent jump list. When I click on something the Start menu disappears and I have to open it again and move the mouse cursor as necessary but this could be avoided if it were possible to hold the Start menu open. Is that possible?

While the Shift key does not seem to work for most of the replies, you can use the Windows key. This will open the Start menu & you can select a program to run, the Start menu will disappear, but press the Windows key again & select the new program & so on.

While this doesn't solve the OP's question is does make it quicker & easier than continually moving the mouse to the Start button etc..

As Thrash said when using the Shift key or just the Start menu the program opens behind the browser window, whereas using the Windows key to open the Start menu the program opens in front of the browser & the last one opened will be on top.

 

[thx1139]

While the Shift key does not seem to work for most of the replies, you can use the Windows key. This will open the Start menu & you can select a program to run, the Start menu will disappear, but press the Windows key again & select the new program & so on.

While this doesn't solve the OP's question is does make it quicker & easier than continually moving the mouse to the Start button etc..

Unfortunately what you described (use Windows key) is already what I'm doing so it's not an improvement.

The shift key does nothing for me except open the program in the background.

 

[iko22]

You could consider underclocking your CPU, to a frequency lower than the standard.

Then when you open Start Menu, it might just stay open long enough for you to make multiple clicks, selecting the items of your choice.

Don't know if suggestion would work in practice.

I normally create desktop shortcuts for when I want multiple selections launching together.

Alternatively, could you configure mouse or keyboard custom keys to launch designated items. Or is that going off the question a bit?

You might have to make compromises somewhere, in order to achieve the question.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Does anyone know of a Start Menu Timeout Registry setting (I assume there must be one)?