XP Start Menu Issue?

Question

Well, I been using classic windows theme on XP for a long time because I'm such a
bare-bones user. Today I figured I'd tinker around with a theme or 2 and actually
use the "current" windows XP start menu. I actually like it, so I've decided to
stay.

The problem is.. You know where you would normally see programs that you use
frequently in the start menu? Mine dont record. Stop me if I'm mistaken, But if i was to open notepad up.. On the left side of the start menu.. wouldnt it automatically place notepad there because I frequently used it?

I assumed, I'd load a program up and it'd automatically go into that section of the
start menu. I've loaded several programs actually. Nothing. I even tried loading the same
application several times. Nothing again.

I checked the properties>start menu>customize>general> Number of programs on start
menu is 6..

Sooo, the question is, why wont it record my programs I use often?

Thanks in advance,

Dominic

Dragging and dropping programs to the start menu isnt the same as it automatically being placed in it. Isn't this how it works?

Here's a screenshot of a start menu that I googled. If you compare the start menus on the left side, you can see that they are clearly different. For one example.. The little bar.

By the way.. Gaim and Google were dragged onto the menu manually.
Although I set the option to have 6 programs saved in the start menu that I use most often.. None show.. and I could drag 20 applications to that section.. But still.. like I said.. it just isn't the same as it automatically showing. Plus.. I dont want to have to deep down into my directories to find a shortcut of notepad.. lol

Thanks for the help!

Dominick

The Screenie: http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7026/629651028re.jpg

Answer 1

The following instructions (shown below) are from this site:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/win_start_overview.mspx?mfr=true

"To show your most recently used documents on the Start menu
1. Right-click the Start button, and then click Properties.

2. On the Start Menu tab, click Start menu, and then click Customize.

3. On the Advanced tab, select the List my most recently opened documents check box.

The next time you click Start, the My Recent Documents folder is on the Start menu. This folder contains the documents and files you opened recently.

Note
• On the Advanced tab, click Clear List to empty the My Recent Documents folder. This does not delete the documents from the computer. "

If the above still does not solve your problems try looking at some of the sites I found using a Google Search:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-18,GGLD:en&q=windows+xp+start+menu+program

Good Luck

Answer 2

Why automatically load them and clog memory if you only use certain programs frequently, as opposed to regularly and daily?

Why not create a shortcut on the desktop for those programs?

cl Start
Programs
Locate the program for which you want a shortcut
right-click it
select create shortcut

If the shortcut (which will have an arrow on it) goes to the end of the list instead of directly to the desktop, drag it there or cut/paste.

Answer 3

If you have programs that you use more often, then it won't bump it off. You can manually kick the things that you don't want out by right-clicking the item, and then choosing Remove from this List.

Happy computing!

Answer 4

i think it only records if you open up the application through using "start" button -- all programs -- etc.

Answer 5

Your pc has been contaminated by potential of a few extreme viruses which have attacked on your registry information. So please get your pc checked by potential of a few techanical professional or format it.