The Start Menu : Customizing the System Shortcuts
In order to show system items that apply to your machine, and items that you will actually use, you can add or delete shortcuts on the right side of the Start Menu.
There are many choices, and some may or may not apply. No use keeping choices that you'll never use.
Again, these are all optional customizations. I just believe in having as clean a desktop environment as possible.
You can play with all these settings and see what works for you. The recommendations below are my opinion.
In Windows XP,
1. Right-click in the area next to the picture, and select Properties.
2. Click Customize, then click the Advanced tab.
In Vista and Windows 7,
1. Right-click in the area next to the picture, and select Properties.
2. Make sure the Start Menu tab is selected, and click Customize.
Some of the items are listed below. These items may vary between versions of Windows.
Menu Item |
Description |
Recommendation |
Control Panel |
An important part of Windows. Contains access to the major settings |
Display as a Link |
Enable Drag and Drop |
Allows you to move menu items as you wish by drag and drop |
Enable |
Favorites Menu |
Access your Internet shortcuts from the Start Menu |
Disable |
Help and Support |
Windows Help files |
Enable |
My Computer |
Access to your hard drives and CD/DVD drives |
Display as a Link |
My Documents |
Access to your My Documents folder, where most saved documents default to |
Display as a Link |
My Music |
Access to the My Music folder in My Documents |
Don't display this item |
My Network Places |
Quick access to networked drives and computers. Only useful if you have a network. |
Enable if you have a network |
My Pictures |
Acess to the My Pictures folder in My Documents |
Don't display this item |
Network Connections |
I have a network, and don't use this |
Don't display this item |
Printers and Faxes |
Quick access to any and all printers you have installed |
Enable |
Run Command |
Access to a command line interface. Useful if you are familiar with DOS-type commands, otherwise... |
Disable |
Scroll Programs |
Places your Program Menu in one column that will scroll if it doesn't fit in the height of your monitor. |
Disable |
Search |
Allows you to search the entire computer for a document |
Enable |
Set Program Access and Defaults |
I never use this |
Disable |
System Administrative Tools |
This can be accessed through the Control panel |
Don't display this item |
Here is an example of a cleaned-up Start Menu. Everything you need with none of the garbage.