Alphabetizing programs in start menu

[Joe McGuire]

Is there any way to put all the programs that show up in Start, Programs in
alphabetical order. The default way--evidently in ascending chronological
order (based on date added)--might be helpful if I could recall the dates I
added all those darned programs. There are a lot! But this feat of memory
is not possible for me. Sorting them alphabetically would be more
practical, at least for me. thanks.

 

[Nepatsfan]

Is there any way to put all the programs that show up in Start, Programs in
alphabetical order. The default way--evidently in ascending chronological
order (based on date added)--might be helpful if I could recall the dates I
added all those darned programs. There are a lot! But this feat of memory is
not possible for me. Sorting them alphabetically would be more practical, at
least for me. thanks.

Did you try right clicking on the list and selecting Sort by name from the menu.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is there any way to put all the programs that show up in Start, Programs in
alphabetical order. The default way--evidently in ascending chronological
order (based on date added)--might be helpful if I could recall the dates I
added all those darned programs. There are a lot! But this feat of memory
is not possible for me. Sorting them alphabetically would be more
practical, at least for me. thanks.

Right-click within the list and choose "Sort by name."

 

[Joe McGuire]

Thanks! I knew there was an easy way! But here's something wierd. The
list of programs consists of two columns of things. The left column and a
few entries on the top of the right column are alphabetized. Then the rest
of the right column programs are also alphabetized. So I have two
alphabetical lists. Why aren't they all in alphabetical order? i.e., a
single list alphabetized?

 

[jimbo571]

Thanks! I knew there was an easy way! But here's something wierd. The
list of programs consists of two columns of things. The left column and a
few entries on the top of the right column are alphabetized. Then the rest
of the right column programs are also alphabetized. So I have two
alphabetical lists. Why aren't they all in alphabetical order? i.e., a
single list alphabetized?

Right-click within the list and choose "Sort by name."

The first part of the list has subfolders , the next don`t . If you
install more programs , they will go after the "second" list until you
alphabetize again .

 

[Joe McGuire]

Now that you point it out I can see the subfolders. I had no idea.
Dividing the list of programs into two based on whether or not there are
subfolders seems pretty arbitrary and weird. I'm sure this made sense to a
guy in Redmond when they were inventing Win XP but I doubt I'll remember
whether the program I am looking for has subfolders. Not exactly what I'd
focus on. At least I only have to examine two alphabetized lists.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Now that you point it out I can see the subfolders. I had no idea.
Dividing the list of programs into two based on whether or not there are
subfolders seems pretty arbitrary and weird. I'm sure this made sense to a
guy in Redmond when they were inventing Win XP but I doubt I'll remember
whether the program I am looking for has subfolders. Not exactly what I'd
focus on. At least I only have to examine two alphabetized lists.

It's not some "guy in Redmond" who decided what should be in a
subfolder and what not, but the installation routines for the
individual programs. Some create subfolders, others don't.

But the entire structure there is up to you. You can create folders
there yourself, delete them, move shortcuts into or out of folders,
etc. What you see in Start | Programs is just a view of the folder
\Documents and Settings\xxxxxxx\Start Menu\Startup, where xxxxxxx is
your user name.

 

[Olórin]

Now that you point it out I can see the subfolders. I had no idea.
Dividing the list of programs into two based on whether or not there are
subfolders seems pretty arbitrary and weird. I'm sure this made sense to
a guy in Redmond when they were inventing Win XP but I doubt I'll remember
whether the program I am looking for has subfolders. Not exactly what I'd
focus on. At least I only have to examine two alphabetized lists.

I believe it's not whether there are subfolders within the folder or not,
but whether the item itself is a file (a shortcut) or a folder, containing
(shortcut) files and/or subfolders. Folders first, then shortcuts.

Thus for me, although "SpywareBlaster" comes after "Outlook Express"
alphabetically, it comes before it in my sorted list because it is a folder
containing shortcuts, as opposed to Outlook Express being a shortcut in its
own right.

And remember, you're not enslaved to how it's ordered; as Ken says, "the
entire structure there is up to you". You can create and move around your
own shortcuts, folders, subfolders, sub-subfolders etc. If you're having
trouble hunting down things quickly, it sounds like that would be a good
idea for you. I like to create top-level entries called Internet,
Multimedia, Security, Games, etc. and group things therein.

The only caveat is that any items you move may well remain in their new
place after you've uninstalled the application. The uninstaller will look in
the place it created the item/s to remove it/them, but won't hunt through a
customised structure. Small price to pay, IMHO.