Default Start Menu option missing from Taskbar & Start Menu properties screen

[lmoiola]

Properties: Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Taskbar
and Start Menu > Start Menu tab
===================

I recently upgraded from XP/SP2.. I had configured with a Classic
Start Menu style.
After I upgraded to Vista, I went to change the Start Menu type and
saw:
-- the Default Vista "Start Menu" option is GONE.
-- the ONLY option is "Classic Start Menu".

Certainly this isn't a showstopper .. but How can I get the Default
Windows Vista "Start Menu" option to (re)appear in TB & SM Properties
dialog so I can use it if I like?

NOTE: I only have the "Vista Upgrade", not the "Full Install" version.
I tried to reinstall the upgrade using the clean option but it said I
couldn't use the same KEY to install again. criminy, I haven't even
Registered it yet!!
I was even thinking about wiping the drive, reinstalling XP, then
upgrading again, making sure I had the Chrome or Green/Blue schema
enabled, NOT classic.

I also tried Vista Start Menu freeware program but can't get it to
show when I click the Start button. I made sure the "Replace Start
Menu" option was check and applied. VSM looks pretty cool but only
appears when click the icon in the system tray.

***Hope someone can help.. the blog-o-sphere seems mute on this
particular issue I'm having....***

 

[lmoiola]

Okay. I figure it out - in case anyone else has same issue

------------------------

Had to make a registry edit.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
\Explorer

NoSimpleStartMenu

- Changed the value from "1" to "0" to disable.
- (I didn't understand how to restart Explorer.exe with 'Start >
Shutdown > SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+Cancel' method)
---I just rebooted the machine.

Now, I have the Default Vista Start Menu..as well as Classic in the
Properties window.

............ now I think I'll set it back to Classic !!! (hehehehe)

 

[lmoiola]

to give credit where due... I didn't pull the solution from thin
air
Thank goodness for Google. I found the fix after a quick search.
Many thanks to windowsnetworking.com

=========================================================

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kb...gistrySettingsfortheStartMenuinWindowsXP.html

=========================================================

"You can use the Group Policy editor, gpedit.msc, to manage XP Start
Menu options:

User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Start Menu and Taskbar

You can also set them directly via the registry using the registry
key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
\Explorer

The registry entries are DWORD values. A value of 1 is enabled, and a
value of 0 is disabled:

* Policy: Disable the new simple Start Menu
Descriptionisables the new simple Start menu and forces the
classic Start menu.
Registry Value: NoSimpleStartMenu

"

 

[lmoiola]

to give credit where due... I didn't pull the solution from thin
air Thank goodness for Google. I found the fix after a quick
search.
Many thanks to windowsnetworking.com

=========================================================

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsXP/Registry...

=========================================================

"You can use the Group Policy editor, gpedit.msc, to manage XP Start
Menu options:

User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Start Menu and Taskbar

[ Under the Standard tab (at the bottom), there's a setting "Force
classic Start Menu".
Right-click, select Properties. Then change value to Disable. Then
press OK.
It should work immediately. ]

You can also set them directly via the registry using the registry
key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
\Explorer

The registry entries are DWORD values. A value of 1 is enabled, and a
value of 0 is disabled:

* Policy: Disable the new simple Start Menu
Descriptionisables the new simple Start menu and forces the
classic Start menu.
Registry Value: NoSimpleStartMenu

"

 

[lmoiola]

here is a nifty tool to restart Explorer.exe (and IExplorer.exe) if
you manually edit the Registry...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/restart_explorer.html

* the GPEDIT.MSC tool makes the change immeditately.

I tested both methods in Vista and XP. works fine.

 

[lmoiola]

Okay.. I figured out the Start > Shutdown > SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+Cancel'
method

when you have the Shutdown dialog open, you hold the SHIFT+CTRL+ALT
keys down --- then click Cancel

this will kill Explorer.exe. Then you would CTRL+ALT+DELETE to get
Task Manager.. to restart Explorer.

you might as well just do that in the first place and End Process on
explorer.exe.
Then go to File, select New Task (Run...).
Then enter C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe and click OK.

----------------
else--

here is a nifty tool to restart Explorer.exe (and IExplorer.exe) if
you manually edit the Registry...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/restart_explorer.html

 

[lmoiola]

Okay.. if you manually edit the registry ( NoSimpleStartMenu = 0 )
you'll have to restart explorer.exe before you'll see the change to
option in Start Menu properties.

I figured out the Start > Shutdown > SHIFT+CTRL+ALT+Cancel' method to
Kill explorer.exe gracefully.

With Shutdown dialog open,
- Hold the SHIFT+CTRL+ALT keys down
- Then click Cancel
--> this will kill Explorer.exe.

Now to restart Explorer.exe
--> click CTRL+ALT+DELETE to get Task Manager..
- Then go to File, select New Task (Run...).
- Then enter C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe and click OK.

----------------
else--

here is a nifty tool to restart Explorer.exe (and IExplorer.exe) if
you manually edit the Registry...

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/restart_explorer.html