All Programs List Does Not Show All Programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

When I click on the Start button, and select All Programs, many of the
programs that are installed on my computer do not show up in the list.
Those missing programs ARE listed in Windows Explorer. The missing programs
are also listed properly under Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. If I
click on the Desktop shortcut or the executable in Windows Explorer for one
of those missing programs, they run normally. How can I refresh the list of
installed programs on the All Programs list?

I reinstalled Windows XP on this system last May, have all updates, and
everything else is working great. I first noticed this issue about 2 weeks
ago. Switching to the Classic Start Menu did not correct the problem. I
run in Administer mode only, with hidden files and folders shown under
Views. This computer is a Dell XPS 210, with Windows XP Professional
operating system (version 5.1.2600, SP3) and 2 GB memory.

Thanks,
Jim
 
Jim said:
When I click on the Start button, and select All Programs, many of the
programs that are installed on my computer do not show up in the list.
Those missing programs ARE listed in Windows Explorer. The missing programs
are also listed properly under Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. If I
click on the Desktop shortcut or the executable in Windows Explorer for one
of those missing programs, they run normally. How can I refresh the list of
installed programs on the All Programs list?

I reinstalled Windows XP on this system last May, have all updates, and
everything else is working great. I first noticed this issue about 2 weeks
ago. Switching to the Classic Start Menu did not correct the problem. I
run in Administer mode only, with hidden files and folders shown under
Views. This computer is a Dell XPS 210, with Windows XP Professional
operating system (version 5.1.2600, SP3) and 2 GB memory.

Thanks,
Jim
Click to expand...

1. Right click on Start
2. Click on Open All Users (or just Open if you want an entry to show up
only for you and not others who use the computer).
3. In the Windows Explorer window that opens, double click on Programs.

alternative to 1 -3:

Start>Run>
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
OK

4. Click File > New > Shortcut
5. Browse to the exe file for the desired program; type a name; finish
the Create Shortcut Wizard.
6. Repeat 4 & 5 as needed.
 
Lem, that approach works well for the executable. However, it doesn't
recreate the normal folder for that program, with a flyout menu for the
executable, uninstaller, readme document, etc. Isn't there a more global
approach to refreshing the All Programs list? I'm comfortable with making
changes to the registry, if needed.

Thanks for your help,
Jim
 
Jim said:
When I click on the Start button, and select All Programs, many of the
programs that are installed on my computer do not show up in the list.
Those missing programs ARE listed in Windows Explorer. The missing programs
are also listed properly under Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs. If I
click on the Desktop shortcut or the executable in Windows Explorer for one
of those missing programs, they run normally. How can I refresh the list of
installed programs on the All Programs list?
Click to expand...

There's nothing that links those lists together. A proper installation
routine should put an entry into the Add/Remove list, and at least
offer you the option of an entry in "All Programs", but not all do.
And not all programs - especially simple programs - even have or need
an installer.

Of course you can create shortcuts in your Start menu to point to
anything you want. Click "Start", right-click "All Programs" and
choose "Explore". That will get you a Windows Explorer window with the
focus set right on your "All Programs" menu. You'll be able to put
whatever shortcuts you want wherever you want.

BTW: there are always lots of things in Add/Remove that aren't in "All
Programs". Every Windows Update is treated that way.
 
Jim said:
Lem, that approach works well for the executable. However, it doesn't
recreate the normal folder for that program, with a flyout menu for the
executable, uninstaller, readme document, etc. Isn't there a more global
approach to refreshing the All Programs list? I'm comfortable with making
changes to the registry, if needed.

Thanks for your help,
Jim
Click to expand...

In general, there's no "one-button fix." You have to add items to the
Start Menu one by one.

I'm pretty sure that System Restore does NOT monitor Start Menu links,
but if (a) this behavior started recently, (b) you have been running
System Restore, and (c) you have not installed anything since the last
time things worked correctly, you can try using System Restore to return
to that point. You can always UNDO a System Restore restoration if it
doesn't do what you want.

The "flyout" menus you are describing are merely subfolders within
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

For example, you might have a folder like
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes'
Anti-Malware
with the following shortcuts (you probably won't see the lnk extension)

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe"]

Uninstall Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\unins000.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Help.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.chm"]

Actually, my start menu has the folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Anti Malware\
and the "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" folder described above is a
sub-folder in that. So, on my Start > All Programs list I see an entry

Anti Malware

and when I hover the mouse over that, a sub-menu appears that includes

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

in addition to the names of all of the other antimalware apps I've
installed.

I don't actually get to the shortcut to start MBAM until I move the
mouse twice more. It's a bit more mouse work, but it makes the Start
Menu much better organized.
 
Lem said:
Jim said:
Lem, that approach works well for the executable. However, it doesn't
recreate the normal folder for that program, with a flyout menu for
the executable, uninstaller, readme document, etc. Isn't there a more
global approach to refreshing the All Programs list? I'm comfortable
with making changes to the registry, if needed.

Thanks for your help,
Jim
Click to expand...

In general, there's no "one-button fix." You have to add items to the
Start Menu one by one.

I'm pretty sure that System Restore does NOT monitor Start Menu links,
but if (a) this behavior started recently, (b) you have been running
System Restore, and (c) you have not installed anything since the last
time things worked correctly, you can try using System Restore to return
to that point. You can always UNDO a System Restore restoration if it
doesn't do what you want.

The "flyout" menus you are describing are merely subfolders within
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

For example, you might have a folder like
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes'
Anti-Malware
with the following shortcuts (you probably won't see the lnk extension)

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe"]

Uninstall Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\unins000.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Help.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.chm"]

Actually, my start menu has the folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Anti Malware\
and the "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" folder described above is a
sub-folder in that. So, on my Start > All Programs list I see an entry

Anti Malware

and when I hover the mouse over that, a sub-menu appears that includes

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

in addition to the names of all of the other antimalware apps I've
installed.

I don't actually get to the shortcut to start MBAM until I move the
mouse twice more. It's a bit more mouse work, but it makes the Start
Menu much better organized.
Click to expand...

In addition, although it's usually easy to create a shortcut to the
executable, the target of the shortcut to the uninstall routine (if
there even is one) is likely to be quite a bit more obscure. Shortcuts
to help files and random other items that an application's install
routine usually puts in the start menu likewise will take some
sleuthing. IMO, the only way to be *sure* that your start menu entry
looks "just like" what it would look like after the app was installed is
to re-install the app. You can, of course, do just fine without those
other shortcuts.
 
Lem, I suspected that a global fix probably wasn't available, and don't plan
to reinstall the programs. I'll just add a few of the more important ones
back to the list with the technique you suggested earlier, for easy access.

Thanks,
Jim

Lem said:
Lem said:
Jim said:
Lem, that approach works well for the executable. However, it doesn't
recreate the normal folder for that program, with a flyout menu for the
executable, uninstaller, readme document, etc. Isn't there a more
global approach to refreshing the All Programs list? I'm comfortable
with making changes to the registry, if needed.

Thanks for your help,
Jim

Jim wrote:
When I click on the Start button, and select All Programs, many of the
programs that are installed on my computer do not show up in the list.
Those missing programs ARE listed in Windows Explorer. The missing
programs are also listed properly under Control Panel, Add or Remove
Programs. If I click on the Desktop shortcut or the executable in
Windows Explorer for one of those missing programs, they run normally.
How can I refresh the list of installed programs on the All Programs
list?

I reinstalled Windows XP on this system last May, have all updates,
and everything else is working great. I first noticed this issue
about 2 weeks ago. Switching to the Classic Start Menu did not
correct the problem. I run in Administer mode only, with hidden files
and folders shown under Views. This computer is a Dell XPS 210, with
Windows XP Professional operating system (version 5.1.2600, SP3) and 2
GB memory.

Thanks,
Jim
1. Right click on Start
2. Click on Open All Users (or just Open if you want an entry to show
up only for you and not others who use the computer).
3. In the Windows Explorer window that opens, double click on Programs.

alternative to 1 -3:

Start>Run>
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
OK

4. Click File > New > Shortcut
5. Browse to the exe file for the desired program; type a name; finish
the Create Shortcut Wizard.
6. Repeat 4 & 5 as needed.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html
Click to expand...

In general, there's no "one-button fix." You have to add items to the
Start Menu one by one.

I'm pretty sure that System Restore does NOT monitor Start Menu links,
but if (a) this behavior started recently, (b) you have been running
System Restore, and (c) you have not installed anything since the last
time things worked correctly, you can try using System Restore to return
to that point. You can always UNDO a System Restore restoration if it
doesn't do what you want.

The "flyout" menus you are describing are merely subfolders within
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

For example, you might have a folder like
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes'
Anti-Malware
with the following shortcuts (you probably won't see the lnk extension)

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe"]

Uninstall Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\unins000.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Help.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.chm"]

Actually, my start menu has the folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Anti Malware\
and the "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" folder described above is a
sub-folder in that. So, on my Start > All Programs list I see an entry

Anti Malware

and when I hover the mouse over that, a sub-menu appears that includes

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

in addition to the names of all of the other antimalware apps I've
installed.

I don't actually get to the shortcut to start MBAM until I move the mouse
twice more. It's a bit more mouse work, but it makes the Start Menu much
better organized.
Click to expand...

In addition, although it's usually easy to create a shortcut to the
executable, the target of the shortcut to the uninstall routine (if there
even is one) is likely to be quite a bit more obscure. Shortcuts to help
files and random other items that an application's install routine usually
puts in the start menu likewise will take some sleuthing. IMO, the only
way to be *sure* that your start menu entry looks "just like" what it
would look like after the app was installed is to re-install the app. You
can, of course, do just fine without those other shortcuts.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html
Click to expand...
 
Jim said:
Lem, I suspected that a global fix probably wasn't available, and don't plan
to reinstall the programs. I'll just add a few of the more important ones
back to the list with the technique you suggested earlier, for easy access.

Thanks,
Jim

Lem said:
Lem said:
Jim wrote:
Lem, that approach works well for the executable. However, it doesn't
recreate the normal folder for that program, with a flyout menu for the
executable, uninstaller, readme document, etc. Isn't there a more
global approach to refreshing the All Programs list? I'm comfortable
with making changes to the registry, if needed.

Thanks for your help,
Jim

Jim wrote:
When I click on the Start button, and select All Programs, many of the
programs that are installed on my computer do not show up in the list.
Those missing programs ARE listed in Windows Explorer. The missing
programs are also listed properly under Control Panel, Add or Remove
Programs. If I click on the Desktop shortcut or the executable in
Windows Explorer for one of those missing programs, they run normally.
How can I refresh the list of installed programs on the All Programs
list?

I reinstalled Windows XP on this system last May, have all updates,
and everything else is working great. I first noticed this issue
about 2 weeks ago. Switching to the Classic Start Menu did not
correct the problem. I run in Administer mode only, with hidden files
and folders shown under Views. This computer is a Dell XPS 210, with
Windows XP Professional operating system (version 5.1.2600, SP3) and 2
GB memory.

Thanks,
Jim
1. Right click on Start
2. Click on Open All Users (or just Open if you want an entry to show
up only for you and not others who use the computer).
3. In the Windows Explorer window that opens, double click on Programs.

alternative to 1 -3:

Start>Run>
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
OK

4. Click File > New > Shortcut
5. Browse to the exe file for the desired program; type a name; finish
the Create Shortcut Wizard.
6. Repeat 4 & 5 as needed.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html

In general, there's no "one-button fix." You have to add items to the
Start Menu one by one.

I'm pretty sure that System Restore does NOT monitor Start Menu links,
but if (a) this behavior started recently, (b) you have been running
System Restore, and (c) you have not installed anything since the last
time things worked correctly, you can try using System Restore to return
to that point. You can always UNDO a System Restore restoration if it
doesn't do what you want.

The "flyout" menus you are describing are merely subfolders within
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

For example, you might have a folder like
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malwarebytes'
Anti-Malware
with the following shortcuts (you probably won't see the lnk extension)

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe"]

Uninstall Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\unins000.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Help.lnk [shortcut to "C:\Program
Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.chm"]

Actually, my start menu has the folder

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Anti Malware\
and the "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware" folder described above is a
sub-folder in that. So, on my Start > All Programs list I see an entry

Anti Malware

and when I hover the mouse over that, a sub-menu appears that includes

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

in addition to the names of all of the other antimalware apps I've
installed.

I don't actually get to the shortcut to start MBAM until I move the mouse
twice more. It's a bit more mouse work, but it makes the Start Menu much
better organized.
Click to expand...
In addition, although it's usually easy to create a shortcut to the
executable, the target of the shortcut to the uninstall routine (if there
even is one) is likely to be quite a bit more obscure. Shortcuts to help
files and random other items that an application's install routine usually
puts in the start menu likewise will take some sleuthing. IMO, the only
way to be *sure* that your start menu entry looks "just like" what it
would look like after the app was installed is to re-install the app. You
can, of course, do just fine without those other shortcuts.

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

Apollo 11 - 40 years ago:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

YW. Most of the time you never use any of those other icons anyway. When
it comes time to uninstall, just use Control Panel > Add or Remove
Programs (which is exactly the same thing as clicking on a link in the
Start Menu to the app's uninstall routine).
 
Jim formulated the question :
Lem, I suspected that a global fix probably wasn't available, and don't plan
to reinstall the programs. I'll just add a few of the more important ones
back to the list with the technique you suggested earlier, for easy access.
Click to expand...

Check this.

C:\Documents and Settings

Right click on the folder, select > Properties. On the General page,
make sure the Hidden box is not selected.
 
Thanks John. The "hidden" box was not selected. I don't really mind that
the All Programs list doesn't replicate what is in the Windows Explorer
view, since I added back the three programs that I wanted via Start.

Everybody, thanks for the help.
Jim
 
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