Is it possible to just change 2 conventions in Vista start menu?

[DukeN]

Seems like Vista only gives you the option of either sticking with
Vista's start menu, or Windows 2000 or earlier start menu.

Is there an option for users such as me who'd like a Windows-XP style
start menu?

Need the following, but neither classic nor Vista have both:

* All Programs expands out of the pane that also lists the recently
opened apps (Classic does, but Vista confines it)
* List of recently opened programs is listed on the left (Vista does
it, but Classic just reverts back to the Windows 98 days)
* Confirmation of shutdown/restart/etc when shutdown from the menu is
selected. (Classic does this, but Vista just shuts down without
warning. No option in power options to get this to prompt for a
choice).

Any ideas guys?

Thanks.

 

[Dale]

It does suck that the two buttons are for features that I never use and the
three features I always use - shutdown, restart, or switch users - I have to
go to the menu. This should have all been configurable at least. It is my
guess that they are trying to drive behavior by their choice of what's a
button and what's on the fly-out menu but not having switch user easily
accessed hides one of the best features for home use in Vista.

Dale

 

[Chad Harris]

DukeN--

The Vista start menu is an exhibit and testamant to the tin ear at Redmond.
They were asked this question many times during the Beta and did NOTHING.

What you can do is you can drag the start menu folder, and then click on the
items as shortcuts. Either right click start button>explorer all users>drag
the programs folder wherever you want or copy it (unlike XP where programs
is actually a composite of four different folders accesed in C:\(or whatever
drive) Documents and Settings, here you get the Vista All Programs folder as
far as I can tell.

All Programs doesn't expand out of the pane and as far as I know, you can't
regedit this.

Same for the second request.

I don't see that much need for shutdown confirmation, (but respect everyone
has their own needs, and I don't think you can regedit this.

By recently opened programs do you mean the item on the start menu, "recent
items?"

CH

 

[Richard Urban]

Place 2 shutdown.exe shortcuts on your desktop. Rename one "Shutdown
Computer". Name the other "Restart Computer".

Now go to the first one's (Shutdown) properties and paste the following in
the shortcut's target pane:
"C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 002"

For the second one (Restart) paste: "C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /r /t
002" in the target pane.

Leave out the quotes.

Change the shortcut's icon to anything you like.

Now just double click on the shortcut to perform either of the two options.
The action will occur after 2 seconds.


--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[DukeN]

DukeN--

The Vista start menu is an exhibit and testamant to the tin ear at Redmond.
They were asked this question many times during the Beta and did NOTHING.

Somehow, I'm not surprised. Just wish there was an option to stick
with the Windows XP style menu.

What you can do is you can drag the start menu folder, and then click on the
items as shortcuts. Either right click start button>explorer all users>drag
the programs folder wherever you want or copy it (unlike XP where programs
is actually a composite of four different folders accesed in C:\(or whatever
drive) Documents and Settings, here you get the Vista All Programs folder as
far as I can tell.

All Programs doesn't expand out of the pane and as far as I know, you can't
regedit this.

Same for the second request.

I now truly believe Vista has taken a step backward for usability. I
quite frankly don't see what much Aero accomplishes for power users,
other than confine their usability for things such as the recently
used programs.

I don't see that much need for shutdown confirmation, (but respect everyone
has their own needs, and I don't think you can regedit this.

Just wanted this so if you had an accidental mouse click on the
shutdown button, you didn't lose all your work. Most convenient thing
at the end of the day is if you're leaving work, just hit the power
button on your notebook followed by enter without looking at the
screen or anything. Just having the power button so it shuts down
automatically can cause a lot of grief if you accidentally do it IMO.

By recently opened programs do you mean the item on the start menu, "recent
items?"

Was referring to the list of recently used programs that appears on
the left above "All Programs". What I despise is how the All Programs
when expanded covers this. If only it would expand past that
automatically with a mouseover (it does expand with a mouseover, but
just the first list, all other folders have to be clicked, which is a
step and a half back).

 

[Dale]

Thanks. Not as good as using logic (my logic, that is) on how to design the
start menu, but it will work.

Dale