Most often used programs list

  • Thread starter Thread starter kakii
  • Start date Start date
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kakii

Start button contains the list of most often used
programs. If you wish specific applications are never
appearing on that list, the appropriate item in registry
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ProgramFileName.exe
has to get empty key NoStartPage.

But there are plenty of applications in that list,
whose shortcut properties are not pointing to any concrete
exe file. Instead any general reference is made here.
Examples: MS Outlook, MS Office Components, Acrobat Reader.
For the latter as target stays simple "Adobe Reader 7.0.8".

How can the associated exe file to be designated unambiguously ?
 
Hi,

Those are Windows Installer shortcuts, which don't show the target .exe file
in the "Shortcut" tab.

INFO: How Windows Installer Shortcuts Work:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=243630

Here are the executable file names that you need:

Microsoft Excel - Excel.exe
Microsoft Word - Winword.exe
Microsoft Frontpage - FRONTPG.EXE
Adobe Acrobat Reader - AcroRd32.exe

Another way to determine the executable file name of a Windows Installer
Shortcut is to use Process Explorer (from www.sysinternals.com). Simply
click the Windows Installer shortcut, and note down the name of the the new
process created (displayed in Process Explorer window).

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Start button contains the list of most often used
programs. If you wish specific applications are never
appearing on that list, the appropriate item in registry
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ProgramFileName.exe
has to get empty key NoStartPage.

But there are plenty of applications in that list,
whose shortcut properties are not pointing to any concrete
exe file. Instead any general reference is made here.
Examples: MS Outlook, MS Office Components, Acrobat Reader.
For the latter as target stays simple "Adobe Reader 7.0.8".

How can the associated exe file to be designated unambiguously ?
 
Ramesh said:
Hi,

Those are Windows Installer shortcuts, which don't show the target .exe file
in the "Shortcut" tab.
Click to expand...

Thaks for your helpful explanations.
No way to find out those associations via registry exploration ?
 
Sorry for boring you.
I just tried to apply the string NoStartPage to all unwanted apps.
But most of them do not have theirs target listed in the tree
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications at all.

May I create in such cases the new key
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ExeFileNotPresentYet.exe
to be able to place there the string NoStartPage ?
Can it lead to any side effects ?
 
Hi kakii,
to be able to place there the string NoStartPage ?

Yes, you need to create a new key (appname.exe) in order to add a
NoStartPage value to it.

BTW, TweakUI automates this task for you. To download TweakUI, visit this
page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Direct download link:
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Sorry for boring you.
I just tried to apply the string NoStartPage to all unwanted apps.
But most of them do not have theirs target listed in the tree
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications at all.

May I create in such cases the new key
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ExeFileNotPresentYet.exe
to be able to place there the string NoStartPage ?
Can it lead to any side effects ?
 
Ramesh said:
Another way to determine the executable file name of a Windows Installer
Shortcut is to use Process Explorer (from www.sysinternals.com). Simply
click the Windows Installer shortcut, and note down the name of the the new
process created (displayed in Process Explorer window).
Click to expand...

There is simple way to find out the executable file using windows xp
on-board tools.
- Task Manager->Applications
- Select the application the executable file you are using for
- context menu->Go To Process
- Task manager is presenting the associated exe file
 
Yes. Task Manager is always there. But Process Explorer is easier IMO. It
highlights the new processes in green color, so one can quicky determine the
additional process, rather than inspecting the list of processes in Task
Manager.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh said:
Another way to determine the executable file name of a Windows Installer
Shortcut is to use Process Explorer (from www.sysinternals.com). Simply
click the Windows Installer shortcut, and note down the name of the the
new
process created (displayed in Process Explorer window).
Click to expand...

There is simple way to find out the executable file using windows xp
on-board tools.
- Task Manager->Applications
- Select the application the executable file you are using for
- context menu->Go To Process
- Task manager is presenting the associated exe file
 
How can one determine the frequently used programms list settings
separately for each user account ?

On-board tools have this advantage you are free of malware risks,
you start using it on each machine running the specified os
without additional overheads.
 
On-board tools have this advantage you are free of malware risks

While this is a very valid point, the tools from Sysinternals
(sysinternals.com) can be *trusted*, and they have a wide range and
excellent set of troubleshooting tools for the Operating System. Those tools
are used by troubleshooters world-wide. FWIW.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



How can one determine the frequently used programms list settings
separately for each user account ?

On-board tools have this advantage you are free of malware risks,
you start using it on each machine running the specified os
without additional overheads.
 
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