You have a different problem then you think you have!
It is a user's option as to whether or not there is anything at all in a
Startup folder. Anything in a Startup folder will start when the machine is
booted. This is irrelevant to your problem right now.
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C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator, this is for the built-in
Administrator's account not for any logged on user.
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Everyone should see a combination of two start Menu folders.
When logged on as You, you should see items from both:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
and
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
Is the Common Start Menu, it appears for anyone who logs on.
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu
Is your Start Menu, it should appear when you log on.
To see which Start Menu is yours, do this...
Click Start | Click Run | Type or paste the following line into the box and
click OK...
%userprofile%\Start Menu
C:\Documents and Settings\Someone's Name Here\Start Menu should open.
What folder opens for you????
%userprofile% is an environment variable that is the path to the user's home
folder.
Typing or pasting %userprofile% into the Start | Run box opens to the
Documents and Settings folder on whatever drive it is located on for the
logged in user.
I.e. C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
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I think that somehow your Shell Folders are messed because you do not seem
to be seeing the links that you posted ARE in C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories
Let's look at a couple of things in the registry.
Open the Registry Editor...
Start | Run | Type: regedit | Click OK |
Navigate to >>>
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Compare what is in the right hand pane with the following:
AppData %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
Cache %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
Cookies %USERPROFILE%\Cookies
Desktop %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
Favorites %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
History %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History
Local AppData %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
Local Settings %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings
My Music %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Music
My Pictures %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
Nethood %USERPROFILE%\NetHood
Personal [My Documents] %USERPROFILE%\My Documents
PrintHood %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
SendTo %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
Start Menu %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
Startup %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Templates %USERPROFILE%\Templates
This is the important one:
Start Menu %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
Take note of anything that is different.
Everything in the above key should start with %USERPROFILE%. If you paste
%USERPROFILE% into Start | Run and click OK, it will most likely open
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here. The folders above are your
folders.
The HKEY_CURRENT_USER key is for the current logged on user, you.
Now navigate to >>>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Compare what is in the right hand pane with the following:
Common AppData %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data
Common Desktop %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop
Common Documents %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
Common Programs %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
Common Start Menu %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu
Common Startup %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Common Templates %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Templates
This is the important one:
Common Start Menu %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu
Take note of anything that is different.
Everything in the above key should start with %ALLUSERSPROFILE%. If you
paste %ALLUSERSPROFILE% into Start | Run and click OK, it will most likely
open C:\Documents and Settings\All Users. The folders above are for all
users, anyone who is logged on to the machine. They are common to all
users.
The HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key is machine wide, for any user that is logged on.
Post back with anything that is different than what is listed for both
of the registry keys mentioned above.
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In
Sierras said:
RE Wes Fogel's recommendation to use
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307894
I am unable to use Add/Remove as this is an OEM OS and I have no CD with
Windows XP Pro MCE OS. Same problem arises when I use Add/Remove Windows
Components.
I erred in my last return comment. One of my startup folders is indeed
empty – but you said to look in start menu. I have two start menus,
the other has 3 irrelevant programs.
The least complete start menu has only
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start
Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility
Magnifier
Narrator
On-Screen Keyboard
Utility Manager
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start
Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment
Windows Media Player – the only shortcut
The *most complete* Start Menu is detailed below, and does have what you
detailed, **plus **more.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility
Magnifier
Narrator
On-Screen Keyboard
Utility Manager
Plus
Accessibility Wizard
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications
has shortcuts for...
Network Connections
Network Setup Wizard
New Connection Wizard
Remote Desktop Connection
plus
hyperterminal and
wireless network setup wizard
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment
Sound Recorder
Volume Control
Plus
Windows Media Player
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System
Tools
Backup
Character Map
Disk Cleanup
Disk Defragmenter
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Scheduled Tasks
System Information
Plus
Security Center
System Restore
I am at a loss without a CD of the OS.
