Problem with XP's Start... All Programs

[EdFriese]

I've always used the locations:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
C:\Documents and Settings\CURRENT USER\Start Menu\Programs

creating folders to group applications by type, and this current
install of XP Media Edition is no different. If I look in those
locations, shortcuts all seem in the correct places, yet if I log in
as the Administrator, somehow I see all these folders, as well as all
the ones in the C:\Program Files directory.

I've checked the registry, and everything I've found seems correct
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\ExplorerUserShellFolders -- Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
\Programs

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
\UserShellFolders -- Common Programs %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu
\Programs

Anyone seen this strange behavior before? Even more, anyone know how
to fix-it?

 

[EdFriese]

Can't see any similarities, outside of the usual stuff.

I don't want to start from scratch (OS installed by Dell, so not the
easiest option). As stated, I haven't found anything in the registry,
and all the other users on this PC are fine.

I'm going to continue to dig, and will post if I find anything.

Ed

 

[Ed F]

Jag,
In my first post, I mentioned...

I've checked the registry, and everything I've found seems correct
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
\ExplorerUserShellFolders -- Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
\Programs

It's not EXACTLY the same as the key you posted (but it's close), so
I'll give it a try and post back with the results.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Ed F]

Jag,
I think they're 2 different things. The Startmenu\programs key,
would point to the Start Menu > Programs, whereas the Programs key,
tells Windows where to load new software.

Ed