Shortcuts on Start Menu

[Jonathan Finney]

I know it's possible to add a shortcut to the Start Menu because I have
several that I've added myself (appearing on the left below the user name).
I'm just not sure how I did this.

I'd normally expect to be able to drag a copy of an existing shortcut, but
it doesn't seem to work the same way as dragging to the desktop, for
example, where I can change whether I Copy or Move the item. Why is this?
These shortcuts don't seem to be a in a folder anywhere, so I guess that's
something to do with it.

What is the recommended way to add shortcuts to the Start Menu?

 

[Malke]

I know it's possible to add a shortcut to the Start Menu because I
have several that I've added myself (appearing on the left below the
user name). I'm just not sure how I did this.

I'd normally expect to be able to drag a copy of an existing shortcut,
but it doesn't seem to work the same way as dragging to the desktop,
for
example, where I can change whether I Copy or Move the item. Why is
this? These shortcuts don't seem to be a in a folder anywhere, so I
guess that's something to do with it.

What is the recommended way to add shortcuts to the Start Menu?

The shortcuts at the very top of the XP Start Menu? Right-click on the
entry you want there and choose "Pin to Start Menu".

Malke

 

[Jonathan Finney]

Thanks Malke. I didn't know about the 'pin to Start Menu' option and it
explains why this is not a 'location with a shortcut' like the StartUp
folder, for example.

However, the option is not always available in the context menu (desktop
Recycle Bin and IE Favorites, for example) so how do I get around this?

If I create a shortcut on the desktop and drag it to the Start Menu it works
fine, but if I then delete the desktop icon, it stops working. I guess I
can create a shortcut in a place where I don't need to delete it, but this
is a bit of a clumsy workaround. Is there an easier way?

Do you know of any articles that give more information on how to use this
feature and how it works?

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke. I didn't know about the 'pin to Start Menu' option and
it explains why this is not a 'location with a shortcut' like the
StartUp folder, for example.

However, the option is not always available in the context menu
(desktop Recycle Bin and IE Favorites, for example) so how do I get
around this?

If I create a shortcut on the desktop and drag it to the Start Menu it
works
fine, but if I then delete the desktop icon, it stops working. I
guess I can create a shortcut in a place where I don't need to delete
it, but this
is a bit of a clumsy workaround. Is there an easier way?

Do you know of any articles that give more information on how to use
this feature and how it works?

Sorry, but I can't help you. I can't imagine why someone would want to
pin the Recycle Bin or Favorites to the Start Menu when the Recycle Bin
is always available on the Desktop and Favorites can be accessed from
the Start Menu. My guess is that these items don't work the same way
because they are system folders, not shortcuts to executables. But I
really don't know.

Malke

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

Thanks Malke. I didn't know about the 'pin to Start Menu' option and it
explains why this is not a 'location with a shortcut' like the StartUp
folder, for example.

However, the option is not always available in the context menu (desktop
Recycle Bin and IE Favorites, for example) so how do I get around this?

If I create a shortcut on the desktop and drag it to the Start Menu it
works fine, but if I then delete the desktop icon, it stops working. I
guess I can create a shortcut in a place where I don't need to delete it,
but this is a bit of a clumsy workaround. Is there an easier way?

Do you know of any articles that give more information on how to use this
feature and how it works?

Right click the Start button and click Customize | Advanced on the Start tab
and you will be able to add Favorites.

 

[Jonathan Finney]

You're missing the point. Sorry, Recycle Bin was a bad example. I don't
actually want to put this on the Start Menu, although this is the only icon
I keep permanently on my desktop - This space I find is best used for 'work
in progress' or stuff that needs filing later (like a real desktop). My
reason to want to put shortcuts to frequently used items and places on the
Start Menu is that it they take up very little room and are instantly
available with a couple of clicks (no need to minimise windows to get to the
desktop).

A better example is that I have a couple of Excel files I use regularly and
there's no 'Pin to Start Menu' available when I right-click these files. If
I drag the file to the Start Menu this works fine, but unlike a shortcut, I
can't rename it to something more useful (this renames the file, too). So I
have to create a shortcut in another location (I have designated a folder
for this), rename the shortcut then drag this to the Start Menu.

This works perfectly. It just took a bit of working out and seems a rather
convoluted way to produce a result that I'd have thought should be available
by design.

 

[Jonathan Finney]

Thanks Frank, but I already have Favorites on my start menu. The problem is
I have a lot of them and to keep them organised I use sub folders.

What I want is shortcuts to a few very frequently used items (files, apps
and favorites) that may be several clicks away.

I have found a way to do this (see my reply to Malke), but it seems an
unnecessarily complicated route to an obvious need that has clear benefits.
I'd have thought this would have been more easily available.

 

[Larry Gardner]

I know that this is probably what you mentioned, but unless you design a DLL with a CLSID that supports the Start Menu (e.g., My Documents, My Music, ...) you cannot create a readily accessible Cascading folder for the Start Menu.

You cannot 'Pin' a folder, so that negates what you want to do.

HOWEVER, like you mentioned, you can create a Folder of ShortCuts and place that Folder under C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs

OR

Stored the Folder in Favorites, and make it the first folder. Then in that folder have all your Favorite accessible files.

Also check out:

Replacing My Pictures/My Documents, Adding a Special Folder on the Desktop
and in My Computer and more:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Search for: 130. Add a Folder to My Computer and Desktop

 

[Jonathan Finney]

Thanks Larry, but the items I need on the Start menu aren't just folders,
although I may want to add a shortcut to a folder, too.

I have found a way to do exactly what I want - See my reply to Frank
Saunders. It works for folders as well as anything else you could normally
create a shortcut to.

--
Jonathan Finney

I know that this is probably what you mentioned, but unless you design a DLL
with a CLSID that supports the Start Menu (e.g., My Documents, My Music,
....) you cannot create a readily accessible Cascading folder for the Start
Menu.

You cannot 'Pin' a folder, so that negates what you want to do.

HOWEVER, like you mentioned, you can create a Folder of ShortCuts and place
that Folder under C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start Menu\Programs

OR

Stored the Folder in Favorites, and make it the first folder. Then in that
folder have all your Favorite accessible files.

Also check out:

Replacing My Pictures/My Documents, Adding a Special Folder on the Desktop
and in My Computer and more:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Search for: 130. Add a Folder to My Computer and Desktop

 

[Larry Gardner]

Understood. Now that you have that folder, drag it to the Quick Launch part
of the TaskBar and you can access the contents whenever you want.

Windows 95 had a Windows 95 Powertoy named Contents, which works with
Windows XP perfectly. It adds a option to the Context Menu (right-click)
that when you move the mouse over, cascades the folder. You can then access
any file/folder from there through the Quick Launch Folder you added.

Thanks Larry, but the items I need on the Start menu aren't just folders,
although I may want to add a shortcut to a folder, too.

I have found a way to do exactly what I want - See my reply to Frank
Saunders. It works for folders as well as anything else you could
normally create a shortcut to.

--
Jonathan Finney

I know that this is probably what you mentioned, but unless you design a
DLL with a CLSID that supports the Start Menu (e.g., My Documents, My
Music, ...) you cannot create a readily accessible Cascading folder for
the Start Menu.

You cannot 'Pin' a folder, so that negates what you want to do.

HOWEVER, like you mentioned, you can create a Folder of ShortCuts and
place that Folder under C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Start
Menu\Programs

OR

Stored the Folder in Favorites, and make it the first folder. Then in
that folder have all your Favorite accessible files.

Also check out:

Replacing My Pictures/My Documents, Adding a Special Folder on the Desktop
and in My Computer and more:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Search for: 130. Add a Folder to My Computer and Desktop

 

[Jonathan Finney]

Thanks Larry.

I already use Quick Launch to launch apps, but not files or folders (just my
organisational preference), but I didn't know about the Contents PowerToy.
Is it still available?

--
Jonathan Finney

Understood. Now that you have that folder, drag it to the Quick Launch
part of the TaskBar and you can access the contents whenever you want.

Windows 95 had a Windows 95 Powertoy named Contents, which works with
Windows XP perfectly. It adds a option to the Context Menu (right-click)
that when you move the mouse over, cascades the folder. You can then
access any file/folder from there through the Quick Launch Folder you
added.