Star Menu Confusion

[JamesJ]

I'm the only user on this machine.
I'm using the classic start menu.

I installed a program on my system yesterday. It put it's shortcuts
in C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU's Programs
folder.
I installed a program today and it put it's shortcuts in C:\DOCUMENTS AND
SETTINGS\ALL USERS\START MENU Programs folder.
I have no idea what folder I need to go to make changes. Going into
Settings/TaskBar and Start Menu and to the Start Menu's Advanced tab puts me
in C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU
Then I need to navigate back to C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\START
MENU
in order to move the program I installed today.
VERY CONFUSING!!!

Am I doing anything wrong here?
Why is xp looking in two different folders to populate the Star Manu?

Thanks,
James

 

[Sharon F]

I'm the only user on this machine.
I'm using the classic start menu.

I installed a program on my system yesterday. It put it's shortcuts
in C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU's Programs
folder.
I installed a program today and it put it's shortcuts in C:\DOCUMENTS AND
SETTINGS\ALL USERS\START MENU Programs folder.
I have no idea what folder I need to go to make changes. Going into
Settings/TaskBar and Start Menu and to the Start Menu's Advanced tab puts me
in C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU
Then I need to navigate back to C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ALL USERS\START
MENU
in order to move the program I installed today.
VERY CONFUSING!!!

Am I doing anything wrong here?
Why is xp looking in two different folders to populate the Star Manu?

Thanks,
James

You're fine. In WinXP, every user's start menu is built from shortcuts
stored in the following two locations:
Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
Documents and Settings\<user account>\Start Menu

When you install programs that use a setup routine that is XP-aware, you
will be asked if you want to install for All Users or current user. When
the setup routine is not XP-aware, it is anybody's guess where the start
menu shortcuts will end up.

For quicker organizing of the start menu, try this:
Right click the Start button and select Explore.
Right click again and select Explore All Users.

You now have two Windows Explorer screens open to the start menu folders
that create your start menu. Drag, drop, copy and move to your heart's
content until you have the Start Menu set up the way that you want it.

 

[JamesJ]

This is just ONE example. I created a Folder/Menu I called Utilities.
The Folder/Menu are in both but the contents are different.

By the way when I right click the start button and then select and click
explore it
takes me to C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU.
I don't have two windows open. When I right click the start button I do have
a choice
there to explore all users.
What I really want and what I had with Windows Me was an icon on my desktop
pointing to the start menu folder making it easy for me to manipulate the
start
menu objects. But, since the contents of these two start menus are different
I can't do this.

Thanks,
James

 

[Sharon F]

This is just ONE example. I created a Folder/Menu I called Utilities.
The Folder/Menu are in both but the contents are different.

If the start menu is displaying correctly leave these things where they
are. If it bugs you, consolidate All Users\Start Menu and <your
account>\Start Menu items into one folder.

By the way when I right click the start button and then select and click
explore it
takes me to C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\{current_username}\START MENU.
I don't have two windows open. When I right click the start button I do have
a choice
there to explore all users.

You don't have two windows yet because you didn't right click the start
button a second time to select Explore All Users. After you do that, you
will have two windows.

What I really want and what I had with Windows Me was an icon on my desktop
pointing to the start menu folder making it easy for me to manipulate the
start
menu objects. But, since the contents of these two start menus are different
I can't do this.

XP isn't Windows ME> Many things are similar but there are differences.
Working with the start menu is one of the things that is different. If you
want desktop shortcuts, create one each for All Users and your start menu
folders. Personally, I prefer right clicking the start button instead of
adding icons to the desktop but it's your call which method you prefer on
your system.

 

[JamesJ]

Ok. Right clicking the start button is a fast way to get there. The more I
work with it the easier it will be, I hope.

Thanks for your assistance,
James

 

[Sharon F]

Ok. Right clicking the start button is a fast way to get there. The more I
work with it the easier it will be, I hope.

Thanks for your assistance,

You're welcome, James. Becoming accustomed to something different is always
a pain but yes, things should become easier as time goes by. Best of luck
to you.