Start menu changes affect other users

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
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Guest

I've just noticed that changes in the Start menu for one user get applied to
other users. I have Win XP Pro SP2, and installed Office 2003. Now, when I
change thinks, like putting Outlook into the Startup group for one user it
goes into the Startup group for a different user at the same time!

I thought that this was one of the User settings that was supposed to be
different for each user.

Is the phenomenon I am seeing normal and I've just never noticed it before,
or is something weird going on with my installation of XP Pro?
 
Items placed in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" will apply to all the users

Whereas this "C:\Documents and Settings\{User}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" applies to your profile only.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


I've just noticed that changes in the Start menu for one user get applied to
other users. I have Win XP Pro SP2, and installed Office 2003. Now, when I
change thinks, like putting Outlook into the Startup group for one user it
goes into the Startup group for a different user at the same time!

I thought that this was one of the User settings that was supposed to be
different for each user.

Is the phenomenon I am seeing normal and I've just never noticed it before,
or is something weird going on with my installation of XP Pro?
 
Ramesh -

Thanks, that helped me get the start-up set the way I want it.

I am curious, though, why the changes were made to the "All Users" profile
instead of the profile I was logged in with, when I made the original
modifications. Is there a way to set a default so that changes apply only to
a single user profile?

Thanks!
 
Hi jhinman,

How exactly have you added the startup item? Dragging a shortcut and dropping it in the Start > All Programs > Startup folder will actually place the shortcut to your user profile only.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


Ramesh -

Thanks, that helped me get the start-up set the way I want it.

I am curious, though, why the changes were made to the "All Users" profile
instead of the profile I was logged in with, when I made the original
modifications. Is there a way to set a default so that changes apply only to
a single user profile?

Thanks!
 
I drug it from the Start>Microsoft Office folder to the Start>All
Programs>Startup folder. That is the only way I knew how to do it - it is so
simple that way that I never looked for an alternative.
 
Is the "User Shell Folders" path for Startup folder correctly set?
Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm

Also check "Common Startup" under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

The value for "Common Startup" should be:

%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


I drug it from the Start>Microsoft Office folder to the Start>All
Programs>Startup folder. That is the only way I knew how to do it - it is so
simple that way that I never looked for an alternative.
 
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