Start Menu / Programs won't populate

[Andrew Zenz]

Hi everybody

A client's laptop has, after someone installed some software, stopped
displaying the contents of the Programs (All Programs) menu. That is I
click on Start/Programs and I get the (empty) prompt, while the start menu
itself is OK.

I have undertaken the following:

a) I have logged on as a different user and the problem exists for that
user, hence I have elimiated the users profile as problem (though the All
Users profile may be involved)

b) I have checked the contents of the Start Menu folder for All Users and
and individual users and the program groups and icons/shortcuts exist

c) I have changed the Start Menu from the XP theme to the Windows Classic
and neither will display the contents of the Programs/All Programs folder

d) I managed a minor registry hack that displayed the All Users programs but
not the individual users programs (and I can't recall what I did).

I did find a MSKB article that described a similar problem with the Start
Menu but it didn't resolve anything.

Hoping someone can shed some light on it.

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[jmatt]

A client's laptop has, after someone installed some software, stopped
displaying the contents of the Programs (All Programs) menu. That is I
click on Start/Programs and I get the (empty) prompt, while the start menu
itself is OK.

I think it will be in your settings, the bottom of the 1st link will
probably cover it.

Using the Start Menu
http://www.coolnerds.com/XP/StartMenu/xpStartMenu.htm
Customizing the Start Menu in Windows XP
http://www.glencoe.com/norton/online/ezine/display_article.phtml?id=232
Managing the Microsoft Windows XP Start Menu
http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.asp?p=31939&rl=1

 

[Andrew Zenz]

Sorry, too simple and not the solution. Thanks anyway.

I spoke to someone who repaired something similar by doing a repair install
of XP. That seems to me to be using a sledgehammer on a walnut.

Thanks again.

Andrew

 

[Drago]

I have the same problem with my laptop. It was caused by System Mechanic
Pro 6.0. I uninstalled the program but the Start Menu still empty.

Andrew Zenz:

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Start Menu - 'All Programs' is empty or nothing happens when you click the menu:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/allprograms.htm
When you click Programs menu in the Start Menu, it may show as (Empty)
Nothing happens when you click All Programs in Start Menu
Not all the shortcuts are displayed


--

===========================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2006
===========================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
"Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping the
information current)


|I have the same problem with my laptop. It was caused by System Mechanic
| Pro 6.0. I uninstalled the program but the Start Menu still empty.
|
| Andrew Zenz:
| > Hi everybody
| >
| > A client's laptop has, after someone installed some software, stopped
| > displaying the contents of the Programs (All Programs) menu. That is
| I
| > click on Start/Programs and I get the (empty) prompt, while the start
| menu
| > itself is OK.
| >
| > I have undertaken the following:
| >
| > a) I have logged on as a different user and the problem exists for
| that
| > user, hence I have elimiated the users profile as problem (though the
| All
| > Users profile may be involved)
| >
| > b) I have checked the contents of the Start Menu folder for All Users
| and
| > and individual users and the program groups and icons/shortcuts exist
| >
| > c) I have changed the Start Menu from the XP theme to the Windows
| Classic
| > and neither will display the contents of the Programs/All Programs
| folder
| >
| > d) I managed a minor registry hack that displayed the All Users
| programs but
| > not the individual users programs (and I can't recall what I did).
| >
| > I did find a MSKB article that described a similar problem with the
| Start
| > Menu but it didn't resolve anything.
| >
| > Hoping someone can shed some light on it.
| >
| > Cheers,
| >
| > Andrew