Start menu too wide- right side off screen

[Tom Gordon]

The Start Menu (list of programs that comes up when I click on Start..
All Programs) is too wide on my system. There are 3 1/2 columns, and
the 4th column starts near the right edge of my desktop and extends
past the right edge of the desktop. Is there a way to control the
spacing or the size of the fonts used for the Start Menu?

I know that I could remove some entries from the Start Menu, but that
would not be my first choice. Also it appears that the width of each
column in the Start Menu is determined by the longest Program Name or
Program Group Name, so I suppose I could rename/shorten a couple of
the longer entries in order to make those columns narrower, but are
there any risks in renaming Program Groups?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

I know that I could remove some entries from the Start Menu, but that
would not be my first choice.

However, you may want to tidy-up the start menu by moving the program
items to desktop folders.

Also it appears that the width of each column in the Start Menu is
determined by the longest Program Name or Program Group Name, so I
suppose I could rename/shorten a couple of the longer entries in order
to make those columns narrower,

Correct. That's exactly what you may want to do.

but are there any risks in renaming Program Groups?

Not really. The only 'risk' is that a start menu item has to be deleted
manually in case of removing the corresponding software since that item
will not be removed by the uninstall routine anymore when renamed. How-
ever, some rare installations check if their start menu entry is still
present when running or when updating - in the worst case, that start
menu item will be reinstalled when renamed and re-appears therefore.

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Rearranging the Start Menu

Right click Start button
Select Explore and/or Explore All Users.
Then open the Programs folder.
Create new subfolders then rearrange shortcuts.
OR
You can also configure your programs list to scroll which results in one large column.
Right-click the Start button
Go to Properties
Click the Customize button.
Click the Advanced tab.
Scroll through the list until you see the item "Scroll Programs".
Check that and hit OK.



--

====================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
====================================
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| The Start Menu (list of programs that comes up when I click on Start..
| All Programs) is too wide on my system. There are 3 1/2 columns, and
| the 4th column starts near the right edge of my desktop and extends
| past the right edge of the desktop. Is there a way to control the
| spacing or the size of the fonts used for the Start Menu?
|
| I know that I could remove some entries from the Start Menu, but that
| would not be my first choice. Also it appears that the width of each
| column in the Start Menu is determined by the longest Program Name or
| Program Group Name, so I suppose I could rename/shorten a couple of
| the longer entries in order to make those columns narrower, but are
| there any risks in renaming Program Groups?
|

 

[Tom Gordon]

Thanks to both of you. I was able to correct the problem using a
gombination of your tips.

 

[Tom Gordon]

Thanks, both of you. I was able to use your recommendations to correct
the problem.