Windows XP Pro
Under Documents and Settings \ My Name, I have a "Start Menu" folder.
Using msconfig, the Startup tab I have only one item scheduled to run at
boot time.
In the Start Menu folder there is a "Programs" folder and under that, there
are
several other folders and shortcuts.
I have renamed that "Start Menu" folder to see if anything might be
affected. Any thoughts
on just removing the folder completely?
Earl
Leave it be. Even if it's empty, it may be useful to you one day. And its
presence may be expected by a program that you install in the future.
1) "Start Menu" is separate from "Startup" in MSCONFIG. "Startup" is
actually a subfolder from within the Start Menu hierarchy. Startup items
are loaded along with the operating system and run continually in the
background. Programs not in startup run when you launch them using a
shortcut or typing the name of their executable file into the Start> Run
box. Both types of programs - startup programs and programs launched
manually - are normal fare during the course of the computer's use.
2) XP is a multi-user system. As such, there are two folders used to create
your Start Menu (the one you see after pressing the Start button). One is
\Document and Settings\All Users\Start Folder\ and the other is \Documents
and Settings\your name\Start Folder\. Items in the first folder appear in
the start menu of any user logged on to XP. Items in the second folder,
appear in your start menu only.
A nice customization feature if you have multi-users on a single computer
in a household or workplace. The start menu can be tailored to suit each
user.
When you install a program that is multi-user aware, you often see a dialog
screen with choices similar to:
Install for all users
Install for current user only
How you answer that question determines which \Start Menu\Programs\ folder
will be used.
If only a single user on a single computer, some programs may still expect
the folder to be present and could fail to install if it is absent.
Regardless of your choices, the items contained in these folders are
shortcuts. Shortcuts are very *tiny* files so would not be concerned by the
amount of space they occupy.
