Start, Programs, last column can barely be seen

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

Guest

Hi,
After clicking on Start, then onto Programs, the Start column and the next
two Ptogram columns appear.
Problem: there is a third column that I can barely see the icons, or open
them.
Is there some way to make the width of all the columns smaller including
Start, so that hidden third column will appear? In fact just making the
Start column smaller might solve the problem.
All ideas, suggestions, solutions are most welcome
hal
 
holyhal said:
Hi,
After clicking on Start, then onto Programs, the Start column and the next
two Ptogram columns appear.
Problem: there is a third column that I can barely see the icons, or open
them.
Is there some way to make the width of all the columns smaller including
Start, so that hidden third column will appear? In fact just making the
Start column smaller might solve the problem.
All ideas, suggestions, solutions are most welcome
hal
Click to expand...

Organize your Start menu better. Right-click on the Start button and choose
Explore. Now you'll get the familiar two-paned Explorer window. Create
folders and put similar items in there. Shorten the names. If you have
something called "Broderbund Printshop Deluxe 10.2" call it "Print Shop".

Obviously I don't know what you have on your Start menu, but here are some
examples:

Folder [Graphics] - has graphics-related programs in it.
Folder [Office] - office programs, word processors, spreadsheets
Folder [OEM] - if you have an OEM machine with a lot of entries for HP or
Dell, put them all in one folder.
Folder [Internet] - browsers, ftp programs, web creation programs

And so on.

You can also experiment with whether you like your programs to scroll or use
personalized menus. Right-click on the Start button and choose Properties.
Make one change at a time and see how you like it.

Malke
 
Thank you for your prompt reply. Unfortunatly, I don't think this is the
solution. For example, in the Start column there is at least one inch of
wasted space on the right side. In the other two visibile columns the wasted
space is from three quarters to over an inch in wasted space also on the
right side. In addition, I have already reduced size of items in
Programs.which did not reduce the width size of columns. Therfore, reducing
the size of the items listed in Programs would have no effect. I hope there
is some way to shrink the width of the columns which would permit the third
column to appear.

Malke said:
holyhal said:
Hi,
After clicking on Start, then onto Programs, the Start column and the next
two Ptogram columns appear.
Problem: there is a third column that I can barely see the icons, or open
them.
Is there some way to make the width of all the columns smaller including
Start, so that hidden third column will appear? In fact just making the
Start column smaller might solve the problem.
All ideas, suggestions, solutions are most welcome
hal
Click to expand...

Organize your Start menu better. Right-click on the Start button and choose
Explore. Now you'll get the familiar two-paned Explorer window. Create
folders and put similar items in there. Shorten the names. If you have
something called "Broderbund Printshop Deluxe 10.2" call it "Print Shop".

Obviously I don't know what you have on your Start menu, but here are some
examples:

Folder [Graphics] - has graphics-related programs in it.
Folder [Office] - office programs, word processors, spreadsheets
Folder [OEM] - if you have an OEM machine with a lot of entries for HP or
Dell, put them all in one folder.
Folder [Internet] - browsers, ftp programs, web creation programs

And so on.

You can also experiment with whether you like your programs to scroll or use
personalized menus. Right-click on the Start button and choose Properties.
Make one change at a time and see how you like it.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"
Click to expand...
 
holyhal said:
Thank you for your prompt reply. Unfortunatly, I don't think this is the
solution. For example, in the Start column there is at least one inch of
wasted space on the right side. In the other two visibile columns the
wasted space is from three quarters to over an inch in wasted space also
on the right side. In addition, I have already reduced size of items in
Programs.which did not reduce the width size of columns. Therfore,
reducing the size of the items listed in Programs would have no effect. I
hope there is some way to shrink the width of the columns which would
permit the third column to appear.
Click to expand...

There is no way to shrink the columns. Normally this is caused by one item
having a very long name. Perhaps you could take a screen shot of your Start
menu and post it on a website. IMGMonkey is OK if you don't have your own
site; don't use Image Shack.

http://www.imgmonkey.com/index.php

Are you using the XP Start menu or the Classic Start menu? What is your
screen resolution (Display>Settings)?

Malke
 
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