Start ; programs screen not big enough

[Guest]

I have many, many programs installed on my machine. In fact there are four columns worth when I use the Start;programs command
Problem is for some reason the forth column of program only shows the first few characters of the folder name.
Can I make the colum width smaller or can I get the Start;programs screen to move to the left an inch or so, such that I can read all my folder names
This started happening all of a sudden and I can't seem to fix it.

 

[MAP]

-----Original Message-----
I have many, many programs installed on my machine. In

fact there are four columns worth when I use the
Start;programs command.

Problem is for some reason the forth column of program

only shows the first few characters of the folder name.

Can I make the colum width smaller or can I get the

Start;programs screen to move to the left an inch or so,
such that I can read all my folder names?

This started happening all of a sudden and I can't seem to fix it.
.

Right click on start left click on "explore all users"
double click on the programs folder.create new folders
and name them then drag and drop similar programs into
these folders ie... games in one folder, computer
utilities in another one photo edit in another one and
the like. This will organize your programs and clean up
some clutter.

 

[NetNut]

Hi Gretz,
As well as the excellent advice above to organize a bit, you might not
know, the width of the columns is as wide as the longest shortcuts name. By
renaming some of the longer ones you can narrow the columns.
For ex: rename 'Powertoys for Windows XP, to something like 'XP pwr toys or
'NIS' for 'Norton...'
The NetNut

I have many, many programs installed on my machine. In fact there are four

columns worth when I use the Start;programs command.

Problem is for some reason the forth column of program only shows the

first few characters of the folder name.

Can I make the colum width smaller or can I get the Start;programs screen

to move to the left an inch or so, such that I can read all my folder names?

 

[Kenny]

that is exactly what I do, and I have a tidy start menu

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the ideas peeps. I've done everything
metioned. Cleaned up as much as possible, reducting the
overall number of folders.
As well I shorted up all the folder/program names but the
columns are staying TOO WIDE for the text being
displayed. ie there is lots of room left to the left of
each name in all four columns.
Everything was working fine and I'm not sure what caused
the change.

 

[Guest]

I have a suggestion. If you have a lot of programs in the Start menu, you can view them with a scrolling list instead of the exploding list, which is the default with Windows XP. Here's how to do it

1. Right-click the Start button. You will then see a context menu
2. Click "Properties". You will then be in the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window
3. Click the "Customize" button. You will then be in the "Customize Start Menu" window
4. Click the "Advanced" tab. You will see a "Start Menu items" scrolling menu
5. Scroll down in this menu until you come to an option labeled "Scroll Programs"
6. Check the box next to "Scroll Programs"
7. Click "Ok". You will then be back in the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window
8. Click "Ok"

After you do this, whenever you click "All Programs" in the Start menu, you will get a scrollable list of all your programs, instead of the exploding list. You will then be able to access all of your programs, no matter how many you have

Hope this helps.

 

[Guest]

Nils, thanks for the tip
When I changed to the scroll programs I was able to see two new enteries that had more more text length than than normal. I changed the length of those items and then went back to my old expanded menu's and volia I have can see all the text in the four columns

Early I had shortened up all the text names on the folders but didn't change the names for the "program" entries that where on the Start;programs menu

Think it's time for some house cleaning, who needs a FULL desktop and start;programs menu !!