Classic Shell: Forum

Hi
I have put the taskbar vertically along the left of the screen so the Start button is top left. I just like it that way but a minor gripe is that the Programs menu is at the bottom, below Recent Programs. I'd like to have Programs above Recent Programs near the Start button for quickest access.

I tried with the Customize Start Menu setting tab under Classic Start Menu settings but could only get it at the top of the second column, not the first (see pic, remembering in this case the Start button would be above).

Does anyone have a tip to get it top of the first column?
Thanks.

As of version 4.0.2, it's not possible to move it at the top of the Recent list from the Customize tab but you can do a trick and see if it works for you.

1. In the Run dialog, enter shell:::{7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a}
2. A "Programs Folder" will open. Drag its folder icon from the address bar over to the Start button till the menu opens and then finally drop it into the area above the recent list (next to the Start screen shortcut).
3. That will create an expanding shortcut to it. You can rename it if you want but don't try to rename it "Programs". Name it something else like "All Programs", "My Programs" or "Apps" or "Software". This is to because the shortcut it creates is in the same folder as the "Programs" folder.

This isn't quite the same as moving it from the Customize Start Menu tab as you don't get the other options like multi-column, sort Z -> A etc. You get a single column scrolling menu.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Thanks for that. I was able to drag it across but couldn't place it anywhere above the recent programs. It's not the end of the world as I lived with it until upgrading from XP this month.

One odd thing though. On the Customize Start Menu there are two columns: 'Current menu items' and 'Available commands'. There's a Recent Programs option in the latter but not the former even though Recent Programs appear in the Start menu. If I drag Recent Programs into the Current Menu Items column the Recent Programs disappear from the Start menu. So it seems to work in reverse. Otherwise, if there were a Recent Programs item in the Current Menu Settings column, perhaps there'd be something to drag Programs above.

Update: just to prove the last point this is what happens when I drag Recent Programs into Current menu items and arrange column padding a bit. I get my Programs (almost) at the top but lose Recent programs. Is this maybe a bug that could be fixed?

It is not a bug. "Recent programs" is an item that will show the recent programs in a sub-menu. If it is missing then the recent programs will show in the main menu. It doesn't work for you because you have not given it a name. Double-click, then enter some text in the Label.

Okay here's an easier way. Open that shell folder, then open the folder %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and drag and drop it from shell:::{7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a} to %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu. Then it surely will appear above the Recent programs. The Start Menu setting on the Main Menu tab called "Show Recent programs on top" must also be unchecked.

_________________
Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

OK thanks. I guess it works the way it's supposed to work. I just didn't know how it was supposed to work.
I tried your solution and it worked but prefer Recent programs as a list rather than submenu.


Great! That works exactly as I want. Thanks.