in Windows 95 

The start menu is an integral part of Windows 95; through this button the majority of your computing will be done. By customizing and changing the menu associated with your start button you can make your work more efficient and your play more fun. The customizing will be especially helpful to those of you who bought a computer with lots of prepackaged software (like Packard Bell). Wouldn’t you love to get rid of the menu items for those annoying demos or move the menu items you use the most to a more accessible spot? No more wading through a maze of sub-menus just to use your favorite application. I will give you a basic understanding of how to change the start menu to suit your needs.

How do programs get on my start menu?

With a new computer, with prepackaged software, your start menu has been preset at the factory. For those who upgraded from Win 3.X, your old program groups now appear as folders on your programs menu. Each time you add new Windows-compatible software the computer may automatically add new items to your start menu. Unfortunately, most programs don’t give you a say as to where these items are placed.

All changes to start menu can be easily done through the Taskbar properties window. To get to Taskbar properties window, click on start button and point to settings. From there click on the task bar option. You are now in the Taskbar properties window. You will see two tabs- the "start menu programs" tab and the "task bar options" tab. From Start Menu Programs tabs you can edit your start menu.

Like most things on the computer there are several ways to do things. Keep this in mind as I tell you about a few of them and show you how to use the buttons in the start menu programs tab.

HOW TO ADD ITEMS TO THE START MENU

The Add button on the Start Menu Programs Tab will add a program shortcut with a few simple steps by using the create shortcut window.

Command line: The first bit of data needed is the command line. This is the path to the executable file that you want to set up a shortcut to. There are two ways to enter this data:

1. 1) The easy way is to click the browse button, then locate the proper file. Single click on the file and click the open button, now the command line will automatically appear in the window.
2. 2) An alternative is to simply enter the command line, but it requires that you know the information ahead of time. After your command line is entered click next.
Select Folder: Now you need to select the folder you want to place your new shortcut in. If you desire a new folder, highlight the folder you want your new folder to appear in and click on new folder. Next name your new folder. Once you have your folder to place you shortcut into, highlight that folder and click next. This will place your shortcut in that folder.

Name and Icon: Now it asks you for the name that you want to call this new shortcut. Type in this name and click either finish or next. If you can click the next button this is because there is no icon associated with your new shortcut, so simply choose an icon and click finish.

The Remove button on the Start Menu Programs Tab will remove programs and/or folders from the start menu.

Click on the remove button. Your system will then come up with a window with all your programs and folders that are located on your start menu. Simply navigate to the folder or program shortcut that you would like to delete and highlight it. Once highlighted click on the remove button and your selection will be removed. You can remove as much as you like, when done click on close.

If for some reason you deleted the wrong shortcut, it can be restored by going into your recycle bin. This can not be done if your recycle bin was emptied between the time you deleted the item and now. If the item is still in your recycle bin right click on the item and chose restore. Your item should now reappear in the start menu.

The Advanced button will do many tasks to allow complete customization of the start menu. I will tell you how to do a few of these tasks. When you click on the advanced button a window will pop up, titled "Exploring - Start Menu". From here you can explore your start menu.

First you need to find the spot where you want to add a new folder or shortcut. Right click your mouse and chose new. Next select Folder or Shortcut depending on what you want to add.

Folder: When you select folder, simply give it a name. Now you are ready to use your new folder.

Shortcut: When you select shortcut, the create shortcut window pops up. It will then ask you to enter the Command line. Once the command line is entered continue. If no icon is associated with the program you will then be asked to chose one. That’s it, you now have a new shortcut.

To delete items simply choose the item you want to get rid of and right click and choose delete. Next say yes and send the item to your recycle bin.

To rename an item simply right click on the item and choose rename. Type your new name and hit enter. That’s it.

To reorder items on the start menu simply drag and drop the item you want to move. This will let you reorder your start menu to how you want it.

Documents Menu -- Has only the Clear command. This button when pushed will delete all the shortcuts in the documents option on the start menu. These shortcuts are put here every time you open a file, to help you find the file you worked on most recently.