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Almost Everything You Need to Know About Your
Packard Bell Computer
How to Make Changes to the Start Menu
in Windows 95
BY RTG.
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.
Start Menu Programs Tab
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) 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) 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.
You have now successfully added a shortcut to your start menu. To test
your new shortcut click on start and navigate through your menu to the
folder your new shortcut is in. When you find your new shortcut click on
it and your program should start.
HOW TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE START MENU
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.
HOW TO USE THE ADVANCED BUTTON
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.
HOW TO ADD ITEMS TO THE START MENU USING THE ADVANCED
BUTTON
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.
HOW TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE START MENU
USING THE ADVANCED BUTTON
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.
HOW TO RENAME ITEMS IN THE START MENU
USING THE ADVANCED BUTTON
To rename an item simply right click on the item and choose rename.
Type your new name and hit enter. That’s it.
HOW TO REORDER ITEMS IN THE START MENU
USING THE ADVANCED BUTTON
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.
Tips: To get an item at the top of the start button, simply drag the item
you want and drop it on to the start button.
HOW TO CLEAR THE DOCUMENTS ON THE START
MENU
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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.
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