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Main Area and Open Discussion => General Software Discussion => Topic started by: TaoPhoenix on January 03, 2014, 09:38 PM

Title: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: TaoPhoenix on January 03, 2014, 09:38 PM

Heh I installed so many practice programs... that now my last row of the start menu/programs is off the screen!

Is there a trick to "compact" all that blank space so you can see them?

Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: SQUIDMAN on January 04, 2014, 01:52 AM
I don't think there is, if you really don't use them all now might be a good time to uninstall.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: app103 on January 04, 2014, 02:20 AM
And now you know why I have a "scary" taskbar.  :D

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With over 200 entries listed under Programs, it's just not practical to have to go on there in a regular basis to find anything. Plus, nothing in the Start menu is listed by category to give me any sort of hint as to their purpose, in case I forget.

If having a scary taskbar like mine doesn't float your boat, maybe mouser's LaunchBar Commander (https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=18759.0) might be more your speed.

You could create a more compact version of what I do, organizing it by purpose, and only having a few top level icons that you can click to reveal lists that are a whole lot more manageable and easier to find what you want.

Plus the built in "Start Menu" program list is in a single scrollable column:

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Of course entries would have to be added manually to custom lists in LBC, as there is no way to add them automatically and have them sorted to where you would want them. But for stuff you plan on using even on a semi-regular basis, it might be well worth the time and bother to set it all up.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: TaoPhoenix on January 04, 2014, 07:12 AM
Somewhere in these two tips is the middle ground. I do have a lot of cruft because I try out tons of programs but really use less than say 40. I also made a shortcuts folder on my desktop with the top 10 "power hitters".

Though when I'm under some 75 apps I do prefer the Start Menu for those semi obscure things I keep stumbling into every six months.

So my post this time was to check that there wasn't just some cute little utility I wasn't aware of.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: xtabber on January 04, 2014, 07:39 AM
Organize (http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/1957-organize-start-menu.html) your Start Menu into folders.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: TaoPhoenix on January 04, 2014, 07:47 AM
Organize (http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/1957-organize-start-menu.html) your Start Menu into folders.
-xtabber (January 04, 2014, 07:39 AM)

Well that's an interesting idea! But I am rather confused.

- I am just one "user" so I don't understand how moving start menu items to different "users" either works or helps.
- Does this stuff work on WinXP?
- How do I create new folders in WinXP and then move the items to those folders? In theory that could work, with one folder housing 30 rare entries it would help.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: dr_andus on January 04, 2014, 08:25 AM
Organize (http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/1957-organize-start-menu.html) your Start Menu into folders.
-xtabber (January 04, 2014, 07:39 AM)

Classic Shell (http://www.classicshell.net/features/) is another option. It seems to be fairly straightforward to create a new folder.

Edit: sorry, this is more relevant actually for Win7 users.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: x16wda on January 04, 2014, 08:31 AM
And now you know why I have a "scary" taskbar.  :D
-app103 (January 04, 2014, 02:20 AM)
Oh my gosh, that IS scary! :o

Nice cat!
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: Josh on January 04, 2014, 10:04 AM
I have program folders? I am so used to not even opening the "All programs" menu since Windows 7 that I have simply forgotten just how cluttered it actually is. One of the best features ever introduced by Microsoft was the built in search function that is actually even nicer in Wiindows 8/8.1.

That said, I now read that you are using XP. The best bet at this point is to use folders. I created folders like "Utilities", "System", "Multimedia", "Internet", "Office", "Games" and then moved each program folder under the appropriate category. Free, worked well, and was functional.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: tomos on January 04, 2014, 11:02 AM
Move up to 7 and start all over again? :-) :p
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: skwire on January 04, 2014, 11:14 AM
Is there a trick to "compact" all that blank space so you can see them?
-TaoPhoenix (January 03, 2014, 09:38 PM)

IMO, the trick is to use something like FARR (https://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/findrun/).
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: app103 on January 04, 2014, 11:30 AM
Oh, you are using XP? You are in luck!

This will make it a nice compact, single column, scrolling menu that won't take over your entire screen:

Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: wraith808 on January 04, 2014, 02:11 PM
A Start Menu Organizer would work also.

I know of two:
http://www.winstep.net/startmenuorganizer.asp

http://www.tidystartmenu.com/index.shtml

I've made use of Tidy Start Menu several times, and love it enough that I purchased it.  I use other WinStep programs (Nexus mostly now), so you couldn't go wrong with either IMO.
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: cyberdiva on January 04, 2014, 02:58 PM
I want to second app103's suggestion of LaunchBar Commander. I love how easy it makes it for me to find and launch programs.  I have organized them into about a dozen categories, such as Photography, Search, Security, Video, Web Tools, etc.  I have included well over 100 programs, and I can find and open the one I want very quickly. 

Setting it up does take a bit of time, especially if you have a lot of programs that you want to include. I did it gradually, not all at once.  I can't imagine doing without it.  :Thmbsup:
Title: Re: Too many programs in my start menu!
Post by: TaoPhoenix on January 04, 2014, 03:24 PM
Oh, you are using XP? You are in luck!

This will make it a nice compact, single column, scrolling menu that won't take over your entire screen:

  • Right click your taskbar and select Properties.
  • Click the Start Menu tab.
  • Select the 2nd option, Classic Start Menu
  • Click Customize.
  • Under Advanced Start Menu options, check Scroll programs and Show Small Icons in Start Menu.
  • Click OK.
  • Click OK again.
-app103 (January 04, 2014, 11:30 AM)

Haha App!

That's very promising! Along with "Sort", to make stuff in a sensible order.

I have a bit of enthusiasm for this today, I'll go uninstall twelve-ish pieces of junk "Stuff I'm bored with" now too. (A lot of the deletions are legit programs, but for example I can remove FF-Aurora since I'm no longer interested in ultra fast updates, and so on.)

Tip of the week!

:up: