A question about the start menu

[WillJ]

Take a look at the screenshot below... See the area circled in red? How does the computer choose which programs go in that area? I've noticed it changes from time to time. And I know that it is definitely NOT the six programs last used. Is it the six programs used most often? Perhaps a combination of the two?

But more importantly, can you manually change it? It'd be great if you could, because it's really convenient to access a program by just hovering your mouse over the start menu and then one click. And yes, I'm that lazy.

[I have Windows XP Home Edition, if that matters.]

 

[CornMaster]

It's not most recent used....it's more of an average over most used and recent used....so as time goes on....programs you haven't used in a while slip off the list...and programs you use a lot...jump up.

 

[WillJ]

Originally posted by CornMaster
It's not most recent used....it's more of an average over most used and recent used....so as time goes on....programs you haven't used in a while slip off the list...and programs you use a lot...jump up.

I see. So there's no [easy] way to manually change it?

 

[bobgote]

you can get rid of it easily enough if you want
but i don't know about changing it. I hated it and got rid of it after less than a day of use.

 

[Jeratain]

Right click the ones you don't want in there and click "Remove from this list."

 

[Wolfe Tone]

I hate the XP start menu, I changed it to classic as soon as I installed it.

 

[funxus]

The ones you really want there, you can just click and drag to to the list on top of that one. The amount of programs shown in the lists can be changed by Right-clicking the start-button-> Properties->Custom-button->General->Programs.

(The translation might be faulty)

 

[CornMaster]

Originally posted by WillJ
I see. So there's no [easy] way to manually change it?

Yeah...just right click and remove from list.

You can pin other start menu ones to the top.

 

[Dell19]

Also I believe programs that you auto run don't get added to the list either...

 

[Comraddict]

there is setting I forgot where at that allows you to choose number of programs on that list.

by the way you can disable it totally, all you have to play with is right click on taskbar and choose properties.

 

[WillJ]

Okay, thanks everyone.

 

[Turner]

Originally posted by Comraddict
there is setting I forgot where at that allows you to choose number of programs on that list.

by the way you can disable it totally, all you have to play with is right click on taskbar and choose properties.

To get to the number of programs displayed, right-click on the taskbar and choose properties. There should be a tab that says "Start Menu". Click on this, and there should be a radio button for "Start Menu" and "Classic Start Menu". There will also be a Customize button active. Click on this, and it will take you to another screen that will give a couple of different options, one of which is how many programs to display. The advanced tab has a couple of cool options, about the right side of the start menu. Basically what to show (I.e. - Recent documents, Control Panel) and how to show it. This can be rather useful if you go to your My Docuemnts frequently, or CP, and allows for quicker access.