Where is my Classic Start Menu?

in Windows 7,Windows Registry

For some unknown reason, Microsoft decided that Windows 7 didn’t need to include the ability to revert to the windows XP stat menu with the fly out menus shown above. I don’t know about you, but, personally, I hate scrolling through the extremely long list on my PC. I want my classic menu back. Vista let me revert to the “classic” start menu but Windows 7 doesn’t.

Hey, Microsoft, what going on? I thought Windows 7 was supposed to let us work the way we want to work?

I am sure I am not the only one who is unhappy with the scrolling. Fortunately, we can revert to our preferred start menu using a registry tweak.

Use the following steps to modify Windows 7 so that it becomes an XP style program menu:

  1. Back up your registry
  2. Select Start type regedit and press Enter
  3. Find the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
  4. Double click on Favorites in the left pane
  5. Replace the value there with C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
  6. Next, find the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
  7. Replace the value with C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
  8. Exit the registry editor
  9. Right click Start
  10. Select Properties
  11. In the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button
  12. Scroll to the Favorites menu entry
  13. Click its checkbox
  14. Then click OK twice
  15. Reboot your PC

Now, when you mouse over the start menu you should see the familiar menu we both know and love

Related Searches

Tagged as: classis start menu

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: