Start Menu

In the Folders / Functions on the Start Menu you can modify the following settings:

Disable Documents: Every time you open a document of some kind, Windows adds that name to a list called MRU (Most Recently Used) and to a folder called Recent. You can view the documents list in the Documents folder on the Start Menu. If you uncheck this option then no name will be added to the list or the folder. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Documents: Check this option to remove the "Documents" line from the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Favorites: Uncheck this box to remove the "Favorites" line from the Start Menu. You can not use this option unless you have Windows 98/Windows 2000. If you have Windows 95 or Windows NT4 you must have installed Internet Explorer 4.01 WITH the Active Desktop option. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Find: Check this option to remove the "Find" line from the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Help: Check this option to remove the "Help" line from the Start Menu. NOTE: This option only works in Windows 2000 and Windows Me. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Run: Check this option to remove the "Run" line from the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Logoff: Check this option to remove the "Log Off..." option on the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide "Shut Down...": Uncheck this option to remove the "Shut Down..." option from the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide "Restart in MS-DOS mode": If you want to remove the "Restart in MS-DOS mode" from the dialog that pops up when you select "Start -> Shut Down...", then you should use this option. This setting applies to the current user only.

Add Control Panel: Check this option to add a cascading Control Panel to the top of the Start Menu. If you are using Windows 2000 or ME the Control Panel in settings folder expands instead of add a new one to the top of the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Add Printers: Check this option to add a cascading Printers folder to the top of the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Add URL History: Check this option to add a cascading URL History folder to the top of the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Add Recycle Bin: Check this option to add a cascading Recycle Bin folder to the top of the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Add Offline Webpages: Check this option to add a cascading Offline Webpages folder to the top of the Start Menu. This setting applies to the current user only.

Clear Recent Documents on exit: This title is perhaps not perfect, if you check this option then Windows will empty ALL MRU (Most Recently Used) lists. The lists are: Run, Find, Find Computer and Documents. This setting applies to the current user only.

Enable multiple columns: If you have many shortcuts in your Programs folder on the Start Menu and want to see all at once, instead of having to scroll the shortcuts, then check this box. This setting applies to all users.


In the Settings on the Start Menu (Start -> Settings) you can remove the following lines:

Hide Control Panel and Printers: Check this option to remove the "Control Panel" AND "Printers" option in Start -> Settings. There are no way to just remove one of the lines. NOTE: This option also disables the shortcut command to open Windows Explorer using the "windows key + E". This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Folder Options: Check this option to remove the "Folder Options" option in Start -> Settings. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Active Desktop: Check this option to remove the "Active Desktop" pop-up menu in Start -> Settings. This setting applies to the current user only.

Hide Windows Update: Check this option to remove the "Windows Update..." option in Start -> Settings. This setting applies to the current user only.

If you want to remove the "Taskbar & Start Menu..." option as well, then open the Security -> Miscellaneous page and uncheck the option called "Disable Taskbar Properties". If you need more information go to the Security -> Miscellaneous section in this documentation.


In the Clear NOW! section you can clear the following MRU (Most Recently Used) lists:

Recent documents: Clears the pop-up documents folder on your Start Menu as well as the Recent folder on your computer. You will need to logoff for the change to take effect. This setting applies to the current user only.

Find history: Empties the find files list from items. You will need to logoff for the change to take effect. This setting applies to the current user only.

Run history Empties the run MRU list from items. You will need to logoff for the change to take effect. This setting applies to the current user only.


In the Sort alphabetically (ascending) section you can sort the following items:

Programs: When you click this button, the Start Menu will be sorted alphabetically (in ascending order). This setting applies to the current user only.

Favorites: When you click this button the Favorites Menu will be sorted alphabetically (in ascending order). This setting applies to the current user only.

The Start Menu delay: The time in ms before the Start Menu opens when moving the cursor over a folder that should open. Windows default is 250ms. This setting applies to the current user only.