The Start Menu
 
The Start Menu (Fig. 29) is like a quick menu from where you access all your programs (that you use more recently). To access the start menu click the start button on the left side of the taskbar or press the Windows Logo Key on your keyboard.
 
Windows XP has a new and simplified start menu designed to fit your needs and preferences. The Windows XP Start Menu has two columns: The first one is for programs you recently use, and the other is for shortcuts to places on your computer, like: My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures, etc.
On the bottom of the first column, there is a menu called “All Programs”. This menu shows all the programs that are installed on your computer. The classic Windows Start Menu only contained a menu similar to the All Programs menu.

Now we will explain each components of the Start menu, one by one:
Fig. 29
  

The Turn Off and Log Off Buttons

 The Turn Off Button on the bottom of the Start Menu will display options for shutting down the computer or other features that are available on the system. The Log Off Button will display options about Logging of or switching users.The Log Off Button will display options about Logging of or switching users.
Fig. 30
  

The Run Button

The Run Button on the second column of the Start Menu will display a Window from which you can type a path to o file or a program on your computer, on the network or internet. After this the selected file or program will be automatically opened.
Examples:
• Typing “C:\Games\” will open the folder Games located on the C:\ drive;
• Typing “write” will open Word Pad;
• Typing “cmd” or “cmd.exe” will open the Command Prompt or the Windows Console.
• Typing \\Computer1 will explore the computer named Computer1 on the network;
• Typing \\192.168.1.145 will explore the computer with IP 192.168.1.145 on the network;
• Typing http://www.echoproject.net/ will automatically open the www.echoproject.net web site on the internet.

The Search Button

 The Search Button on the Start Menu will open a window (Fig. 31) from where you can search files or folders on you hard disk(s) or also on the internet.
You can also choose from advanced search options, like searching only pictures, music, or video. You can also specify the approximate size of the file and the approximate date when it has been created.
Fig. 31
  

The Help and Support Center Button

The Help and Support Center Button (Fig. 32) on the Start menu opens Windows Help, from where you can find articles and tips about working with Windows.
You can search articles that refer to your problems or misunderstandings, or you can select articles by browsing trough the categories and menus.
 
 
Fig. 31

Other buttons on the Start Menu

• Printers and Faxes button – displays all printers and faxes installed on the computer and enables configuring these devices.
• Control Panel button – opens the Control Panel, from which you can configure and change settings, manage hardware and software resources on your computer.
• My Computer, My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, and My Videos Buttons – open the specified folders they represent. Example: If you click the My Documents button, it will open my Documents.

Customizing the Start Menu

Just right click the taskbar and select proprieties. The same window you seen in Fig. 28 will show up. This time, select the Start Menu Tab, from the top of the page. From here you can configure options, like showing or hiding items on the taskbar, disabling highlighting of newly installed programs, disable listing the most recently used programs list, and also chose the Windows classic start menu layout.