[mrrb]

I click on my start menu on my Vista HP laptop and get a white empty left hand side. Any ideas on where the icons for the most used programs went?


Thanks,
Sue

[SoltoN]

would you be able to post a screenshot of the problem so we can better see what exactly you are trying to describe?

[mrrb]

Here is the screen shot of my startup menu. I used to have icons with my frequently used programs there but now, as you can see, it is blank. Any ideas why and how to fix it?

Sue

[AcaCandy]

Just open a few programs one by one, and it should re-populate.

[mrrb]

I have opened note pad several times as well as several other programs and it does not repopulate. It's been like this for a week - repopulation is not happening.

Sue

[devil_himself]

Hello mrrb

can you Export these two Keys For me

Start > Run > regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

[devil_himself]

Also Have a Look Here


Frequently used programs not automatically added to the Start menu
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282066

[mrrb]

Hi

I can find

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \

but there is no explorer listed. Under Policies there is Attachments ; NonEnum; and System but no explorer.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

I exported those but the start menu still doesn't populate.

Sue


e

[devil_himself]

Export it And Paste it here.. i want to have a look at the policies

after you export it .. Right Click > Edit > Then Copy and paste it here

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

[mrrb]

Here it is:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explor er]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091
"NoLowDiskSpaceChecks"=dword:00000001
"NoInstrumentation"=dword:00000001
"ClearRecentDocsOnExit"=dword:00000001
"ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu"=dword:00000001
"Intellimenus"=dword:00000001
"NoSMHelp"=dword:00000000
"NoSMMyDocs"=dword:00000000

Thanks,
Sue

[SoltoN]

"ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu"=dword:00000001

if you are comfortable editing your registry, you can try changing the dword value of that to 00000000 to rule out that every time you log in windows is seeing you as a new user

[mrrb]

Not sure if I can trust you SoltoN. Besides shouldn't the start menu start populating once a program is accessed a few times. I frequently use notepad so why doesn't it show up in the start menu after being used 10 times? Any ideas?

Sue

[DaveA]

In the properties of the "Task and start menu" do you have a check mark near "Store and display a list ofrecently opened programs"?

[mrrb]

Yes, that is checked. Window is still blank.

Any more ideas?

Sue

[devil_himself]

Start > Run > regedit > navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explor er

on the right pane delete the following

NoInstrumentation , ClearRecentProgForNewUserInStartMenu , Intellimenus , NoSMHelp and NoSMMyDocs

Log off >< Log In