There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
 
Tag Cloud
acer black screen boot bsod computer connection crash css dell display driver drivers email error excel explorer firefox firefox 3 freeze game hard drive internet internet explorer itunes laptop linux malware monitor network networking nvidia outlook outlook 2003 outlook express partition printer problem router slow software sound startup trojan usb video virus vista windows windows xp wireless
Windows Vista
Search
Search in:
 
Advanced Search
Tech Support Guy Forums > Operating Systems > Windows Vista >
Help- my start menu is blank!


HELLO AND WELCOME! Before you can post your question, you'll have to register -- it's completely free! Click here to join today! We highly recommend that you print a copy of our Guide for New Members. Enjoy!

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
mrrb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
10-Oct-2007, 07:38 PM #1
Help- my start menu is blank!
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's Avatar
Senior Member with 161 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
10-Oct-2007, 08:20 PM #2
would you be able to post a screenshot of the problem so we can better see what exactly you are trying to describe?
mrrb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
10-Oct-2007, 10:27 PM #3
Start up screen image
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
Attached Thumbnails
help-my-start-menu-blank-start.jpg  
AcaCandy's Avatar
Computer Specs
Administrator with 100,192 posts.
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Las Vegas, NV & Acapulco, Mexico
Experience: Advanced
11-Oct-2007, 12:12 AM #4
Just open a few programs one by one, and it should re-populate.
mrrb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
11-Oct-2007, 07:45 AM #5
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's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 4,854 posts.
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: India
Experience: Advanced
11-Oct-2007, 08:57 AM #6
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's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 4,854 posts.
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: India
Experience: Advanced
11-Oct-2007, 08:58 AM #7
Also Have a Look Here


Frequently used programs not automatically added to the Start menu
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=282066
mrrb's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
11-Oct-2007, 12:45 PM #8
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's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 4,854 posts.
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: India
Experience: Advanced
11-Oct-2007, 12:47 PM #9
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's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
11-Oct-2007, 03:50 PM #10
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's Avatar
Senior Member with 161 posts.
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
11-Oct-2007, 04:02 PM #11
Code:
"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's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
18-Oct-2007, 06:21 PM #12
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's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 2,770 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
19-Oct-2007, 05:22 PM #13
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's Avatar
Computer Specs
Member with 81 posts.
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Experience: Intermediate
20-Oct-2007, 01:26 AM #14
Yes, that is checked. Window is still blank.

Any more ideas?

Sue
devil_himself's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 4,854 posts.
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: India
Experience: Advanced
20-Oct-2007, 02:24 AM #15
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
Closed Thread

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who help people like you solve computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.



Thread Tools


You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:43 PM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2008 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Powered by vBulletin, Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.1.0
Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.