Shorten the list of frequently used programs in the Start menu

Windows XP, Vista, 7

Windows maintains a list of the most

frequently used programs in the Start

menu. These shortcuts enable quick

access to the applications. But the

long list also tends to be unclear.

You can reduce the number of

entries in the list. Right-click ‘Start’ for

this. Select ‘Properties’ in the following

context menu. The ‘Taskbar and Start

Menu Properties’ dialog box opens.

In case of Windows XP and Vista,

ensure that the ‘Start menu’ option

is selected. As opposed to that, the

‘Classic Start menu’ option sees to

it that Windows displays the Start

menu in the layout of older versions,

where the list for the most frequently

used applications had not yet been

integrated.

The ‘Customize Start Menu’ dialog

box opens on clicking ‘Customize’. It

diff ers depending on the version of the

operating system. In case of Vista and
Windows 7, you must type the number
of desired program shortcuts under
‘Number of recent programs to display’.
If you use Windows XP, you will fi nd the
‘Number of recent programs to display’
option in the ‘General’ tab. Windows
carries out the modifi cations after
confi rming with ‘OK’.
NOTE: By entering ‘0’, you completely
remove the list of the most frequently
used programs.