How to Configure the Start Menu

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  1. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    How to Configure the Start Menu?


    I haven't been impressed with configuring the Start Menu so far. I would like to be able to create new groups in the Start Menu, including the fancy tiles and be able to create my own shortcuts in each group.

    I looked at the tutorial https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html but this doesn't work as described. I tried creating a group for all users and copying shortcuts to that group but some items are not shown.

    I've installed Classic Shell which I've been using in Windows 8. This gives all the features I need and also still lets you use the standard Windows menu giving you the best of both worlds.

    I hoped Microsoft would sort out the Windows 10 Start Menu following the Windows 8 fiasco. Has MS screwed up again?
    Last edited by Steve C; 27 Aug 2015 at 02:46.
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  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Any replies? I can't believe everyone is happy with the Start Menu!
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  3. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #3

    I don't particularly care for the default tiles as well as the large size for some that come default and simply used the resize by right click option to not only shrink the size of the now many shortcuts pinned here but resize the shape of the menu itself. Unfortunately you can organize things in different groups and assign name to those but as for "fancy tiles" you first have to have "fancy shortcuts" where you change the default icon to something else you might call "fancy" and then see pinned there or found in a group you create.

    For executable files you would first need to right click to create new shortcuts and then customize the appearance with the change of the default icon. Typically software shortcuts will tend to see that software's own icon in use. For shortcuts you find that won't pin to either the Start or task bar not having either or both option I noticed for the create new System Restore point shortcut you would right cilck to bring up the properties screen and open the Shortcut tab to simply add "explorer" in front of the target directory's path anc click the apply button. Instantly you can then right click on the now modified shortcut and see the option to pin to both.

    Here I had a more simple solution for getting things organized by type in the Start tile area by first resizing the tiles and then moving them around a bit to keep like items grouped together.

    How to Configure the Start Menu-resize-start-menu-shrink-tiles-2.jpg

    Have to free up some screen space! Never did like Metro appearances!

    How to Configure the Start Menu-create-restore-point-message-w10-pinned-start.jpg

    You can see the contrast there easy enough where the new shortcut added on once resized to the small setting was moved up with the System configuration shorcut. Web browsers - Edge, IE, the 64bit Waterfox packed together above media player shortcuts above.... so forth in an orderly fashion. The width of the tile section was then narrowed down when seeing the small size tiles arranged vertically to give things the old 7 Start menu type appearance despite having more things on the task bar and jump list type addon toolbars.

    Not one 3rd party tool required for any of that! A busy machine without clutter was the goal intended!
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  4. Posts : 4,054
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    Huh?, Start Menu seems fine to me, new groups can be added and renamed, any thing can be made a tile and added to the start menu, resize them as you wish, start menu it's self can be resized by dragging the corners to your prefered size.

    How to Configure the Start Menu-screenshot-58-.png

    TC :)
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  5. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #5

    You first have to either unpin or shrink the tiles before you can do much of anything. With all of the tiles resized however I can easily scroll for the newly added ones when extending even further vertically as you would in 7 for the All Programs menu. No extra space needed for grouping names as well as the extra spacing in between the groups to fill up the entire desktop but a narrowed down vertical scroll.

    How to Configure the Start Menu-all-program-replaced-scrolling-start-tiles.jpg

    From there you can go into the "Start>Settings>Personalization>Colors" to adjust which color as well as custom blend for the background.
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  6. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    Steve C said:
    Any replies? I can't believe everyone is happy with the Start Menu!
    Happy?, NO!
    I immediately got rid of it and use "Start is Back", Now I'm Happy, just like I was in 8.0/8.1
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  7. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I'm now using Classic Shell which offers far more features than Microsoft's feeble attempt. Hover on the Start button gives me Classic Shell and clicking on the Start button gives me Microsoft's menu so I have both options.

    How can a company worth billions get this wrong again?
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  8. Posts : 569
    Windows 10 Pro/Windows 7 Ultimate
       #8

    I never use the "Start Menu" at all anymore, I can get to my tiles from the side link there. I kind of wish I could have that popup as a menu rather than a link, but ClassicShell doesn't list that as an option.

    How to Configure the Start Menu-tiles2.png
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  9. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #9

    Want a busy desktop? I'll show an older one as long as you don't crack any ribs laughing at it!

    How to Configure the Start Menu-multimonitors-multiple-vms.jpg

    Try Multi-OSing at the same time you are multi multi multi multi-tasking! Or simply keeping it simple like the screen posted earlier.
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  10. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #10

    Maybe this is not the right place, but I am wondering if it is possible to stop the Start menu from opening after each startup/wake. It's kind of annoying and useless as it takes the focus from the last used app and thus prevents me from easily restarting my music by hitting spacebar
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