Windows 7 missing start menu programs

Anonymous
2009-05-19T23:20:52+00:00

Hello

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2009-05-21T03:12:04+00:00

Hello Lythria,

Thank you for posting.  Are you referring to the list of recently run programs that appears when you click on the Start button or do you mean that when you click Start, then click All Programs there is nothing listed there?  Which version of Windows 7 RC are you using?  If you are missing the list of recently opened programs follow these steps to ensure that the settings are correct for the Start Menu.

1.     Right click on the Start Button

2.     Click Properties

3.     In the Task Bar and Start Menu Properties window click “customize”

4.     Click on the “Use Default Settings” button

5.     Click “Ok”

6.     Click “Apply”

7.     Open a program or two and ensure that the icons for these programs are showing in the recently opened items.

If this does not resolve your problem please let us know in your response.

Thanks,

Jack

Jack

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Anonymous
2011-02-20T23:42:23+00:00

hello i find a solution, it was an error from your uninstaller program 2010.

open your unistaller 2010 if you have it installed.. click on start menu all users and uncheck all boxes... that should fix the problem.

if it dont......

go to control panel...folder options....click view .....check the box showhidden files.....

go to c:\program data/microsoft/windows/start menu... if start menu folder is like clear .....right click properties...general..unckeck hiden...ok that should fix the problem too...  make sure go back and hide folders again ...... good luck guys....

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-09-15T15:10:26+00:00

    source:http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7desktop/thread/a790f38f-d199-44b8-9a47-ac637e0905f6

    Same problem here, this is clearly a bug, one that's been affecting lots of Windows users and is quite frustrating too, see:

    http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/46731-lost-my-pinned-folders.html

    http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/8762-start-menu-programs-disappeared.html

    http://superuser.com/questions/173254/several-windows-7-jump-list-items-lost-how-to-get-them-back

    http://www.mydigitallife.info/2010/07/04/fix-windows-7-jump-lists-missing-or-does-not-display-recent-items-or-pinned-files/

    http://www.shadowsplace.net/general/windows/windows-7-jump-lists-troubleshooting-missing-items/

    http://thewindows7site.com/forum/threads/12682-Unable-to-PIN-items-to-taskbar-Resolved?p=106961&viewfull=1

    http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/InternetExplorer/thread/f081525b-d99a-4b54-8f6a-d65e28ef137a

    --> Microsoft, you need to find the solution and fix this ASAP.

    P.S.: You will find tons of tips & tricks to try to fix this, like for example:

    Step 1:

    a.       Right click on taskbar and click on Properties.

    b.      Click on the Start menu tab and make sure that in Privacy the two check boxes are checked.

    § Store and display recently opened programs in start menu.

    § Store and display currently opened items in start menu and the taskbar.

    c.       After checking both the boxes, click Apply and then click OK.

    Now check whether you are able to pin the URLs to the Internet Explorer.

    DO NOT TRY THIS, YOU WILL END UP LOOSING YOUR START MENU ITEMS

    Good luck people!

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-10-02T03:33:55+00:00

    Oct 2010 - This issue is still occurring on Win7.  I no longer have start menu folders / icons for things like Visual Studio 2010, SQL Server Management Studio, etc.

    No one on these machines have Admin priviledges .. so this was obviously something that occurred with elevated priv during an autonomous patch.

    VERY frustrating, Microsoft.  How do you recreate the folders and their icons?  Since the apps still exist as installed, I could recreated some icons manually .. but I'd certainly miss some items that are part of such products.\

    Very dismayed...

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-24T04:27:28+00:00

    I have already tried that how do I fix it so that the list will be placed back with icons on left of start menu what else can be done next

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