TweakHound - Tweaking Windows 7
Customize The Start Menu and Taskbar

Customize Start Menu Privacy Settings

Why: Less memory and disk use. User preference.
Why not: Slower to access programs and files.

I understand that some folks find this feature annoying. But, this feature allows you to access programs and items with a single click, speeding up your work.

Right-click on the Start Orb and choose Properties > check / uncheck the boxes in the Privacy section.

As you can see in the picture above there are 2 settings you can change:

- Store and display recently opened programs in the Start menu
This puts recently open Programs in the Start menu. They will appear under items you have pinned there.

- Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar.
This creates a menu flyout for recent items in the Start menu and adds recent items to your Jump lists.

Changing the number of recent programs / items displayed

Why: User preference.
Why not: Too many can lead to a mess, too few can make the feature less helpful.

Right-click on the Start Orb and choose Properties > click the Customize button.
At the bottom of that window the the Start menu size section, change the number(s) in the sections:
- Number of recent programs to display:
- Number of recent items to display in Jump Lists:
Click OK to apply.

Setting these to 0 (zero) is virtually the same as disabling it (see the Customize Start Menu Privacy Settings section above).

Customize How The Start Menu Looks

Why: User preference, quicker access to the things you use and removal of the things you don't.
Why not: Can't think of a reason not to!

Right-click on the Start Orb and choose Properties > click the Customize button.

Below is a list of all your options.

 

Display as link means it will be a button.

Display as menu means it will be a button with a menu flyout.

Recommendations to add / keep:
Computer - display as menu.
Control Panel - display as menu
Homegroup if you use it.
Network
Run command (better to just learn that the Windows + R key opens this)
System administrative tools - display on All Programs and the Start menu


Recommendations to get rid of:
Default Programs (it is already in the Start Menu > All Programs folder)
Highlight newly installed programs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tweaking Windows 7 - Article Menu

1.   Index 2.   Desktop, Start Menu, Taskbar 3.   Customize The Start Menu and Taskbar 4 .  Customize The Notification Area & Explorer 5.   Drive & File System Tweaks 6.   Security Related Tweaks 7.   The Page File, SuperFetch, and ReadyBoost 8.   Services 9.   Internet & Network Tweaks 10. Power Options 11. Windows Backup And Recovery Options 12. Regedit Only Tweaks 13. Tweaking Apps (freeware) 14. Bad Tweaks 15. Clean, Defrag, & Optimize 16. Cool Tools