The Windows XP Start Menu is divided into two parts. The left part can contain custom links to folders and applications while the right part is more or less static. It points to user folders like My Documents or the Control Panel of the Windows operating system. It is possible to change some of the [...]

Categories: Windows

The Windows XP or Windows Vista Start Menus provide only limited options to customize their appearance and change the links and the way they are displayed. Open Menu+ is an Open Source skinnable Windows Start Menu replacement that provides better access to Start Menu entries. One interesting aspect of the software is the option to [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

Not everyone is a fan of changing the looks of an operating system. Some users are perfectly happy with the default skin it shipped with and would never think of changing the interface. There is however a kind of user who likes to change the appearance of a computer system. From changing themes to adding [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

Users who like total desktop conversions might seek methods of removing standard Windows elements like the Windows Start Button to maximize screen estate. Not everyone would want to give up on the Windows Start Menu but someone who is working with an application launcher like Launchy would probably not miss it at all. But even [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

Circle Dock was another contribution to the Donation Coder Programming Challenge. It was an entry by Eric Wong who contributed not only this but another software program to the Challenge. Circle Dock is a program launcher, but not your usual stationary one. It is activated with a shortcut, the default one is CTRL Windows, and [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

I discovered the application SMOz at the Make Use Of Website and decided to give it a try because my start menu is already filling up with all kinds of applications that I have installed on my new computer. Many of these are for testing purposes only but some will remain there permanently. SMOz is [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

Windows XP keeps track of how many times an application has been started by a user of the system and displays the most frequently used programs in the start menu. That’s a pretty convenient feature for some users but there is no obvious way to control which applications are listed in the start menu.

Categories: Operating Systems, Software, Windows

Clicking on Start, All Programs, the folder of the software that you want to start and finally the software is the normal way to start applications using the Windows start menu. Unfortunately though it closes every time you have started a software from it which means that you have to follow the same path again if you want to open another application from it.

Categories: Operating Systems, Software, Tools, Windows

After a few months of using Launchy and Rocket Dock I realized that I actually did not use the startmenu of my Windows operating system at all. I either use these great apps that give me more flexibility and speed or use icons on my desktop for certain tasks.
Another reason why I’m not using the startmenu anymore is that it really looks and feels messy after a while because every new application adds it’s own folder to it. The question that came up for me is whether I needed the startmenu at all.

Categories: Operating Systems, Tools, Windows