Personalizing Vista - Customizing the Classic Start Menu
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Because the Start menu interface has been around for so long, most people won’t have any trouble figuring out how to change the look and feel. You can add and remove Classic Start menu commands just as before. Here’s what to do:
As before, right-click on the Start button or on an empty area of the taskbar and choose Properties from the context menu.
Make sure the “Classic Start menu” radio button is selected and then choose the Customize button.
For example, many admins like to have easy access to the administrative tools. As with previous Windows editions, you can access these tools by checking the “Display administrative tools” Advanced Start menu option.
In my opinion, changing to the Classic Start menu really highlights the power of the newly designed Start menu with the Windows Desktop Search incorporated. Now try to find the Character Map, or that email you got three months ago with directions to that meeting.
Figure 4-2. Customizing the Classic Start menu appearance
Table 4-1 provides a brief summary of how each selection in the Advanced Start menu options changes Classic Start menu behavior.
Table 4-1. Using the Advanced Start menu options
| Setting | Purpose |
| Display Administrative Tools | As mentioned previously, it displays a submenu full of Vista’s administrative tools. |
| Display Favorites | Shows the Favorites menu from the Start menu. This is helpful when users frequently navigate using the Favorites menu. |
| Display Log Off | Adds and removes thelog offcommand. If this option is not selected, users must press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination to log off. |
| Display Run | Shows users theruncommand from the Start menu, which is not present by default in Windows Vista. |
| Expand (Documents, Pictures, Network Connections, Printers, Control Panel) | These are individual choices, but they all perform the same function. They cause the selection to appear as a submenu rather than in its own window when clicked. |
| Show Small Icons in Start Menu | This reduces the Start menu program icon sizes. |
| Use Personalized Menus | This option causes only a partial display of menu contents, hiding less frequently used programs behind a down arrow at the bottom of the menu. |
Next: Customizing the Vista Simple Start Menu >>
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of Windows Vista Administration: The Definitive Guide, written by Brian Culp (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596529597). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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