Win Start menu

This covers the Start menu in Windows 7. For the Windows 8 and 10 Start screens, see Win8 abc's, Win8 Start screen, Win10 abc's and Win10 Start menu.

The Windows Start menu is the master index to everything in the computer. When programs are installed normally, their names and logos are placed in the "All Programs" menu (see below).

Adding Links to Favorites
For quick access, users place links to their favorite programs in the Start menu and avoid having to navigate the All Programs menu. To add a link to the Start menu, right click the executable program from All Programs, the desktop or a folder and select "Pin to Start Menu." The link will be added to the bottom of the Start menu list, but can be relocated by dragging it to the desired location and dropping it when the black horizontal line appears.

Rename and Remove
To rename the link, right click the link in the Start menu and select Rename. To remove the link, right click and select "Remove from this list."

Windows 7 Start Menu

Clicking the Start menu button (top) displays a master index to user applications, data, control panels and utility programs. The arrows point to links placed by the user for quick access to applications and Explorer views. Clicking All Programs displays the installed applications (see below).

Windows 7 Start Menu

Clicking the Start menu button (top) displays a master index to user applications, data, control panels and utility programs. The arrows point to links placed by the user for quick access to applications and Explorer views. Clicking All Programs displays the installed applications (see below).

Windows 7 All Programs Menu

The All Programs menu displays the installed applications in a similar hierarchy as the Explorer file manager. The only difference is that there are no triangles indicating subfolders. Clicking any one of the four apps in the Microsoft Office folder would launch the program. All Programs became All apps in Windows 8 and 10. See Win Explorer.

Display as Menus

In Windows Vista and 7, users can make the Start menu display menus to major resources for quick access. In this example, clicking Computer and selecting a drive opens Explorer at that point. To configure the Start menu, right click an inactive part of the Start menu and select Properties/Customize.

Display as Menus

In Windows Vista and 7, users can make the Start menu display menus to major resources for quick access. In this example, clicking Computer and selecting a drive opens Explorer at that point. To configure the Start menu, right click an inactive part of the Start menu and select Properties/Customize.