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I actually found the Windows 7 Start Menu killed a primary bit of usability that I'd been relying on: The ability to have folders of links in the start menu. I

I actually found the Windows 7 Start Menu killed a primary bit of usability that I'd been relying on: The ability to have folders of links in the start menu. I use nearly 20 programs on a regular basis, and another 20 I use occasionally and would like the be able to find without digging through the Program Files menu, and I don't want to clutter the task bar with all of them. The way I have it set up in six folders on the top of the Start Menu (NOT inside "Programs", but above Programs), I can pull any of them up with a Ctrl-Esc and few hits of the arrow keys. The text search feature works great when you can remember the name of the app you're looking for. My brain doesn't always work that way, though. Since I have the various apps sorted by category, I don't have to look through more than about 6 at a time to find the one I need. I'm actually using a "Classic Windows Start Menu" app that replaces the new Windows 7 Start Menu with one that behaves the way I've come to depend on. Until I found the Classic Start Menu app, I was getting stuck on the search line a lot, trying to remember what some tool was called. No fun.

TallTalesOrTrue 15y ago
Exactly. I think Windows will have to do an awesome job at finding the tool for me. Because my mom and dad won't remember that the program that they use to view pictures is called irfanview.
- thomasz 15y ago
  you don't type "irfanview" into the start menu, you type "xmas pictures 1999" and click on the result.
maratd 15y ago
Just an FYI. You can create a folder and place multiple folders of links into that folder. Then create a toolbar on the taskbar pointing to that folder. Then reduce the toolbar to the smallest possible size. You will find that you can now traverse the multiple folders of links by highlighting them. No need for any extra apps.
- SomeCallMeTim 15y ago
  Did that. That was my first attempt at fixing this problem. Doesn't work for me, since I can't get to it from the keyboard. If there's a keyboard shortcut to open it, then I never found it.

TallTalesOrTrue 15y ago

Exactly. I think Windows will have to do an awesome job at finding the tool for me. Because my mom and dad won't remember that the program that they use to view pictures is called irfanview.

thomasz 15y ago
you don't type "irfanview" into the start menu, you type "xmas pictures 1999" and click on the result.

maratd 15y ago

Just an FYI. You can create a folder and place multiple folders of links into that folder. Then create a toolbar on the taskbar pointing to that folder. Then reduce the toolbar to the smallest possible size. You will find that you can now traverse the multiple folders of links by highlighting them. No need for any extra apps.

SomeCallMeTim 15y ago
Did that. That was my first attempt at fixing this problem. Doesn't work for me, since I can't get to it from the keyboard. If there's a keyboard shortcut to open it, then I never found it.