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Windows 7 missing start menu programs

Anonymous
2009-05-19T23:20:52+00:00

Hello

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-05-21T03:12:04+00:00

    Hello Lythria,

    Thank you for posting.  Are you referring to the list of recently run programs that appears when you click on the Start button or do you mean that when you click Start, then click All Programs there is nothing listed there?  Which version of Windows 7 RC are you using?  If you are missing the list of recently opened programs follow these steps to ensure that the settings are correct for the Start Menu.

    1.     Right click on the Start Button

    2.     Click Properties

    3.     In the Task Bar and Start Menu Properties window click “customize”

    4.     Click on the “Use Default Settings” button

    5.     Click “Ok”

    6.     Click “Apply”

    7.     Open a program or two and ensure that the icons for these programs are showing in the recently opened items.

    If this does not resolve your problem please let us know in your response.

    Thanks,

    Jack

    Jack

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-20T23:42:23+00:00

    hello i find a solution, it was an error from your uninstaller program 2010.

    open your unistaller 2010 if you have it installed.. click on start menu all users and uncheck all boxes... that should fix the problem.

    if it dont......

    go to control panel...folder options....click view .....check the box showhidden files.....

    go to c:\program data/microsoft/windows/start menu... if start menu folder is like clear .....right click properties...general..unckeck hiden...ok that should fix the problem too...  make sure go back and hide folders again ...... good luck guys....

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-09-15T14:52:48+00:00

    Im Having the same problem. When i go to Start, all programs the screen that shows all the programs installed.  That screen is blank with no option to select a program to start as if no program is installed on the machine

    Follow these directions from the link belo and this will solve your problem

    http://coolthingoftheday.blogspot.com/2009/05/story-of-windows-7-and-empty-all.html

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-06-05T20:34:26+00:00

    Jack, I think I'm having the same problems as Lythria.

    4 times now, all of the installed programs disappear from the start menu and can't be searched for.  I can't start them from the .exe file in explorer either. on reboot, the machine fails to start and goes through the repair process yet fails.  I have had this on two different laptops and rebuilt each from scratch.  One was dual boot with XP and the other a completely clean install.  It is not just the recently used programs but all references to the programs in the start menu.  it is completely empty of all links, icons and entries.

    I cannot pin it down to installing a certain program or suite, or updates.  I have used different office suites (MS and OOO), different AV programs and on two different laptops. I'm using RC1

    Jon

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-05-19T23:22:30+00:00

    Hello I just installed Windows 7 over Vista. So far everything is working well but when I click start menu - programs - blank.  I installed over vista - all  programs are there just not showing in start menu  I read the prior Threads on this and it does not seem that David engineer ever responded.  The problem is that upgrade rather than clean install but if there is a fix please post for all.  Thank you.

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