How to Enable or Disable Start Menu "All Programs" in Vista and Windows 7

   Information

This will show you how to have the All Programs list added or removed from the Start menu of the user account that this is done in. The All Programs list is enabled by default in Vista and Windows 7.

   Note

In Vista, this will only work on the normal Start menu and not the classic Start menu.

EXAMPLE: All Programs List Enabled in the Start Menu

EXAMPLE: All Programs List Disabled in the Start Menu

OPTION ONE

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Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Remove All Programs list from the Start menu and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable All Programs

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 8.

5. To Disable All Programs

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

OPTION TWO

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Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable All Programs

A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Start_Menu_All_Programs.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable All Programs

A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Start_Menu_All_Programs.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

OPTION THREE

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Manually in Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, click Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

5. To Disable All Programs in Start Menu

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)

B) Type NoStartMenuMorePrograms and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoStartMenuMorePrograms and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

F) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable All Programs in Start Menu

A) In the right pane, right click on NoStartMenuMorePrograms and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)

B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

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