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How to Add or Remove Help from the Normal and Classic Vista Start Menu Information | | This will show you how to add or remove the Help and Support option from the Normal and Classic Start menu in Vista. By default this is added to both Start menu choices. |  | RELATED LINKS: EXAMPLE: Normal Start Menu with Help and Support Added and Removed NOTE: You can use Option One or Two below for the Normal Start menu. Normal_Start_Menu_Added.jpgNormal_Start_Menu_Removed.jpg
EXAMPLE: Classic Start Menu with Help and Support Added and Removed NOTE: You will need to use Option Two below for the Classic Start menu. Classic_Start_Menu_Added.jpgClassic_Start_Menu_Removed.jpg
| OPTION ONE: |
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| For the Normal Start Menu Only |
NOTE | | This will only remove the Help and Support option for the Normal Start menu. For the Classic Start menu, see Option Two below. |  | 1. Right click on the Start button or on a empty space in the Start menu and click on Properties.
2. Click on the Customize button next to the dotted Start menu. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For more about Customize and the Start menu, see: How to Customize the Start Menu in Vista
Customize1.jpg
3. To Add Help and Support -A) Check the Help box. (See screenshot below step 5)
NOTE: This Help option is removed in Option Two below.
B) Go to step 5.
4. To Remove Help and Support -A) Uncheck the Help box. (See screenshot below step 5)
5. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
Customize2.jpg
6. Click OK. (See screenshot below step 2)
| OPTION TWO: |
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| For the Normal and Classic Start Menu |
NOTE | | This will remove the Help and Support option on both the Normal and Classic Start menu. | | | METHOD ONE: |
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| Through the Local Group Policy Editor |
NOTE | | This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions. | | 1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Remove Help menu from Start Menu and click Properties.
Group_Policy.jpg
6. To Add Help and Support - A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 8.
7. To Remove Help and Support - A) Dot Enabled and click OK.
Properties.jpg
8. Close Local Group Policy Editor window.
| METHOD TWO: |
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| Through the Registry |
NOTE | | This method will work for all Vista versions. | | Through a Download:
1. To Add Help and Support - A) Click on the download button below to download the Add_Start_Menu_Help.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Remove Help and Support - A) Click on the download button below to download the Remove_Start_Menu_Help.reg file.
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply all changes.
The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Reg1.jpg
5. To Remove Help and Support -A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type NoSMHelp and press Enter.
C) Right click on NoSMHelp and click Modify. (See screenshot below)
Reg2.jpgD) Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)
Modify.jpgE) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)
Reg3.jpgF) Go to step 7.
6. To Add Help and Support - A) In the right pane, right click on NoSMHelp and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm deletion.
7. Close regedit.
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply all changes.
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 13,545
Rep Power: 200 | |
Tutorial Tools | | |
Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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