How to Pin a Folder to the Start Menu in Vista
INFO: By default in Vista, you are only able to pin a program or a program shortcut to the left white side of the Start Menu. This will show you how to also allow a folder or a folder shortcut to be pinned to the Start Menu.
NOTE:
A) This will only add Pin to Start Menu to a folder, or folder shorcut, on the Desktop or in Windows Explorer. It does not add it for folders in the Start menu All Programs area.
B) It is best to Pin the actual source folder and not a shortcut to the folder. It is easier for a shortcut to be moved or deleted, causing the Pinned folder in the Start menu to not work anymore.
RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Add or Delete a Shortcut or Folder From the Start Menu in Vista
2. How to Customize the Start Menu in Vista
3. How to Change the Start Menu to Classic View in Vista
4. How to Turn the Recent Items List On or Off in Vista
5. How to Customize the Context Menu for the Start Menu in Vista
6. How to Pin a Program to the Start Menu in Vista
7. How to Display Small or Large Icons in the Vista Start Menu
8. How to Enable or Disable the All Programs List in the Vista Start Menu
9. How to Add or Remove Help from the Normal and Classic Vista Start Menu
10. How to Restore the Start Menu Search Button after Installing the Vista SP1
11. How to Enable or Disable Pin to Start Menu in Vista
12. How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista
EXAMPLE: Pin area of the Start Menu
NOTE: This is the left white side of the Start menu. If you would like to change the size of these icons to be large or small, then see:
How to Display Small or Large Icons in the Vista Start Menu
Start_Menu.jpg
STEP ONE:
How to Allow a Folder to be Pinned :
METHOD ONE:
Through a Download:
1. To Add the Pin Folder Option -
A)
Add_Pin_Folder.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
2. To Remove the Pin Folder Option -
A)
Remove_Pin_Folder.reg < CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
3. Click on
Save, and save the .reg file to the
Desktop.
4. Right click on the
.reg file (on desktop) and click
Merge.
5. Click
Run button for Security Warning prompt.
6. Click
Continue button for UAC prompt.
7. Click
YES on Confirmation prompt.
8. Click
OK on Success prompt.
9. When done, you can delete the
.reg file (on desktop) if you want to.
METHOD TWO:
Through the Manual Way:
1. Open Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type
regedit and press
Enter.
3. Click
Continue for UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
5. To Add the Pin Folder Option -
A) In the left pane, right click on
ContextMenuHandlers and click
New and click
Key.
ContextMenuHandlers.jpg
B) Type
{a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} and press
Enter. (See screenshot below step 6B)
6. To Remove the Pin Folder Option -
A) Right click on
{a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8} and click
Delete. (See screenshot below)
B) Click on
Yes to confirm the deletion.
New_Key.jpg
7. Close regedit.
STEP TWO:
OPTION ONE:
How to Pin a Folder to the Start Menu :
NOTE: You must add the Folder Pin Option above first.
1. Press and hold the
Shift key, then right click on the folder or folder shortcut that you want pinned to the Start Menu.
2. Click on
Pin to Start Menu. (See screenshot below)
Shift_Right_Click.jpg
OPTION TWO:
How to Remove a Pinned Folder :
NOTE: If you cannot get Vista to remove the pin, then see step two here: How to Fix Recent Programs Not Being Remembered in Vista
1. Right click on the pinned folder in the Start Menu.
2. Click on
Remove from this list. (See screenshot below)
Remove_From_List.jpg
That's it,
Shawn
Linear Mode
