Windows Vista Forums

Start menu items missing sometimes
  1. #1


    jimbur Guest

    Start menu items missing sometimes

    I'm running Vista Home Premium. I have 12 items pinned to the start menu.

    SOMETIMES when I click on the start menu button only 8 items display. If I
    click again (close the start menu) and click once more (open the start menu),
    then I'll see all 12.



    SOMETIMES I see all 12 items on the start menu the first time I open it.

    I tried unpinning all items from the start menu and restarting the machine.
    Then I went back through and (re-)pinned the items. That didn't help. I still
    have the sometimes 8/sometimes 12 situation.

    This is a minor irritation, but it's a silly bug to have in Vista. Does
    anyone have a clue as to what I'm experiencing, how to set it right?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    guitardude Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    Try disabling the "recently opened programs". right click start menu, click
    properties, then deselect the box under Privacy that says "Store and display
    a list of recently opened programs." Maybe this will make it only show the
    ones you have pinned.
    guitardude

    "jimbur" <jimbur@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:45B78D78-A5B8-4AE6-B4D2-08DB632A5900@xxxxxx

    > I'm running Vista Home Premium. I have 12 items pinned to the start menu.
    >
    > SOMETIMES when I click on the start menu button only 8 items display. If I
    > click again (close the start menu) and click once more (open the start
    > menu),
    > then I'll see all 12.
    >
    > SOMETIMES I see all 12 items on the start menu the first time I open it.
    >
    > I tried unpinning all items from the start menu and restarting the
    > machine.
    > Then I went back through and (re-)pinned the items. That didn't help. I
    > still
    > have the sometimes 8/sometimes 12 situation.
    >
    > This is a minor irritation, but it's a silly bug to have in Vista. Does
    > anyone have a clue as to what I'm experiencing, how to set it right?
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    jimbur Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    Both "Store and display..." boxes are - and have been - unchecked, so that's
    not it. I may try checking one of them to see if that makes the pinned items
    hang together - but I'd really prefer not to have those tagalongs cluttering
    up the start menu. Thanks for your suggestion.

    "guitardude" wrote:

    > Try disabling the "recently opened programs". right click start menu, click
    > properties, then deselect the box under Privacy that says "Store and display
    > a list of recently opened programs." Maybe this will make it only show the
    > ones you have pinned.
    > guitardude
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Emil Lulic Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    Try setting the number of programs to show in the start menu to 8, reset the
    computer, and then try setting the number to 12, and restarting your pc
    again... maybe that'll help.

    Emil Lulic

    "guitardude" <guitardude@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:67458698-F939-47FF-9699-CA5F55D8D469@xxxxxx

    > Try disabling the "recently opened programs". right click start menu,
    > click properties, then deselect the box under Privacy that says "Store and
    > display a list of recently opened programs." Maybe this will make it only
    > show the ones you have pinned.
    > guitardude
    >
    > "jimbur" <jimbur@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:45B78D78-A5B8-4AE6-B4D2-08DB632A5900@xxxxxx

    >> I'm running Vista Home Premium. I have 12 items pinned to the start menu.
    >>
    >> SOMETIMES when I click on the start menu button only 8 items display. If
    >> I
    >> click again (close the start menu) and click once more (open the start
    >> menu),
    >> then I'll see all 12.
    >>
    >> SOMETIMES I see all 12 items on the start menu the first time I open it.
    >>
    >> I tried unpinning all items from the start menu and restarting the
    >> machine.
    >> Then I went back through and (re-)pinned the items. That didn't help. I
    >> still
    >> have the sometimes 8/sometimes 12 situation.
    >>
    >> This is a minor irritation, but it's a silly bug to have in Vista. Does
    >> anyone have a clue as to what I'm experiencing, how to set it right?
    >>
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    jimbur Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    The "Start menu size/Number of recent programs to display" area is greyed
    out, i.e. it's not something I can get to or modify. I know I could do that
    in XP, but Vista has it protected.

    "Emil Lulic" wrote:

    > Try setting the number of programs to show in the start menu to 8, reset the
    > computer, and then try setting the number to 12, and restarting your pc
    > again... maybe that'll help.
    >
    > Emil Lulic
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Emil Lulic Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    My Vista hasn't! I can change it as I wish...

    "jimbur" <jimbur@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:55A24BAE-F4EE-43EF-B0A8-80331581B649@xxxxxx

    > The "Start menu size/Number of recent programs to display" area is greyed
    > out, i.e. it's not something I can get to or modify. I know I could do
    > that
    > in XP, but Vista has it protected.
    >
    > "Emil Lulic" wrote:
    >

    >> Try setting the number of programs to show in the start menu to 8, reset
    >> the
    >> computer, and then try setting the number to 12, and restarting your pc
    >> again... maybe that'll help.
    >>
    >> Emil Lulic
    >>
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    MICHAEL Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    It's grayed out if you have unchecked "Store and display a list of recently
    opened programs". I have 20 programs added to my Start menu.
    I also have unchecked "Store and display recently opened files" and "Store and
    display recent programs".


    -Michael

    "jimbur" <jimbur@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:55A24BAE-F4EE-43EF-B0A8-80331581B649@xxxxxx

    > The "Start menu size/Number of recent programs to display" area is greyed
    > out, i.e. it's not something I can get to or modify. I know I could do that
    > in XP, but Vista has it protected.
    >
    > "Emil Lulic" wrote:
    >

    >> Try setting the number of programs to show in the start menu to 8, reset the
    >> computer, and then try setting the number to 12, and restarting your pc
    >> again... maybe that'll help.
    >>
    >> Emil Lulic
    >>
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    jimbur Guest

    Re: Start menu items missing sometimes

    MAYBE I'm okay now. Here's what I just did:
    Opened Start Menu Properties.
    Checked BOTH "Store and display" boxes.
    Clicked Apply and then OK, i.e. closed the Start Menu.
    Opened Start Menu Properties again.
    Clicked on Customize.
    This time I COULD get to the Number of programs to display! (I set it to
    zero.)

    (This had to be done in two steps? Did I not click on Apply when I tried
    this before? Can you get away with that?!)

    This was my last little frustration with Vista. Nice to have it resolved.
    Thanks for your time - and for motivating me to keep slugging away at the
    problem.

    "Emil Lulic" wrote:

    > My Vista hasn't! I can change it as I wish...
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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