Recipe 5.11. Customizing the Start Menu s Pinned Programs List

Recipe 5.11. Customizing the Start Menu's Pinned Programs List

Problem

You want to change the programs that appear on the Pinned Programs List, just above the Frequently Used Programs List on the Start menu. But by default, Windows XP puts specific programs on the list, notably Internet Explorer and Outlook or Outlook Express. But you use a different browser or email program, so you want it to appear there, or want to put a different program altogether on the Pinned Programs List.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

1. To add your email program or web browser to the list, right-click on the Start button and choose Properties Start Menu Customize General.

2. To choose which program's icon to use for each of the programs, choose the program from the drop-down box. Click OK and then click OK again.

To add other programs to the Pinned Programs List, right-click on their icons from the desktop or from Windows Explorer and drag it to the Start button. The Start menu will pop up. Drag the icon to the location on the Pinned Programs List where you want it to appear, and release the mouse button. The program will now appear on the list. To delete a program from the list, right-click on its icon and choose Unpin from Start menu. To rename a program on the list, right-click on it and choose Rename.

Using the Registry

You can use the Registry to stop any programs at all from showing up on the list at all:

1. Open the Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.

2. Create a new DWORD value of NoStartMenuPinnedList and give it a value of 1.

3. Exit the Registry. You may need to reboot in order for the setting to take effect.

4. To let programs start showing up on the list again, delete NoStartMenuPinnedList or give a value of 0. Exit the Registry. You may need to reboot in order for the settings to take effect.

Discussion

The Pinned Programs List is much more useful than the Frequently Used Programs List, because you have absolute control over what shows up on it and what doesn't. Because of that, consider killing the Frequently Used Programs list entirely, as outlined in the previous recipe, which will make room for more programs on the Pinned Programs List.

See Also

MS KB 279767, "Description of the Start Menu in Windows XP"