Modifying the Start Menu

We already took a brief look at pinning applications to the Start menu in Chapter 1, "Understanding the Windows XP Graphical User Interface." There are additional aspects of the Start menu you can change. Open the Start menu and right-click any open area; then select Properties from the shortcut menu. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box opens.

By default, the Start Menu option is selected. This provides the two-column Windows XP Start menu. To change the options of the Start menu, click the Customize button to open the Customize Start Menu dialog box (see Figure 2.13).

Figure 2.13. You can modify the Start menu settings in the Customize Start Menu dialog box.

This dialog box enables you to switch between large icons and small icons. You can also select the number of programs that are listed on the Start menu (in the left column of the Start menu). Other settings include whether you will show an icon for your Internet browser and email program on the Start menu. A drop-down list for each allows you to select the program you will use as your browser or email client. When you have completed making your settings, click OK.

You can also switch to the Classic, one-column Windows Start menu. On the Start Menu tab of the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, select the Classic Start Menu option button. To customize the Classic Start menu, click the Customize button.

The Customize dialog box for the Classic Start menu allows you to add or remove items from the Start menu and determine which advanced icons should appear on the Start menu, such as Display Administrative Tools (which is normally opened via the Control Panel) or showing your Favorites on the Classic Start menu. The various options are controlled by a series of check boxes.

When you have completed changing the settings, click OK. To close the Taskbar and Start Menu dialog box, click OK again.

For the most part, we will use the Windows XP Start menu in our themes and skins. Changing to the Classic Start menu does provide another visual option when designing your own themes and skins.