Task 3: Customizing the Start Menu

Right-click the taskbar, and choose Properties from the menu that appears.

The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box opens. Click the Start Menu tab.

In the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button next to the Start menu option.

The Customize Start Menu dialog box opens. Select either Large icons or Small icons in the Select an icon size for programs area.

INTRODUCTION

In addition to enabling you to pin programs to the Start menu, Windows XP allows you to make other customizations. You can specify whether the icons in the Start menu are small or large, how many of your most recently used programs are displayed, whether your Internet and e-mail programs appear on the menu, and more.

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Close the Dialog Boxes

Click OK once to close the Customize Start Menu dialog box, and again to close the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box.

Select how many recently used programs you want the Start menu to display.

Specify whether you want the Start menu to prominently display your Internet browser and e-mail programs, and specify which programs you use.

In the Start menu settings area of the Advanced tab, specify whether you want submenus to open when you hover over them with your mouse, and whether you want newly installed applications to be highlighted.

In the Start menu items list, select the items you want to appear on the Start menu, and how you want them shown.

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As Link, As Menu, or Never

Use the Show these items on the Start menu list to select the items you want to appear on the Start menu, and to specify how they are displayed. Select Never to remove the item from the Start menu, As Menu if you want to be able to click that item to see any sub-items, or As Link if you want to be able to click that item to open a window containing any sub-items.

Add a Document List

To work on a document that you recently had open, you can use a Start menu shortcut. First, however, you must configure the Start menu to display a list of your most recently used documents. Simply click the List my most recently opened documents checkbox in the Advanced tab of the Customize Start Menu dialog box.