[mitchsc]

Using XP SP3, I am only able to display 2 folders in the right upper pane of the Start Menu: My Computer and My Documents.

The boxes are checked in R-Click Start>Properties>Start Menu Tab>Customize Button>Advanced Tab>Start Menu Items Box for My Network Places, My Music, My Pictures, but they do not display.

I found this article with a potential fix, but can't seem to get the registry to do what they recommend. Music folder missing from Start menu and iTunes requires it to work.

Can someone suggest a fix, or if you agree with the article above, explain it in more detailed steps so I can try it again?

Thanks...

[GrantHillsSA]

Try creating a new user. Logoff your user and login with the new one. If it still does the same I suspect one of 2 things.
1 - WinXP is corrupt. Do a repair installation.
2 - Some viral activities. Install a good anti-virus and do a scan.

If you have some time, try one of Microsoft's fixit tools:
Microsoft Fix it Solution Center

Cheers :)

[mitchsc]

Thanks for the suggestions.

You are correct, my other log-in does have the missing folders in Start menu.

My Windows came preloaded, so I have no "repair" ability from a Windows CD.

The problem is not serious enough for me to format HDD and reload everything.

I have a good anti-virus program, and I regularly run Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware. They are very good.

Any suggestions since my other log-in works?

Thanks...

[JBeaucaire]

Windows may have come "preloaded" but every computer I've purchased in the past 7 years preloaded had a Recovery Console hidden on the computer somewhere.

When first booting the computer, sometimes pressing a certain key will bring up the hidden recovery partition, F10 on many of my systems.

The Recovery Console will usually offer the opportunity to reinstall:
1) Just applications that came with system (OS and files left alone)
2) Just OS and applications (files left alone)
3) Complete factory reset (all files erased... hope you have backed them up)

[mitchsc]

I have a recovery CD that I think will pull a copy of XP off the D partition. I've never used it, so I'm not sure about the options.

I know that things are supposed to work a certain way, like just reinstall the OS and leave everything else alone, but in my experience, things usually don't go so smoothly.

My copy of XP (on D) is really old. Maybe pre-SP1?? So if I loaded it, I would have to do 10 years of Windows updates, and I wonder if I would even have problems with validation.

Seems like a risky thing to do for a minor folder display problem.

I appreciate the suggestion however. Reinstalling Windows seems like a risk to me. I was hoping it might just be a setting change, or recreating a log-in or something simple.

Do I have this right?

In regards to file backup, I am OCD about that. I back up everything all the time.

In fact, after having to do a full HDD format once several years ago, I bought an extra HDD and cloned it after a fresh install of the OS and all programs. I keep in in my desk, and if I ever get a corrupted OS or HDD, I just clone it from my extra "master HDD" and I don't have to reload everything. Still a lot of tweaks afterwords, but better than a full install of everything.

Thanks again...

[Scleros]

I found this article with a potential fix, but can't seem to get the registry to do what they recommend. ... explain it in more detailed steps so I can try it again?

I think a reinstall or recovery to address this issue is probably unwarranted, however I haven't encountered this issue before so I don't have a quick fix. The article you found seems like a good place to start though. So, try this:

1. Do Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command prompt
2. Type "regedit" without quotes and press Enter. Registry editor should load.
3. Double-click HKEY_CURRENT_USER in left-hand pane to expand branch and begin drilling down into folder tree.
4. Double-click Software.
5. Double-click Microsoft.
6. Double-click Windows.
7. Double-click CurrentVersion.
8. Double-click Explorer.
9. Double-click User Shell Folders.
10. Compare the entries in the right-hand pane to those described in the article.

For what it's worth, the screenshot below shows where you are supposed to end up in the registry.

[mitchsc]

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions.

I found that some of the folders that are missing, ARE in this part of the registry, but still don't display.

There were one or two that were missing from the registry, but I couldn't figure out how to ADD the registry information. The instructions in the article as to how to add this line were incomplete.

Can you please explain the steps for ADDING the needed information in the registry? I was only able to add part of it.

The only thing I've ever done in the registry is change a value.

Thanks again...

[Scleros]

Which ones were missing? Have to be careful about adding stuff just because it exists in a screenshot or on someone else's machine. It may not be appropriate for your machine.

Keys are in the left pane, values under those keys are in the right pane. To add a value:

1. Select correct key in left pane.
2. Right-click in right pane.
3. Click New.
4. Click on the correct value type.
5. Enter a name for the value.
6. Double-click the new named value to enter the value's data.

The above can also be accomplished via the Edit menu.

[billy_lulu]

I have a problem... my start menu is working OK but went I click the all program it missing... it happen went I accidentally delete the all program folder... please help me... all program in c are there but not in start menu... not even Microsoft office.. please help me... I'm using Microsoft vista ultimate..

[ITstudent2006]

Billy- Please do not piggyback your question on an old thread. Create your own thread. This will generate more traffic and get you the help you're looking for!