Microsoft Windows XP Top Ten Tips and Tricks – XP Start Menu

Posted • January 9, 2009 • Comments Off

How do you manage the most frequently used programs list on your XP Start Menu?

One of the many features of Windows XP’s Start Menu is the most frequently used programs list. When it comes to configuring this feature, Windows XP provides you with only two controls:

1. the ability to completely clear the list and
2. the ability to specify the maximum number of programs that can appear on this list at any one time

There is one other thing that would be nice to have control over, that is being able to prevent selected applications from appearing on that list.

You probably don’t need to have often used but inconsequential applications such as Calculator or Notepad showing up in that space. You probably would rather not have any other programs you occasionally use show up in that space, either.

Fortunately, you can prevent an application from appearing in the Start Menu’s most frequently used programs list by adding a special key to the registry.

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications.
3. Right-click the Applications key and select New | Key.
4. Name the key the same as the application’s executable file.
5. Right-click your new key and select New | String Value.
6. Name the string value NoStartPage.
7. Close the Registry Editor.

You’ll need to restart the computer, or at least log off and then back on again for this change to become effective.

Late,
Gary Pool

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