start/ all programs area all used up?

[snagel]

O.k. here is a stupid question!
I know, I know.

Lately I have been downloading alot of games from Giveaway of the Day.
What do you do when the area start/all programs and then the area 3 columns worth are all used up? I have alot of things that do not even show up now at all. If I put a new program on it doesn't even list it.
What do you do to find these. Is there a trick another page or is there a way to gain some of that space back without deleting alot of programs to make space. I mean can I make folders or something. Your help would be appreciated.

[Chewy]

I would increase the resolution of my desktop and then create a new folder and start moving the games to that folder, you are only moving the shortcuts, not the actual installed game

[snagel]

re: Chewy

I would increase the resolution of my desktop and then create a new folder and start moving the games to that folder, you are only moving the shortcuts, not the actual installed game

How do I increase the resolution of my desktop? Then do you mean to put the new folder on the desktop and drag and drop the listings out of the all programs area and place them in the the new folder on the desktop?

More information needed

[Chewy]

control panel/display/settings/display resolution

yes on drag and drop, move, program lisings from start all programs listings

just do the games, try to refrain from moving important core windows programs because this may be a one way trip

I didn't test trying to put them back, you can if you wish

[snagel]

re: Chewy

control panel/display/settings/display resolution

yes on drag and drop, move, program lisings from start all programs listings

just do the games, try to refrain from moving important core windows programs because this may be a one way trip

I didn't test trying to put them back, you can if you wish

Thanks Chewy, it moved them to the folder on the desktop o.k. which made room in the third column on the start/all programs. I don't know how or if I can move them back. I haven't figured that out or if you can move the big folder from the destop to the start/all programs. If I pull the start all programs section up as soon as I touch the folder on the destop to drag and drop it the all programs disappears.

[snagel]

still trying to figure out

Well, I have messed around with this today and I haven't found away to put them back if it is even possible. I haven't figured a way to make a folder on the start/all programs and move different programs into the same folder.
I have some programs doubled up under one heading, kinda like a folder like Ashampoo burning studio, Ashampoo photo.
Not sure how to do it myself though.

[Gary D]

left click start => right click programs => left click Explore all users

then

left click start => right click programs => open

You will then have 2 windows open to drag around shortcuts.

Create a folder called Games and drag all of your games into that folder.

I also created folders called DVD tools and music tools.

[snagel]

re: Gary

left click start => right click programs => left click Explore all users

then

left click start => right click programs => open

You will then have 2 windows open to drag around shortcuts.

Create a folder called Games and drag all of your games into that folder.

I also created folders called DVD tools and music tools.

Thanks Gary, it worked like a charm.
I did find out by not following your directions exactly, that I can just right click on start then explore all users. and then right click start and open that it will open the same things. I got a little too over anxious, upon trying to repeat the steps and forgot to left click start and found that out.
By the way, I like your avatar. I absolutely love the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre. I am going to miss seeing him play this next year and in the years to come. It won't be the same for me but I'll still stick with the Packers.
Thanks for your help It is nice to know how to accomplish some of those things when the time arrives.
Thanks again snagel

[katzdvd]

@ Snagel - you can carry this even further, condense the start menu even more, when you are ready. For example; On my pc, I like to try to keep things very neat & tidy (it can be difficult if you are a big downloader!)

Anyway, in the start menu, I will create a folder for "Audio - Video". In there I will place all related programs, such as Windows Media Player, Real Player, Imgburn, etc. You get the idea. Simply drag & drop as Chewy stated.

Another folder for "Internet". In there I put Firefox, Outlook Express, I.E. & so on. I have a printer folder that I put all my programs such as Print Shop, American Greetings, HP Printer Assistant, etc.

If you set it up like this, you can really save space & alot of clicking around to get what you need. After you are all done with that, right click at the top of the programs menu & click "Sort by name" to set it all up alphabetically.

Just my .02. That is the way I have set mine up for years, & it seems to work well for me.

Cheers, katz

[dr_ml422]

Hi guys. I've been playing w/my desktop as well and want to clean it up to eliminate as much clutter as possible. Katz and Gary when you suggest making a new folder to put different shortcuts/programs in do you mean to create the folder on the desktop and then drag/drop the shortcuts in there? Or create new folders in the start menu? I did the desktop folder thing. It clears it up, just that when I open the folder I'll be launching the program from my desktop in my documents. no big deal I guess? I really don't get the new folder thing in the start menu. Once created, which I haven't figured out, when it opens where will it open from? The menu itself or some other spot? Help is always appreciated and I hope I'm doing right by posting in a related thread and not creating a new 1 w/same ?. Thnx.

[MilesAhead]

It's probably a bit easier with a 2 pane file manager like Free Commander. In XP it's not so bad but Vista doesn't create a separate explorer window when you do Control-Enter on a folder like XP does. In Free Commander there's a System Folders icon in the toolbar. Select Start Menu on both panes. Then you can create new folders like Multimedia or Internet or Editors or Graphics or Utilities and just drag & drop your program groups.

By default Vista has All Programs in one column with a scroll bar so that helps a bit. But in XP it's definitely cool to consolidate into folders.

Probably the main side effect is when you uninstall the uninstaller won't be aware of the new program group location so periodically you'll need to use a dead icon cleaner utility.

[MilesAhead]

Whew!! Just got the All Programs onto one panel on my XP machine. There may be a utility to categorize the stuff for you.. maybe on Softpedia.com or someplace.

Manually though, it's not too bad to use Free Commander. You can create new tabs using Control-T on the right hand pane and set them to each category. Then drag & drop to move folders from the start menu into them.

To consolidate 4 columns to 1 took me about 20 minutes. I'm pretty sure there are gizmos to organize the Start Menu but most I've seen categorize them the way the programmer wants. To label the categories yourself is usually an option in the paid version.

[MilesAhead]

I found this on Sourceforge:

http://smoz.sourceforge.net/

So far it looks pretty cool, but please back everything up and don't blame me
if stuff gets hosed.

[dr_ml422]

Miles that smoz does look great. I was mainly trying to clean up my desktop shortcut icons by putting them into folders like you guys suggested under different folder names. I did a couple and they're on my desktop. I was just wondering if the usual path the new folders take on the desktop is by going into my documents/desktop and showing the shortcuts. That's what they do. Now opening up any proggie from there will still b coming from c:\program files right? It's just that the shortcuts on my desktop pile up as we all know and become clutter. I have my most used/important 1's in quick launch so that's not bad. It's the shortcuts I'm trying to consolidate and hence not go lil crazy when I'm looking for a proggie to open. Thnx. Any suggestions on this is appreciated.

[MilesAhead]

dr_ml422 I know what you mean about the desktop icons. I have 6 folders on my desktop that just hold shortcuts and a couple that are links to folders for my downloads and the program files folder. Back in Win98 I wrote a little desktop program to save and restore my desktop icon positions because I had tons of icons on the desktop. Now I only have 8 folders, the Recycle Bin and a command prompt. So if my icons get scrambled Auto Arrange will actually do well enough. I still have the Icon restore thingy installed for nostalgia.

You can just right click on the desktop and do New=>Folder to create a folder, then right click on programs or other folders and do Copy, then Paste Shortcut inside your new folder. If you then delete the new folder and all its contents it won't effect the original shortcuts.