Explorer.exe hangs after Start Menu customization

[Albert]

Hi Folks

I frequently reorganize my start menu, upto now
successfully. The sequence is as follows:

Settings -> Taskbar & Start Menu -> Start menu tab
-> select classic start menu -> Customize -> Advanced

In the Explorer window that pops up, I move
around the start menu entries to suit my taste,
then click OK in the 'Customize classic start menu'
window.

Finally, I select the standard start menu on the
start menu tab and click OK.

This time the only difference was that I placed
another folder alongside the "programs" folder
in the start menu - this time explorer.exe hung
(no response) when i clicked OK in the 'Customize
classic start menu' window, and I had to abort it
with 'End now'. I don't know whether adding
the folded has anything to do with the problem
(I have removed it again but the problem remains).

NOW clicking OK in 'Taskbar & Start Menu
properties' window or any subwindow *always*
hangs. Consequently I cannot customize these
any more (of course I can use Explorer
directly to reorg the start menu).

Any idea what causes this and how to fix it?
Thanks in advance for the help.