"All Programs" Window is Full - what can I do?

Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

How about just cleaning it up
Right click the start buttonand click "explore all users" which brings you to
your start menu..(documents&settings/user/start menu
from there you can create folders and move items.As an example you could create
an "audio" folder and then drag and drop every audio related program into that
folder.This reduces the number of individual folders and pretty soon you'll be
able to see your desktop again.You realize that not every shortcut that gets
installed on your "all programs" needs to stay there...do you really need that
shortcut to the help file?? the readme.txt file? the registration process?? etc
etc??
XP does not put a limit on how much you can install.....your HD does that.
peter
"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

Well, Peter, no I didn't realise that at all! Not knowing much about Windows I am
never sure what I can get rid of and what I have to keep. I do have sortcuts on
the desktop to all the apps that I normally use, so if these files in the 'all
programs' are not needed I can certainly dump them.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

David

peter wrote:

You realize that not every shortcut that gets
installed on your "all programs" needs to stay there...
peter
"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

David wrote in
:

Well, Peter, no I didn't realise that at all! Not knowing much about
Windows I am never sure what I can get rid of and what I have to keep.
I do have sortcuts on the desktop to all the apps that I normally
use, so if these files in the 'all programs' are not needed I can
certainly dump them.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

David

peter wrote:

You realize that not every shortcut that gets
installed on your "all programs" needs to stay there...
peter
"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full
of programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen
and the last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as
the window does not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on
how many applications you can install (well see and access I guess)
but how can I make this window scroll to see and access all my
applications?

David



David, following Peter's advice on how to cleanup the Start Menu, when I
go to my start menu, All Programs, I then have only 10 or 11 choices
there at the top level, Apps, Audio, CDr, Games, Graphics, Internet,
Programming, etc. Then under those is where I keep the appropriate type
of program.

Here's my added help, after you have these top-level program group's
defined using Explorer, or the Start Menu folder, you can then just
simply go to the start menu itself and start dragging around the various
item's into their respective groups you want them in.

To add some more organization to it, on the root of my C drive, I have
folder's of the same name as the start menu groups, except for Apps.
Then, when installing a new program, if it's a CDr program, I install it
to the C:\CDr\program name folder, a new Internet program, installed to
C:\Internet\Program Name, SoundForge 6, installed to C:\Audio
\Soundforge.

I absolutely HATE the way programs install themselves. Everything always
want's to install to 'program files'\publisher name\program name
\shortcut's here. And then it want's to put it's start menu entries in
the same fashion. The only time I install an app into program files is
when it doesn't fit in any of my pre-determined categories.

This is a great utility I wrote and use daily, http://users.adelphia.net/
~thisnthat/menuhell/index.htm , which I was thinking of finishing up and
making available for download. There's a couple very tiny bug's that I
live with that I need to clean up first. I almost never go to the start
menu because of this utility. Incidentally, the screenshot's there show
you the structure I spoke of earlier on. The only difference between the
images shown there and the current version is that the most recent
version does not support the system tray, due to some lame program's that
have a system tray icon, but don't respond properly to shell broadcast's.

Regards,

DanS

Thanks Dan - much appreciated

David

DanS wrote:



David, following Peter's advice on how to cleanup the Start Menu, when I
go to my start menu, All Programs, I then have only 10 or 11 choices
there at the top level, Apps, Audio, CDr, Games, Graphics, Internet,
Programming, etc. Then under those is where I keep the appropriate type
of program.

Here's my added help, after you have these top-level program group's
defined using Explorer, or the Start Menu folder, you can then just
simply go to the start menu itself and start dragging around the various
item's into their respective groups you want them in.

To add some more organization to it, on the root of my C drive, I have
folder's of the same name as the start menu groups, except for Apps.
Then, when installing a new program, if it's a CDr program, I install it
to the C:\CDr\program name folder, a new Internet program, installed to
C:\Internet\Program Name, SoundForge 6, installed to C:\Audio
\Soundforge.

I absolutely HATE the way programs install themselves. Everything always
want's to install to 'program files'\publisher name\program name
\shortcut's here. And then it want's to put it's start menu entries in
the same fashion. The only time I install an app into program files is
when it doesn't fit in any of my pre-determined categories.

This is a great utility I wrote and use daily, http://users.adelphia.net/
~thisnthat/menuhell/index.htm , which I was thinking of finishing up and
making available for download. There's a couple very tiny bug's that I
live with that I need to clean up first. I almost never go to the start
menu because of this utility. Incidentally, the screenshot's there show
you the structure I spoke of earlier on. The only difference between the
images shown there and the current version is that the most recent
version does not support the system tray, due to some lame program's that
have a system tray icon, but don't respond properly to shell broadcast's.

Regards,

DanS

Why 'crappy XP'?.. go to START - MY COMPUTER.. double click on MY COMPUTER..
double click on the C drive.. double click on 'Documents and Settings'
folder.. double click on START MENU.. create sub folders to categorize
programs and then sort your programs into the appropriate folders..


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

Crappy XP has nothing to do with the fact that YOU do not know how to
maintain YOUR computer! Clean up the start folder.

Crappy XP indeed. Clueless users abound.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)


"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

As I am a long term Mac user I am used to logical and user friendly ways of
doing things - hence the crappy XP remark

And something as simple as cleaning up, as someone else has pointed out,
shouldn't be so unobvious

David

Richard Urban wrote:

Crappy XP has nothing to do with the fact that YOU do not know how to
maintain YOUR computer! Clean up the start folder.

Crappy XP indeed. Clueless users abound.

David wrote:
As I am a long term Mac user I am used to logical and user friendly
ways of doing things

I've seen Macs -- That statement a complete contradiction in
terms. Dragging the floppy drive icon to the Trash Can to eject a
floppy? How is that logical or user friendly?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

There is nothing logical or user friendly about Macs, without the loss of
functionality and advanced features. Also, I have seen many of the
ridiculous things that Mac users must do (like the eject floppy disk thing).

Back on topic, although putting things into groups (such as Music, Games,
Internet, etc) can be helpful (and organized), make sure you do not narrow it
down too far, or it will take too long to find anything.

P.S. If you want an alternative to Windows, try Linux, not Macintosh. With
Linux apps being completely open-source, you can find alternatives to
anything for free (try http://www.sourceforge.net/). But, Linux is still
nothing compared to Windows.



"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

David wrote:
As I am a long term Mac user I am used to logical and user friendly
ways of doing things

I've seen Macs -- That statement a complete contradiction in
terms. Dragging the floppy drive icon to the Trash Can to eject a
floppy? How is that logical or user friendly?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH

R-click Start, choose properties, advanced tab, scroll down and check
"Scroll Programs".

XP is not "crappy", read a little!

JAX

"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

"JAX" wrote:

R-click Start, choose properties, advanced tab, scroll down and check
"Scroll Programs".

XP is not "crappy", read a little!

JAX

"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David




Surley you all know that "Read" and "help" are four letter words that are to
be avoided!

Right on Chuck - that Jax does know what they mean, and he is damn good at
putting them into effect

David

Chuck Davis wrote:

"JAX" wrote:

R-click Start, choose properties, advanced tab, scroll down and check
"Scroll Programs".

XP is not "crappy", read a little!


Surley you all know that "Read" and "help" are four letter words that are to
be avoided!

Ah perhaps it is not me that needs to read Jaxi old fellow - I tried that
and there is no advanced tab - just 'task bar' and 'start menu' tabs

David - who wonders why some people go out of their way to be objectionable -
especially when it turns out they don't know what they are talking about,
like Jax

JAX wrote:

R-click Start, choose properties, advanced tab, scroll down and check
"Scroll Programs".

XP is not "crappy", read a little!

JAX

"David" wrote in message
...
Hi All

When I click on 'All Programs' the window that comes up is now full of
programs/folders etc., That is, this window fills the screen and the
last lot of software that I installed can not be seen as the window does
not scroll vertically or horizontally.

What is the answer here? Surely even crappy XP cant put a limit on how
many applications you can install (well see and access I guess) but how
can I make this window scroll to see and access all my applications?

David

"David" wrote in message

Ah perhaps it is not me that needs to read Jaxi old fellow - I tried
that and there is no advanced tab - just 'task bar' and 'start menu'
tabs

David - who wonders why some people go out of their way to be
objectionable - especially when it turns out they don't know what
they are talking about, like Jax

JAX wrote:

R-click Start, choose properties, advanced tab, scroll down and check
"Scroll Programs".

XP is not "crappy", read a little!

JAX

sigh
Right click the Start button.
Click Properties
Click the Start Menu tab.
Click the appropriate Customize button.
Click the Advanced tab.
Scroll down the Start Menu items window until you find it.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
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