Windows 10: how to pin folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs to taskbar in windows 11

In Windows Server OS you have the option to create a "New toolbar" by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting "New toolbar..." from the option "Toolbars". Then You can choose to point to the folder "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" to get a CLEAN, alternate start menu - giving a hierarchical view of installed programs, instead of the "dynamic"/ever-changing mess that is presented in Windows 11.I believe this option was also available in Windows 10, and I really miss it...

:)

 

Relation between C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and the More apps list from the Start menu in Windows 11?

Hi,

I just installed Windows 11 and again I fear it will lower my productivity.

I used to (Win 7 / Xp / 10) arrange my programs into folders on the start menu. This has one big advantage: for lesser used programs if I don't remember the name, I could look it up in the appropriate folder. Let's say I knew it was an app for drawing I could go: Start > Drawing > and find a short list of apps concerning drawing.

I arranged all of this in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder.

Now with Win11 I try the same. It works kinda, but:

- folder with only one item or not shown and the app link itself is just listed.

- some app-links in a folder (e.g. 'Drawing') are not shown in the Start menu > More apps list.

- on Win10 there were several native folders like 'Start-up' or 'Windows Powershell' or 'Windows Accessories' or 'Windows System'. Alle with small apps to work with Windows. All of these are still in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder, yet non of them show up (not even the app-links in those folder) in the Start menu > More apps list.

What is the logic in the link between "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and the "Start menu > More apps list"?

Thank you.

 

"C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places" Folder MIssing

I'm puzzled as to why you're discussing a taskbar issue. My question doesn't seem to be related to the taskbar at all. (I thought it was more relevant to the start menu). aAll I amsking is where is the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places folder. You said it is now changed to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. So I explored the path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs, but I couldn't locate the shortcuts that used to be in the StartmenuPlaces folder in the older build version, as you mentioned.

Where can I find the relative folder (in the below image) in the current build version?( the folder that contains all these shortcuts.)

 

Accurately display C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ with Windows 10

This is in regards to Windows 10.

The start menu's All Apps menu does not display the directory structure of: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs correctly. It does not show all of the program short cuts, or the nested (organized) folders.

To open most of my commonly used programs, I have to right-click on another program tile, select "open file location", and then find the short-cut, or go and find the .exe file in 'Program Files". This is very inefficient.

Is their a way to fix the start menu, or get it to re-search and re-list the short cuts in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs? Can the start menu be configured to read and show nested folders with a three layer deep directory structure?

Can I manually drag and drop short-cuts from C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs (will that do anything)? Is their something I can do with the registry?

Do I have to install:

http://www.classicshell.net/


Thank you for your time.