Windows 10: Pin to left side of Start Menu Achieved

1) Browse to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places
2) Rename one of the existing folders there to what folder you want it to be
3) Right-click > Properties to said folder and set new destination folder address
4) Go to Settings App > Personalization > Start > Choose Which Folders Appear on Start
5) Select Original Folder Name (i.e. Pictures) that you corresponded to new location

Result will be:





Now if someone can figure out how to add new titles to the settings app screen, we can do this without replacing the original folders... will test with a .exe file and post results shortly.

*EDIT*

.exe files do work:








This will allow for 9 (because settings isn't possible to change) programs/folders to be pinned to the left pane of the start menu. I am working on figuring out how to modify the icons....

:)

 

Can't Pin to Left Side of Start Menu

Caelan,

While I appreciate the attempt at offering a solution, what you suggest is a poor substitute for basic functionality that would allow users to simply pin any program, folder or url directly to the left side menu.

I shouldn't have to use programs before Microsoft deigns to recognize them as most frequently used programs. Look at Start10, StartIsback and the start menu in Classic Shell. These are all excellent, and add back the functionality that Microsoft took from
us when they ditched the Windows 7 start menu in favor of the ill conceived UI that helped Windows 8 actually shrink consumer demand for new PC's.

There is not another modern operating system that won't allow a user explicit control over the items shown in its launcher. Windows 10 was going to address this fatal UI flaw, but at the last minute someone in Microsoft once again thought that he or she
knew better than the users and industry experts, and chose to disallow user control over the list of items in the menu, and their sequence.

This once again illustrates a stunning lack of awareness of UI design, user experience principles, and an arrogance deriving from the notion that Microsoft knows better than their customers.

Truly an embarrassment for Microsoft and a disappointment for their customers. If third parties didn't release products like Start10, Startisback and Classic Shell, I could not have used any version of Windows past 7.

 

Can't Pin to Left Side of Start Menu

Oh my. It was the inclusion of the Start Menu items in the Win 7 format that convinced me to make the move to Windows 10. What a shame. I've done exactly the same that you have with the Most Used and Recently Added, with the intention of using the space
for my favorite programs list. What in the world is it with Microsoft that they couldn't just give that flexibility? Apparently it was in at least some of the builds leading up to the final release. Thanks for your reply, even though it's a disappointing one.

 

Ok, so it looks like I have found out where the icons are... I believe. If someone would like to use resource hacker or another program to modify them and see what the results are, I would appreciate it.



The notepad with the locations is the desktop.ini file in:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu Places