Is there a way to change how the start menu looks? I feel that the stock start menu is too messy and cluttery. I like my stuff sorted.
Do you mean windows default or HTC default start screen? I am also looking for windows start menu setup...
There are apps to edit the start menu, or you can do it yourself quiet simply.
In \windows\start menu\programs you'll find all the shortcuts. Just create relevant folders in there and move the shortcuts into them.
Related
Heres how you can organise your programs view (Start->Programs)...
1. Use your normal file explorer and move all your shortcuts into separate folders (stuff like Media, Utils, Connectivity, Office etc.)
2. You can assign an icon for each folder by creating a shortcut in each folder and naming the shortcut as "icon.lnk"
You can do this easily by choosing any one of the available shortcuts and duplicating it...and then renaming the file to icon.lnk
3. I've used VJDialerSms to create a folder called speed dials with sub folders having all my important speed dial shortcuts in separate categories!
silly tips, but i just took some time out and did it....now i have a cleaner and less cluttered Programs menu which makes seaching for my apps so much easier!
Well worth the time spent imo
Cheers,
San
Please note that an extensive start menu will slow the machine down. This is because the operating system will have to search for the icons in each of the linked executables.
For example if you have Skype in your start menu (directly or as a shortcut) you will notice a long delay before the start menu opens. This is because the icon is at the end of the executable, and the Skype executable is over 5 MB big.
So the answer is to prune your start menu from all programs you don't ever need, rather than to fill it with nice to have stuff.
I personally use SmallMenu. What I did is leave everything as it is on my device and copied the shortcuts on my SD card and sort them all out there in different folders. I then use SmallMenu's function to launch them there. By doing it this way, I have the functionality of the Start Menu plus the flexibility of SmallMenu. No delays in lauching either. I was hesitant to disarranged anything in my Start Menu because some applications pops up a warning that it is needed to stay in that folder, although you can still move it and it seems to work anyway, but it still makes me paranoid that it may cause any dead shortcuts or functionality.
Why not give GSPocketMagic++ a try?
(use the english cab from the download)
Still the best around. Also works on WM2005.
Then in Option > Setting... > Program Menu point folder to \Windows\Start Menu\Programs and organize your menu structure in there. Also select "Break menu items"
Also the Control Panel applets are directly selectable from GSPocketMagic++. You can still use the original "start menu" if you tap slightly right from the GSPocketMagic++ menu button.
Cheers
WM5's default limit is 7 items. is there any way to modify the registry to allow us to add more than 7 items into start menu?
BTW, is it possible to add the memory icon to the start menu?
thanks advance.
BR
Unfortunately, the 7-item limit is hard-coded into Windows Mobile.
More than 7 items would cause the menu to be longer than the screen-size when rotated.
There's no native way to add the memory icon to the start menu, but there are utilities out there that will create shortcuts to the control panel items for you. If I'm not mistaken, PHM Powertoys did that once upon a time.
thanks very much!!
try file explorer
haven't tried this myself, since I really don't need more than 7, after playing around with hard keys and app keys. But I think you just copy the shortcuts under /windows/Start Menu/Programs straight into /windows/Start Menu. I usually make programs that were installed manually show up in "Programs" by placing shortcuts in /windows/Start Menu/Programs, so that I can use the Menu and Buttons applets to map keys and manage the Start Menu. also, I get rid of old Start menu items that way by deleting them from /windows/Start Menu. So, try putting more than 7 shortcuts and see what happens.
Re: try file explorer
daryl425 said:
haven't tried this myself, since I really don't need more than 7, after playing around with hard keys and app keys. But I think you just copy the shortcuts under /windows/Start Menu/Programs straight into /windows/Start Menu. I usually make programs that were installed manually show up in "Programs" by placing shortcuts in /windows/Start Menu/Programs, so that I can use the Menu and Buttons applets to map keys and manage the Start Menu. also, I get rid of old Start menu items that way by deleting them from /windows/Start Menu. So, try putting more than 7 shortcuts and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried but doesn't work....should give up?
You can create folders to bypass the 7 item limit: my start menu contains "Office" (folder) and "Outlook" (folder) and that way I have quick access to all of the outlook functions and office functions without a seperate icon for each on the start menu.
Now if someone could figure out how to implement a cascading start menu...
You can also use small menu
http://tillanosoft.com/ce/smenu.html
thanks for all your posting!
Hey, some time ago i changed some things on my HTC HD and one of those things is my start menu. When i open the start menu i see a list of smaller icons than you see in the standard start menu. In the beginning you only see the 7 programs that you want your start menu to show. But somehow i've changed my start menu which shows the following now:
Agenda
Messages
Contacts
Internet Explorer
Notes
Telephone
-------------
//Recently opened apps
App1
App2
App3
...
-------------
Programs
Settings
Help
The problem is, is that i forgot how i did this... So i was hoping any of you could tell me how i did this.. If i get the chance all also try to add a picture of my menu and the default menu, so you get a better picture of what i mean.
CannonballOx said:
Hey, some time ago i changed some things on my HTC HD and one of those things is my start menu. When i open the start menu i see a list of smaller icons than you see in the standard start menu. In the beginning you only see the 7 programs that you want your start menu to show. But somehow i've changed my start menu which shows the following now:
Agenda
Messages
Contacts
Internet Explorer
Notes
Telephone
-------------
//Recently opened apps
App1
App2
App3
...
-------------
Programs
Settings
Help
The problem is, is that i forgot how i did this... So i was hoping any of you could tell me how i did this.. If i get the chance all also try to add a picture of my menu and the default menu, so you get a better picture of what i mean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using a file explorer, you can add or delete new folders to your 'Start Menu' folder. Name them like: Web, Travel, Utilities, System and Media. Copy relevant shortcuts from you 'Programs' folder in your 'Start Menu' folder to each of these new folders. You will need to use a 3rd party file explorer to unhide system files and rom files to see the pre-installed icons to copy them to your folders. These icons are '.ink' shortcuts. Also copy the entire 'Games' folder and 'Office' folder from your 'Programs' folder direct to your 'Start Menu' folder. Finally uncheck all checked boxes in Menus in Settings page. This will allow all 9 folders to show in your Start menu on your home page, where you can access specific apps much quicker. Remember each time you install or remove a program/game, you have to either copy the new 'ink' icon to your category folder or delete it.
You can also use utility apps like HDTweak & Advanced Config to change size of Start Menu
If you go to Start/Settings/System/TouchFLO you also can change Start Menu size
Fallen Spartan said:
If you go to Start/Settings/System/TouchFLO you also can change Start Menu size
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Click to collapse
Thanks! That's the one i was looking for ^^
There's so many icons in the start menu that it's almost impossible to find things quickly, is there any way to delete icons or reorder them? I went through a file explorer to look at the start menu folder and everything is organized nicely into folders, but when I go to the start menu on my phone everything is just thrown together.
I completely agree. The new start menu's in 6.5 are terrible. Everything is all over the place at least Windows 6.1 sorted it into alphabetical order. Can't believe you can't customise it apart from moving things from the top to the bottom and vise-versa. I'm thinking over going back to 6.1 just for this reason alone. Unless I'm missing something
yeh I just got spb mobile shell 3.5 running on 6.1 and it's great that you can override the start menu... a few have it running on 6.5.
rpimps said:
There's so many icons in the start menu that it's almost impossible to find things quickly, is there any way to delete icons or reorder them? I went through a file explorer to look at the start menu folder and everything is organized nicely into folders, but when I go to the start menu on my phone everything is just thrown together.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately only method is to press and hold on each icon and move it to top or bottom of start menu which is a major oversite by Microsoft and a pain in the a**e!
I do however believe there was a thread or solution to this by modifying a certain path in the registry. I'll see if I can re-find it and post it later
This is a bit long-winded, but it really does help.
Open file explorer and go to...
\\My Device\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
In there, create category folders, like "Internet", "Utilities", "Media" etc..
Then, cut and paste the shortcuts into those folders.
It ain't perfect, and it takes a while, but once it's done, it really does make a big difference to that pile of poo they call a start menu.
Because of the fluster cuck of a menu, I decided to just go with wisbar's cascading and expanding start menu...What I really like about it as well is that it gives me a battery bar at the top, so I never have to guess what % I'm at...
I know that Energy ROM organize the StartMenu very well.
Hi guys,
I have cleaned up my start menu (moved pretty much all apps to different folder). However, it appears that HTC randomly recreates some of it's shortcuts into a start menu (without icon):
HTC_Calendar
HTC_People
HTC_Music
Is there any way to stop that? I'd like to have a clean start menu, but those shortcuts reappearance messes it up.
hints and tips thread (sticky at the top of this forum)
42. Hide Reappearing HTC Icons from Start Menu
If you delete the HTC shortcuts to Peep, People, Messaging etc and reset, they always come back. To hide these shortcuts for good (not the apps just the shortcuts) use the tweak below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HTC\Manila\IsShortcutEn able
Change to 0 and soft reset. You may need to change their shortcut's properties to hidden by accessing them in Windows/Start Menu/Programs folde.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, sir.