Start Menu in Vista is hard to use
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by warreni | Discussion: Windows Vista
Maybe it's just me, but I just "made the switch" last week, getting a new Vista Home Premium 64-bit desktop and passing my XP Pro desktop on to my missus, and it seems to me that it's much more difficult to get usability out of the start menu in Vista--far more so than was ever the case in XP. I'm thinking I should probably just load my stuff back in ObjectDock + and use the docks for accessing my favorite programs. Does anybody else find that this is one of those things that Vista made worse?
Reply #2 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:16 AM
It does take some getting used to and I'd reccommend you get used to it. 
But . . I love the functionality of the XP menu and so I use RightClick and ObjectBar with thier menu plugins to get the XP style (and other features).
Reply #3 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:09 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 12:14 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 1:41 PM
You can grab it here to see how it was made. It only really looks good on his matching wallpaper
Reply #6 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:07 PM
Either that, or make a shutdown shortcut and dump it on your dock. Easy peasy.
Reply #7 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:07 PM
But for the record - I prefer the start menu in Vista to the XP style.
Reply #8 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:16 PM
.... I rarely even open my start menu except to shut down.
Heck, I never use the startmenu, not even for that... Just ad the 'shutdown' function to RightClick
Reply #9 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:09 PM
Thanks for the tips,all.Now the only use I have for the start menu is to admire the WindowBlind graphics.
Reply #10 Wednesday, November 19, 2008 2:06 AM
The Start Menu is a pain in the neck to use. It's just so hard to find anything, and the search box just complicates things even further. I try to use my desktop icons and quick launch bar to launch apps instead.
Reply #11 Wednesday, November 19, 2008 5:11 PM
Right-click the task bar and select properties>Start menu and check "Classic Start menu", that will revert it back to the XP menu.
Personally, I love the new start menu.
Reply #12 Thursday, November 20, 2008 9:08 AM
Reply #13 Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:42 PM
You're a strange, strange person, Zu......
Reply #14 Friday, November 21, 2008 9:15 AM
Personally, I love the new start menu.
Thanks for the tip. I'll probably do this and then run Winstep's Start Menu Organizer to get that puppy in shape!
and the search box just complicates things even further
I love that feature now.
You're a strange, strange person, Zu......
Was there ever any doubt? 
Reply #15 Sunday, November 23, 2008 6:39 AM
I hate the Vista start menu the XP was OK I use classic or a desktop x start button gadget
Reply #16 Sunday, November 23, 2008 7:05 AM
No need to change the start menu or use external programs.
Go into explorer and change it to show system files. Then right click the taskbar and select 'Toolbars' > 'New Toolbar'. The browse to 'Documents and Settings' > 'All Users' > 'Start Menu' and select 'Programs'
You will now have a handy little fly out menu on your taskbar with all your programs, just like the old XP start menu!
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Reply #1 Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:07 AM
actuall i think its not to much different...it all works the same just has the all program inside the startmenu now which i kinda feel is better than haveing all programs come out of the start menu...in xp if your ram usage is high you have to wait for that damn menu to pop up and i hate waiting....maybe its just me but i love vista....i use my objectdock as the startmenu anyways cause i hate having my desktop cluttered