The Big Decision: Which Start Menu Toolbar Should You Use?

Dragon Drop

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If you're going to make a Start Menu toolbar (see the Tutorial
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2460-start-menu-toolbar-create-windows-8-taskbar.html?ltr=S),
you should decide which of the two Start Menu folders to use based on your own needs. By this time it's become common knowledge that there are two, but exactly HOW their contents differ has not (to my knowledge) been documented. This summary is confined to the important items in them; and it's based on my own Windows installation, so of course you may find slight variations in yours.

I don't think there's ANY single item that's in both Start Menus. Don't let the names of their sub–folders fool you; they look similar, but their contents are very different. Some of them are empty folders, or just contain one or two things. For example, they both contain "Windows Accessories" sub–folders; but the one in your User SM has only Notepad, and the other one has the rest of the Accessories. They both have "Administrative Tools" sub–folders, but the one in your User SM is empty. And they both have sub–folders called "Windows System," but with two entirely different sets of contents; those in your User SM are the ones frequently used.

For the most part -- but with some exceptions -- the "All–Users" Start Menu
(C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs)
contains the items that are for your own purposes; and YOUR User Start Menu
(C:\Users\(Your UserName)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs)
contains those whose purposes have to do with the computer itself.

Specifically, the "All–Users" Start Menu (in C:\ProgramData) contains:
-- Google Chrome;
-- The "Communication & Chat" items;
-- All the items about Music/Photo/Video/etc;
-- Live Writer (for blogging);
-- Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote);
-- The "Accessories" (Fax/Scan, Sticky Notes, Snipping Tool, Paint, Wordpad, Calculator);
-- Plus Task Manager, Recovery Manager, and all the "Administrative Tools".

Your User Start Menu (in C:\Users\UserName\AppData) contains:
-- File Explorer;
-- Internet Explorer;
-- Notepad;
-- Computer;
-- Windows Help;
-- Control Panel, Run, and Command Prompt.

So you can make a toolbar from one of these two SM folders, but it won't contain the items in the other; or you can make toolbars from both, but having to look for something in two places might be inconvenient. You can get a single toolbar with all the contents of both, but only by using slightly more complicated methods all of which I've already posted about.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP 23-D030
... I don't think there's ANY single item that's in both Start Menus...

Which Start Menu Toolbar Should You Use?
Windows 8 my homework

ok. Nice Job :thumb:

but :think: why?

Screenshot (29a).jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
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