Get Windows XP Styled Classic All Programs List in Windows Vista and 7

Many people complain about Windows Vista start menu. They want Windows XP styled "All Programs" list in Vista. Windows Vista shows the Programs list within startmenu on the other hand XP shows it in a new expanded column outside the startmenu.

Recently we received an email from "James Phillips":

Dear Vishal, I am contacting you as a last resort (I have already stated my problem in various forums and blogs with no success whatsoever).

My problem is with Vista's start menu, specifically the way it displays the All Programs list. Instead of showing the list within the start menu itself, i would like it to expand out into a new column, just like in XP.

I know this function is available using the classic menu, but i actually like all of the other features in the normal menu (search etc...) so I would prefer not to use classic.

thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Actually there is a way to enable XP styled All Programs list in Vista which will also work in Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7.

Long time back, we posted a tutorial to customize Windows XP start menu:

Change Look-n-Feel of Windows XP Start Menu

We'll use the Step 5 mentioned in above tutorial to implement XP styled Programs list in Vista. We'll replace "Favorites" menu with "All Programs" menu.

1. Open regedit and go to following keys one by one:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

2. Now you'll need to change the value of Favorites string value in right-side pane to:

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

Change C: to your system drive, where windows is installed in your system.

3. That's it. Log off or restart your system and now "Favorites" link in start menu will change to "Programs" and will show all program shortcuts installed in your system just like XP start menu does.

NOTE: If you can't see the new menu in startmenu, you'll need to enable "Favorites Menu" from Taskbar Properties -> Start Menu -> Customize.

4. You can also disable the All Programs button in start menu. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoStartMenuMorePrograms and set its value to 1

Now log off or restart your system and the final output will look as following:

As you can see, the new Programs menu shows the program shortcuts very similar to XP and "All Programs" button is no longer there.

PS: If you want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, then download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it. Restart your system to take affects:

Download Registry Script

This article was posted in Windows 7, Windows Vista.

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45 Comments

tbvnz

Great idea! But...it only works the 1st 2 or 3 times I click start then it reverts back and freezes all the menus. Help!
Parky

Works just fine BUT in IE7 Favorites it now lists the Programs rather than the Favorites list
Riza

Quote: ...in IE7 Favorites it now lists the Programs rather than the Favorites list.

Wow, that's interesting...
Nikolaj

VG rocks!
Parky

Restored backup of Registry - Everything now as before.

Will wait for revised Registry Tweak and try again.
JMA

Has anyone gotten a script file to reverse the Windows XP style programs menu back to the default Vista style? Thank you!
CRV

My programs list is completely gone now...... Any reason?
1921Photo

I figured out a way. for those who want classic menus.and don't want to loose your favorites menu. Right click on say recorded tv in the righthand navigation pane under the libary tab click on "include a folder" and then navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs or what ever letter drive Windows 7 is on and you have a programs classic menu. I changed video's to "start menu programs", you can also change the name by right clicking and rename. you also have to set show as menu in the command bar start menu options.. For those of you who want your favorites and have a fly out start menu.
PEACE!
Parky

1921Photo - can you be a bit more specific as to location of "right hand navigation panel" as there is nothing resembling that in the Startup Pane
1921Photo

Parky, No problem when you click on the start orb the darker right side of the start menu is the navigation pane. It starts off with user and user photo on top then depending on what you have enabled you'll have, pictures, documents, reordered tv, videos, games, music, my computer, control panel. If you don't see a lot of that you will have to right click on the task bar, go to properties, then to the start menu tab click that, you will see a customize button click that and scroll down and enable what you want to change, as I did I chose Videos, click on display as menu. Click on "ok" then follow the directions above. hope it works for you
PEACE!