How to Fix Start Menu Cut-Off Problem in Windows XP Themes?

After getting numerous mails and comments regarding this particular problem, today I decided to post this topic.

Many Windows XP users who use 3rd party themes like my "VistaVG" theme, face a strange problem. The icon or text of right-side pane entries in start menu is not displayed properly. Sometimes you see half icons and sometimes you see a few starting characters missing as shown in following screenshots:

Case 1:

Case 2:

SOLUTION:

Actually its not a problem. You face this problem because you are using wrong color scheme of the theme.

Most of the XP themes like my "VistaVG" theme contain more than one style, one for default icon size and other for large icon size.

There is an option in Desktop settings "Use large icons" which increase the icon size and you face this problem.

So there are 2 solutions of this problem:

Solution 1:

Open Desktop Properties, go to "Appearance" tab and select the correct "Color Scheme" from the drop-down menu:

If you are using "Use large icons" option, then you need to apply the color scheme having "48" in its name cause it has been made for large icon size option.

So if you are using wrong color scheme, change it and your problem will be solved.

Solution 2:

You can also disable "Use large icons" option to fix this problem. Open Desktop Properties, go to "Appearance" tab and click on "Effects" button.

Now uncheck "Use large icons" option and Click on "OK" button and then apply it.

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This article was posted in Troubleshooting, Windows XP, XP Themes.

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30 Comments

VG

^^ Taskbar button's icon size can't be increased. Same case with Explorer background.
Rob

Hey VG,

Excellent job with the themes, I have just discovered them.

I do have the problem above though and the fixes you have listed only seem to improve the situation not fix it. I have now on my Start menu the full lettering for the right hand side options but no icons. I am using Aero32, no large icons, normal font size. Is there anything else I can do so that the icons can be shown?

Thanks
VG

^^ Its by design. Windows Vista and seven don't show startmenu shortcut icons, thats why this theme was crated to provide the same behavior.
Alexa

Thanks. Had this problem for a while.
PUSSY LOVER

THANKS
never

hi, right click any folder and click 'sharing and security' from the drop menu. all texts do not fit in the window that appears. i have tried all the 32 and 48 settings but it didn't solve the problem.
Jayanth

Hi VG,
I just installed this theme n its cool.... But the folder icons and the start menu do not change it appears as it is in XP..... is it bcoz of RAM size i'm 384MB only
VG

^^ You'll need to change them using VistaVG Icon Pack:

http://www.askvg.com/vistavg-icon-pack-for-windows-xp/
nurshobri

i have not be satisfied with your win7 theme. Please more complete. Above all. thanks a lot for your inovation
johhny

good job man...it's almost like windows 7, excepting task bar, and tray icons..