Re: Problem with Start/Programs Window

On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 01:20:56 -0400, Pete wrote:

> Andrew E. wrote:
>> Why not R.click the desktop,properties,advanced,adjust youre screen in
>> display.
>
> Andrew...it is not obvious to me how to adjust the screen in the advanced
> button of the "appearance" tab. I have never messed with that before and
> don't know anything about it. And I don't know what you mean by adjusting
> my screen. My screen borders are already very close to the "edge" (for lack
> of a better word). The item that I mentioned that is being truncated,
> belongs in a newly formed third column I believe, and windows is not doing
> it. Can you explain a little more about the adjusting my screen please.
> Thanks...Pete
>
>> Also,you might uninstall youre display adapter in device mgr,xp will
>> reinstall on
>> next restart,then reinstall mfg software/drivers...
>
> I will leave it alone before I will do all that. I thought there would be a
> simple fix. What do you think has caused this peculiarity (some kind of
> corrupted file or what)...Pete
>
>>
>> "Pete" wrote:
>>
>>> I have xpsp2 home edition. When I click start and point to
>>> programs, the programs window is truncating (i.e. chopping off) the
>>> last entry (i.e. it is below the damn screen border of my pc).
>>> There is just enough of it to get a pointer to it,which will put up
>>> the little yellow labeling window.
>>>
>>> How can I get the window to either raise itself up (there is a
>>> little space above the top - less than a half an inch), or expand
>>> itself into another column. Right now it displays two columns and
>>> they are full, and the last entry in the right column is truncated.
>>>
>>> I hope you see what I am getting at. If not write back and ask for
>>> more info. I tried to explain it the best I could. If I added a
>>> new program, I would think it would automatically add a third
>>> column, but I don't have anything to add right now :-) .
>>> Thanks...Pete

Pete, I think what Andrew is suggesting is that the monitor is not adjusted
correctly - that perhaps the bottom edge is a touch out of view and needs
to be "pulled up." However if that was the case, I would think that you
would have parts of the taskbar or any "bottom" item cut off - not just the
last item in the start menu. If looking at the situation closer, you think
this might be the problem, then use the monitor's own buttons to "pull up"
the bottom edge of the screen.

>From your description, it sounds like you've hit a spot where the
calculations that determine where a column should end and a new one should
start are not in sync with what is displayed on screen.

This might be a quirk of your current display driver or a side effect of a
setting you are using within display properties. You could tweak in these
areas or try updating a driver but if you have long start menu columns, I'm
of the opinion that the same problem would eventually reappear. A different
approach would be to change your start menu...

-If you don't mind scrolling, try the "Scroll Programs" option in
Taskbar/Start Menu properties as another reply mentions.

OR

-Condense your start menu. Right click on the Start button and click
Explore. Explorer will open with the focus on the Start Menu folder for
your user account. Right click on Start again and click Explore All Users.
A second Explorer window will open showing the All Users start menu folder.
You need to work with both windows to reorganize the start menu.

Use existing folders and, if necessary create new folders, under Programs
or Accessories to group similar programs. For example, I have a folder
under Programs named "Hardware." I tuck all folders and loose shortcuts for
various programs that support specific hardware devices: mouse, keyboard,
printer, scanner and so on. I could tuck all of that under
Accessories/System tools but I like having it a few clicks "closer."

Nothing is written in stone here. I recommend holding onto folders created
by the operating system, especially: Programs, Administrative Tools (if
shown), Startup, Accessories and System Tools. It's very possible that XP
updates might expect those folders to exist in their original locations.

And keep in mind that objects in All Users start menu folders are available
to any user account. Objects in your start menu folders are available only
for your account.

Anyhow, by condensing these things, you'll shorten the columns and
hopefully won't lose sight of the last item in the column.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
.