The Start menu is the doorway to most of the programs on your computer. Taking some time to customize it to match your needs can be a good investment. Me? I was getting tired of searching through the list of programs on the Start menu. It always seemed to take too long to find the one I wanted. So, I figured out a way to alphabetize the programs in the list. In addition to saving me time, I no longer dread having to look through a long list. Anyway, I did a little research, and came up with these tips to customize your Start menu—including how to alphabetize the list of programs.

Keep your favorite programs near the top of the Start menu

Do you have a favorite program that you frequently use? Elevate its priority on the Start menu by putting it at the top of the list. This ensures that the program will remain on the Start menu and cannot be bumped by other programs, even if you use the others more frequently.

Right-click the link to your favorite program on the Start menu and click Pin to Start Menu. Your program will be moved permanently to the top part of the list, just below your browser and e-mail programs.

Alphabetize programs in your Start menu

If you're like me, you'd like all the programs in the Start menu alphabetized. Also, you may have found that opening the All Programs menu as a folder and rearranging the icons changes nothing on the menu.

To arrange programs by name

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then right-click on any folder or icon.
  2. Click Sort by Name.

That's it. Works like magic. Enjoy your refreshingly organized Start menu.

Speed up Menu Display

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and click System.
  2. Click the Advanced tab, and under Performance, click the Settings button.
  3. Clear the Fade or slide menus into view check box, and then click OK.

Now when you bring up a collapsed menu, it will expand without delay.

Change the Start menu style

Does the Windows XP Start menu take up too much space on your desktop? You can easily change the look back to the Windows Classic Start menu by following these steps:

  1. Right–click the Start button, and then click Properties.
  2. Click Classic Start menu.
  3. Click the Customize button to select items to display on the Start menu.

By default, selecting the Classic Start menu also adds the My Documents, My Computer, My Network Places, and Internet Explorer icons to your desktop.

—Jason Kozleski