Customize the Start menu

Applies to Windows XP

You can choose several ways to customize your Start menu, including selecting large icons or specifying the number of programs you want to display. Here's how:

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To customize the Start menu using your mouse

1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, make sure you are in Classic View, with all Control Panel icons showing. If not, click Switch to Classic View in the left pane of Control Panel.
3. Click Taskbar and Start Menu to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box. Click the Start Menu tab, and then select the Start Menu check box.
4. Click Customize to open the Customize Start Menu dialog box. On the General tab, go to Select icon size for programs and select Large icons. Under Programs, choose the Number of programs on Start menu from the drop-down menu. Under Show on Start menu, select an Internet program and an e-mail program from the drop-down lists of installed programs.
5. Click OK, click OK again, and then click the Close button.

To customize the Start menu using your keyboard

1. Display the Start menu by pressing Ctrl+Esc (or the Windows logo key). Then open Control Panel by pressing C.
2. In Control Panel, make sure you are in Classic View, with all Control Panel icons showing. If not, go to the left pane of Control Panel and open Switch to Classic View by pressing Tab and then Enter. Press the arrow keys to move to Taskbar and Start Menu, and then press Enter.
3. In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, select the Start Menu tab by pressing Ctrl+Tab. Select the Start Menu check box by pressing S. Press C for Customize. Press Enter.
4. In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, on the General tab, the following options are available:
   • In the Select icon size for programs box, press L for Large icons or press S for Small icons.
   • Under the Programs box, select Number of programs on Start menu by pressing N. Choose the number of programs you want to appear on the Start menu by pressing the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key.
   • Under the Show on Start menu box, choose an Internet program by pressing Alt+I, and then pressing the arrow keys to select from the list of installed programs from the drop-down menu. Choose an e-mail program by pressing Alt+E, and then pressing the arrow keys to select from the list of installed programs. Press Enter. Press Tab to move to OK. Press Enter twice.
5. Close Control Panel by pressing Alt+F, C.