How to re-create a missing start menu shortcut in WINDOWS XP Pro ?

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How to re-create a missing start menu shortcut in WINDOWS XP

Many people don't realize that you can delete or lose menuitem listings for installed applications. This applies to basic windows applications as well as user installed programs. To recreate a menuitem in the windows XP all programs menu, do the following steps:

1. Locate the file you want to associate with the start menu. This will require you to know the name of the executable file that starts the program. EXAMPLES: WINWORD.EXE starts Microsoft Word, MSTSC.EXE starts Windows XP Remote Desktop Connection

once you identify the name of the file you want to locate, use the windows search utility to locate it's path on the HDD (Remote Desktop is: C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe)

2. Leave the search window open as a reference. Right-Click the Taskbar, Click Properties. This opens the Taskbar & Start Menu Proprties Window

3. Click the Start Menu Tab, then Click the Customize Button. This opens the Customize Start Menu Window

4. Click the Add button, on the Create Shortcut Window, click the Browse button to open the Browse Window & browse to the location indicated in your search window.

5. Once you locate the file you want to add to the menu, Highlight it, then Click the OK button. (This returns you to the Create Shortcut Window)

6. Click Next to bring up the Select Program Folder Window. Browse to the folder in the start menu that you want to add the item, then click Next

7. In the Select a Title for this Program Window, type in the name you want displayed on the menu, then click Finish.

8. Click OK to close the Customize Start Menu Window, then Click OK to close the Taskbar & Start Menu Proprties Window.

9. Check the All Programs Menu for the shortcut you have added.