Huge problem need a lot of help /cry

Dicehunter · 24 Feb 2008 at 21:46

Ok first off heres the problem, i click on all programs in vista and it only shows a few things, like 2 games and disk cleanup, i deleted an entry called programs in the start menu, i had never seen it before and it wouldnt expand so i thought well ill just get rid of this then as it didnt seem important, the programs are all still there just all the shortcuts are gone from when you press on all programs, to access them and my games i have to go in to the actual hard drive, is there any way i can undo this mistake without having to reinstall windows, programs and games all over again, Thanks a lot in advance.

Dicehunter · 24 Feb 2008 at 22:32

Nevermind just putting xp pro back on

Hamster · 24 Feb 2008 at 22:41

Bit late now but for future reference, in the 'programs' directory were folders. Within the folders are simply shortcuts to the applications (or other shortcuts e.g. uninstall, settings). All you needed to do is create folders for all your apps in 'programs' directory and create shortcuts within those folders.

To see for yourself, when you're up and running with xp, click start, right click on programs and click explore. It will all make sense.

HTH

modo77 · 24 Feb 2008 at 23:13

So you installed vista and deleted the shortcuts? Then why are you putting xp back on? :confused:

Just make the shortcuts again.

allllec · 25 Feb 2008 at 00:36

For some reason Vista every now and then puts "programs" folder in the start menu. And it is infact the programs folder for the start menu. Thus dealing it removes eerything from the start menu apart from shared start menu (or the users start menu cannot remember which way around)

ANYWAY

All you can do is ignore it, its usually disappears after a while.

Anyway, if you do accedently delete it (as i did within the first few days of running vista) best bet is you right click on "all programs" choose explore. Right click on the start menu folder, choose previous versions and restore the folder

If all your shortcuts do not come back they may have been in the "all users" start menu folder. In which case again right click "all programs" but select explore all users instead, and again go up a folder and right click start menu folder and restore previous versions.

(IIRC shadow coppies may not be in all coppies of Vista (home premium?) in which case your stuffed and have to spend 15 mins remaking all the short cuts!

hope this is of some help for someone

cheers

alec