Start Menu - Restore Missing Default Shortcuts

How to Restore Missing Default Start Menu Shortcuts in Vista​

   Information

This will provide you with separate downloads that include all of the All Programs default shortcuts in the Start menu for each edition of Vista so you can either restore all of the shortcuts or just the ones you need.

   Note

A Start Menu shortcuts download for the Vista Enterprise edition is not included in this tutorial. You can use the download for Ultimate in it's place.

EXAMPLE: Start menu All Programs for Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate
NOTE: To compare and see the features in each edition of Vista, see: Windows Vista Editions Overview and The Vista Editions Comparison Table

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STEP ONE

To Restore Default Start Menu Shortcuts used by Current User Only

NOTE: All 32 bit and 64 bit editions of Vista have these same single current user default Start menu shortcuts. You will also need to download the All Users Default Shortcuts for your edition of Vista in STEP TWO below.

1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Single_User_Shortcuts.zip​

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2. Save the Single_User_Shortcuts.zip file to the desktop.​

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3. Right click on the Single_User_Shortcuts.zip file (on desktop) and click on Open.​

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4. Click on Allow in the UAC prompt.​

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5. Extract the Single_User_Shortcuts folder to the desktop.​

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6. Right click on the Start button and click on Open or Explore, not Open/Explore All Users. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: This will open this hidden Start Menu folder in Windows Explorer:​

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C:\Users\(user name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu​

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7. To Restore All Default Single User Start Menu Shortcuts ​

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A) Open the Single_User_Shortcuts folder (on desktop) and right click on the Programs folder and click on Copy.​

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B) Right click on a empty space in the Windows Explore window and click on Paste. (See screenshot above)​

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C) Click on Yes and Copy and Replace to confirm the copying of the default shortcuts and desktop.ini files.​

8. To Restore Just the Single User Shortcuts You Want​

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A) Open the Single_User_Shortcuts folder (on desktop) and manually copy the shortcuts you want over to the Start menu location in the Programs folder in the Windows Explorer window location above. (See screenshot below step 6)​

STEP TWO

To Restore Default Start Menu Shortcuts Shared by All Users

NOTE: You will just need to select the download for your edition of Vista. You will also need to do STEP ONE above to restore the Single User default Start Menu shortcuts.

1. For Vista 32 bit or 64 bit Home Basic​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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All_Users_Home_Basic.zip​

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B) Go to step 5.​

2. For Vista 32 bit or 64 bit Home Premium ​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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All_Users_Home_Premium.zip​

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B) Go to step 5.​

3. For Vista 32 bit or 64 bit Business ​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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All_Users_Business.zip​

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B) Go to step 5.​

4. For Vista 32 bit or 64 bit Ultimate​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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All_Users_Ultimate.zip​

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5. Save the ZIP file to the desktop.​

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6. Right click on the ZIP file (on desktop) and click on Open.​

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7. Click on Allow in the UAC prompt.​

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8. Extract the All_Users_(Vista Edition) folder to the desktop.​

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9. Right click on the Start button and click on Open All Users or Explore All Users, not Open/Explore. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: This will open this hidden Start Menu folder in Windows Explorer:​

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C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu​

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10. To Restore All Default All Users Start Menu Shortcuts​

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A) Open the All_Users_(Vista Edition) folder (on desktop) and highlight the Programs folder, Default Programs shortcut, and Windows Update shortcut, then right click on them and click on Copy.​

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B) Right click on a empty space in the Windows Explore window and click on Paste. (See screenshot above)​

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C) Click on Yes and Copy and Replace to confirm the copying of the default shortcuts and desktop.ini files.​

11. To Restore Just the All Users Shortcuts You Want ​

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A) Open the All_Users_(Vista Edition) folder (on desktop) and manually copy the shortcuts you want over to the Start menu location in the Programs folder in the Windows Explorer window location above. (See screenshot below step 9)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Customize the Start Menu in Vista
• How to Display Small or Large Icons in the Vista Start Menu
• How to Enable or Disable the All Programs List in the Vista Start Menu
• How to Restore the Start Menu Search Button after Installing the Vista SP1
• How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista
• How to Add or Delete a Shortcut or Folder From the Start Menu in Vista
• How to Hide or Show Hidden Files and Folders in Vista
• How to Restore the Administrative Tools Shortcuts in Vista
• How to Fix the Games Explorer Link in the Vista Start Menu
• Game Shortcut Links in Games Explorer Do Not Work

 

[joseeg12]

I love you. Thank you very much. That was very useful. Unlike the Microsoft website.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Joseeg12, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[jakeers]

THANK Y O U....been trying to figure repair out for days.
jakeers

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Jakeers, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[ChrisiB]

Hi Brink,

Many thanks for this tute, it works wonders for me, but not for long. It seems after every reboot the icons delete themselves again!

I have just done a fresh install of v.Ultimate with no more apps that i used to have one on the previous install (before i had the problem) the only thing different is Nero 9.

I have noted you have said a program may cause this to happen, have you any suggestion what type of program may have caused this? or why this may occur?

Is this going to be a case of a system restore?

Many Thanks, Chris

 

[Brink]

Hello Chris, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It could be a number of programs that could cause this. From a registry cleaning program that was allowed to remove registry entries it should not have, or any program that affects the Start Menu shortcuts (almost all of them).

I would say that it may be faster to try a System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem to see if it can fix it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[ChrisiB]

Thanks for the info Shawn, strage what has happened. Going to try a re-install, i was having some driver issues at the beginning (not encountered before) so will see what happens from here

 

[Brink]

Ok Chris. Please let us know how it went.

 

[ChrisiB]

Ok Chris. Please let us know how it went.

Hi Shawn/Everyone

Clean Re-install worked a treat, this time i didn't experince any driver issues, they just seemed to install. Got all my programs on and this time no issue. I think it may have been when i ticked a box for Shortcuts ALL USERS during an installation process [Poss Nero9].

So thumbs up

Thanks for your help

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Chris. I'm happy that this installation round went smoothly for you.

Shawn

 

[ccyto]

where is the download button?

 

[Brink]

Hello ccyto, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It's the blue button with Download written on it just below the step that you wanted to download that file for.

Shawn

 

[neheuser]

Interestingly Microsoft still has search option in the start menu in this demo/training video for beginners. As of March 2009 this was still posted. Very frustrating, especially when you are new to vista.
Demo: What's new with finding and organizing files? - Windows Vista Help

 

[Brink]

Hello Neheuser, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you wanted Search back on the Start Menu, then this will help show you how to.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/145787-search-start-menu-button-restore-after-sp1.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[top secret]

Thanks, Great work

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Top Secret.

 

[Chriswm]

Thanks shawn for an excellent and easy to follow disucssion of the problem - solution worked 1st time! Many thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Chiswm, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[getsiddharth]

can u add microsoft office to that list and upload it in similar fashion ?

 

[Avrion41]

Hi,

I tried the solutions posted on the 1st page. The reason: My Accessories folder is gone.

I tried the solutions but I still don't see the Accessories folder in my Start Menu. The apps in it, like Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmentation are still there..somewhere in my computer if i use the search function.

My ProgramData is hidden and Accessories folder can still be seen (after I unhide it).

I thought I need to restart so restarted my computer. But there's a shellclassinfo notepad which appeared. I tried to delete it off from my start menu but it just won't delete itself.

Help!

I don't want to reinstall Vista.