Windows Vista comes packaged with a new designed start menu, but it also lets change back to the classic start menu. So which start menu should you use?

The Windows Vista start menu is a much sleaker new design than the old XP look and has some great new features.  You can customise your Vista start menu by doing this;

  • Right click on the start button and click properties
  • Click the start menu tab
  • Click customize
  • Here you can select what features you want in your Vista start menu

The Vista start menu does although not include these features that were seen in the XP version;

  • You cannot expand the All Programs menu
  • Subfolders inside the All Programs menu in the Vista Start menu cannot be opened in Windows Explorer by double clicking
  • They also do not expand automatically if the mouse hovers over them
  • You cannot hold down the SHIFT key while clicking an item to retain the Start menu
  • The program list in the Vista Start Menu cannot be set to anything other than the “scroll programs” option seen in previous versions of Windows
  • The Vista Start Menu does not allow expanding Connect To and Printers for quick access to network connections or print/fax devices
  • Icons for Start menu items such as Computer, Documents, Pictures, Music, Control Panel, Network, Connect To, Run and Printers have been removed from the right column in the Vista Start menu

You may want to switch between start menu’s if you are using the Vista operating system, you can do this easily by;

  • Right click your start button
  • Click properties
  • Select the start menu tab
  • Check classic start menu
  • Click apply and OK
Windows Vista Start Menu