recent programs don't appear on Start Menu

1. Left click on the Windows orb to open the Start Menu

2. Right click on the All Programs. You should see a menu like the one pictured below

c) Left click on the Open menu item (aka the current user’s, yours, Start Menu). You should see something like what is pictured below, though the actual contents may be a little different

d) Double left click on the Programs folder. You should see something what is pictured below, though the actual contents will be different, you should see a “bunch” of folders

e) Create a new subfolder. (you can name it what ever you really want too)

f) Select a bunch of the folders/shortcuts and drag (i.e. move) them into the subfolder

g) Start Task Manager, go to the Processes tab, select “explorer” and then click on the “End Process” button. This will end the explorer process, taskbar, start menu, etc.

This step is very important. Unless you restart Windows Explorer your results (i.e. what you see in All Programs) will not be reliable.

h) Now in Task Manager, select the File menu, Run submenu.

i) Enter “explorer” (no quotes) and click OK. This will restart Explorer, and the taskbar, Windows orb, etc should all re-appear

j) Try your All Programs now. If enough things have been moved, you should be good! 

k) If you’re All Programs is still empty, then repeat the above steps in the All Users Start Menu folder (i.e. the “Open All Users” menu choice when you right click on “All Programs”)

Now you can also begin to move folders back up into the Programs folder as need be.

Remember to end/run Windows Explorer during this process.