May I suggest an addition to the Vista portion of the start menu?
(EDIT: I have added a bug warning, see the asterisk in section 4 and at the bottom of the page)
A useful feature in the Vista start menu is the ability to customize many of its features. One feature in particular is the ability to show more than the default 9 ‘Number of recent programmes’.
Fig 1: The default quantity of 9 with large Programme Icons.
Fig 2: Number if recent programmes increased to 15 with small icons
To achieve this, follow the simple steps:-
1) Right click on the Start Icon:
Fig 3.
2) In the pop-up menu, select ‘Properties’
Fig 4.
3) In the new pop-up menu, click the ‘Customize...’ button
Fig 5.
4) Changing the defaults 1:
Fig 6.
The default figure to display the ‘Number of recent programmes’ is set to 9. This can be set to any quantity up to 30. However, you must take into account two major factors before you decide to opt for a large number. (a) The size of the programme Icons and (b) the HEIGHT resolution of your monitor!
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(a) The default size of the programme icons is ‘Large’. If you compare Fig1 and Fig2, you will note that fig1 has large icons. Having large icons forces windows to increase the space between the listing lines. This takes up monitor real estate. This has a direct bearing on the screen resolution. Unless you have a screen resolution of 1900 pixels high or greater, it will be best to change the icon size to small. In most cases, the small icons will suffice.
(b) The screen resolution has a bearing in as much as the amount of lines the menu can hold until it bumps against the top of the screen! The menu grows in physical height, the more items you add. You will have to experiment slightly to set the optimum number. For example, on a 1900 pixel height, 20 is about optimum. On the example set below and in Fig 2 above, the quantity is set at 15.
5) Changing the defaults 2:
Fig 7.
Set the ‘Number of recent programmes’ to an appropriate quantity, here shown as 15.
Then scroll down the box and deselect ‘Use large icons’
TIP: Whilst in this box, you can speed up you machine slightly if you deselect ‘Search favourites and history’ Only leave it ticked if you regularly search those items. When you are through customising the menu, click OK.
6) The final thing is to set or apply the changes:
Fig 8.
If you a finished customizing, clicking OK. To close the box an apply the changes.
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Watch out for a strange bug in Vista! Once you have decided on the optimum quantity, it may look good but the hidden bug may catch you out long after you have customised the menu. It is easy to test if you have entered a quantity that will trigger the bug.
Once you have settled on the optimum quanity and applied it, click the Start button and in the search field, type in
CMD do not click anything else or hit 'Enter', just the 3 keystrokes CMD and wait a few seconds. If the bug is triggered, you will get a Windows POPUP saying "Explorer has encountered a problem and will restart"
Do not be alarmed, the world is not comming to an end just yet! Press OK and allow it to restart. Then go back into the customising procedure and deduct 1 or 2 from the quantity you selected.
(It is the author's belief that the bug is triggered by the Menu being just large enough to not 'bump' against the top of the screen and when the CMD instruction is typed in, an additional line needs to be added to the top of the menu forcing it to try and grow larger than the screen resolution will allow.)
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