doe this seem like something i might have done, by stripping my nlite install of some item i shouldn't have? when i try to organize the order of my start menu programs (the ones that appear on the left side of the start menu) they appear locked - the only thing i can do is drag one shortcut over another, which opens the file with the selected program rather than just rearranging the shortcuts... i hope my question makes sense, this nlite install is working great otherwise!

Phillip

I assume that you're talking about your recently used programs list? You cannot reorganize your recently used programs list in Windows XP.

not the recently used program list, just the normal old program list (the same list that's affected by this setting: right clicking task bar >properties>start menu tab>customize>'number of programs on start menu')

i've never seen these shortcuts locked like this, so that i can't rearrange them, it's making me nutty!

Again, as Arie mentioned, you cannot rearrange those shortcuts. The order of those is determined by how frequently you use those programs. The most frequent to on top and least frequent go on bottom.

The only way to arrange them the way you want is to right-click, then click on "Pin to Start menu". Do that for all the programs you want "Pinned". Then you can rearrange the programs you just pinned in any order you want.

Again, as Arie mentioned, you cannot rearrange those shortcuts. The order of those is determined by how frequently you use those programs. The most frequent to on top and least frequent go on bottom.

The only way to arrange them the way you want is to right-click, then click on "Pin to Start menu". Do that for all the programs you want "Pinned". Then you can rearrange the programs you just pinned in any order you want.

i'm talking about the ones that rest above these shortcuts... i might have been wrong about the setting i described (the number of displayed shortcuts).

i'll try to clarify: on the left side of the start menu (left of control panel, my computer etc) there are two lists- the top one is shortcuts you can arrange yourself, and below that is the most recent program shortcuts. i am unable to arrange the shortcuts 'above' the recent programs, the ones you normally can adjust.

also, speaking of recent program list, nothing is showing up there at all now that i notice. it seems my whole start menu is jacked up...(and the number of programs on start menu is set to 10 currently)

thanks for the help so far, sorry i'm not more clear about my problem, i've been using xp for many years now, i'm just not so good at wording things

edit

ok i have finally figured what's going on but i still don't know why; on the left side i'm seeing only the recently opened programs, and the other list that you can normally add to and rearrange (the pinned list above recently opened) doesn't seem to be there at all.

Edited February 16, 200818 yr by philtro

does this have anything to do with it?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292504

ok i fixed it!! this setting was set to 1 (enabled), so i changed it to 0, restarted, and voila, pinned programs!!

Policy:Remove pinned programs list from the Start menu

Description:Removes the pinned programs list from the Start menu. Also

removes the Internet and E-mail checkboxes from the Start menu

customization CPL.

Registry Value:"NoStartMenuPinnedList"