Frequently Used Programs Not Automatically Added to the Start Menu (282066)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
This article was previously published under Q282066

SUMMARY

This article discusses the circumstances in which a shortcut to a program is not displayed in the most frequently used list in the Start menu.

Microsoft Windows XP includes a new Start menu that automatically displays the user's most frequently used programs (a most frequently used list). Only shortcuts to .exe files are displayed in the list.

MORE INFORMATION

If any of the following strings are included in the shortcut name, the program is not displayed in the most frequently used list:

  • Documentation
  • Help
  • Install
  • More Info
  • Readme
  • Read me
  • Read First
  • Setup
  • Support
  • What's New
The preceding list is located in the AddRemoveNames value at the following registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileAssociation

The following list of programs are excluded from the most frequently used list:
  • Setup.exe
  • Install.exe
  • Isuninst.exe
  • Unwise.exe
  • Unwise32.exe
  • St5unst.exe
  • Rundll32.exe
The preceding list is located in the AddRemoveApps value at the following registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileAssociation

Programs can also be registered to be excluded from the most frequently used list by creating the following NoStartPage string value:

(The REG_SZ string value must be empty or blank) HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Appname.exe

The following programs have the preceding setting by default:
  • Explorer.exe
  • Icwconn1.exe
  • Inoculan.exe
  • Mobsync.exe
  • Navwnt.exe
  • Realmon.exe
  • Sndvol32.exe
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/27/2006
Keywords:kbinfo kbui KB282066
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