Once you have shortcuts created on the desktop, dragging a program's icon from the desktop to the start button will create a shortcut on the start menu.

When you drag a program to the start button, don't release the mouse button until you've positioned the program on the menu. It will take a second for the menu to activate. Once it does, slide the shortcut into position. This way, you control its placement.

If you place commonly used programs on the start menu they are always accessible from the Start button, no matter how many windows are open or how invisible your desktop has become due to clutter. You can always get to the program you need from the Start button.

Windows for Newbies™
* * * * *
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Due to the graphical nature of this tutorial, 
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"How To Add Programs To 
Your Start Menu"

On a new computer, the start menu usually doesn't have any shortcuts directly to programs. A picture will help illustrate. Here's the typical menu found by clicking a brand new computer's button using the Windows 98 operating system (Windows 95 is nearly identical in look and feel):

Let's say you wanted to add a shortcut to the start menu, so you could start your word processor without looking under the Programs menu. Here's what the start menu looks like with the addition of Microsoft Word:

Now, here's the fastest, most direct way to add a program to the start menu:

Step 1. Right click the button for the shortcut menu:

Select and click Open to view the window below:

Note: The address bar reflects your location among the many folders on your hard drive. The title bar shows the same information, because we've turned on the full path in the title bar. Windows comes with this option turned off, since the geniuses who created this product didn't think you'd need to be troubled by all the details. Turning it on is a simple matter, explained in the Windows for Newbies e-Book.

Step 2. Double click the  icon to open it. You'll see the next screen capture below along with the screen you opened previously:

Note: Again, notice the changes in the address bar and the title bar. We're drilling down deeper into the folders.

Step 3. Using Internet Explorer for this example, drag and drop its icon from the C:/Windows/Start Menu/Programs window to the C:/Windows/Start Menu window. Once done, this is what your new start menu file area will look like:

Important Note: The programs shown in this view are going to appear on your Start Menu. Keep scrolling, as I illustrate this fact for you.

Here's a progressive view of this process, showing each menu with the addition of a new program.

Above: No programs added to menu

Above: Addition of Microsof Word

Above: Addition of Word and Explorer

It's a simple three step process to add any program to the start menu. And so much faster than the process outlined in the manuals or help files. 

ÜAll the tasks you perform in Windows can be made much easier with the Newbie Club™ Learning System and Windows for Newbies™.

Clear and precise, these pictorial tutorials teach with over 400 pictures of the "insides" of your PC.
Learn more.

Home | Tutorials | Learning Products | Contact | About

Once you have shortcuts created on the desktop, dragging a program's icon from the desktop to the start button will create a shortcut on the start menu.

When you drag a program to the start button, don't release the mouse button until you've positioned the program on the menu. It will take a second for the menu to activate. Once it does, slide the shortcut into position. This way, you control its placement.

If you place commonly used programs on the start menu they are always accessible from the Start button, no matter how many windows are open or how invisible your desktop has become due to clutter. You can always get to the program you need from the Start button.

Windows for Newbies™
* * * * *
The universally praised PC pictorial course featuring the revolutionary Newbie Club™ Learning System.

You'll be delighted by how quickly and easily you learn! It's fun, jargon-free and there's nothing like it anywhere else on the Web! Make your PC your friend.   LEARN MORE

Due to the graphical nature of this tutorial, 
patience is requested as images load...

"How To Add Programs To 
Your Start Menu"

On a new computer, the start menu usually doesn't have any shortcuts directly to programs. A picture will help illustrate. Here's the typical menu found by clicking a brand new computer's button using the Windows 98 operating system (Windows 95 is nearly identical in look and feel):

Let's say you wanted to add a shortcut to the start menu, so you could start your word processor without looking under the Programs menu. Here's what the start menu looks like with the addition of Microsoft Word:

Now, here's the fastest, most direct way to add a program to the start menu:

Step 1. Right click the button for the shortcut menu:

Select and click Open to view the window below:

Note: The address bar reflects your location among the many folders on your hard drive. The title bar shows the same information, because we've turned on the full path in the title bar. Windows comes with this option turned off, since the geniuses who created this product didn't think you'd need to be troubled by all the details. Turning it on is a simple matter, explained in the Windows for Newbies e-Book.

Step 2. Double click the  icon to open it. You'll see the next screen capture below along with the screen you opened previously:

Note: Again, notice the changes in the address bar and the title bar. We're drilling down deeper into the folders.

Step 3. Using Internet Explorer for this example, drag and drop its icon from the C:/Windows/Start Menu/Programs window to the C:/Windows/Start Menu window. Once done, this is what your new start menu file area will look like:

Important Note: The programs shown in this view are going to appear on your Start Menu. Keep scrolling, as I illustrate this fact for you.

Here's a progressive view of this process, showing each menu with the addition of a new program.

Above: No programs added to menu

Above: Addition of Microsof Word

Above: Addition of Word and Explorer

It's a simple three step process to add any program to the start menu. And so much faster than the process outlined in the manuals or help files. 

ÜAll the tasks you perform in Windows can be made much easier with the Newbie Club™ Learning System and Windows for Newbies™.

Clear and precise, these pictorial tutorials teach with over 400 pictures of the "insides" of your PC.
Learn more.

Home | Tutorials | Learning Products | Contact | About