How-To

Add the Classic XP Style “All Programs” Menu To Windows 7

By Austin

Last Updated on June 10, 2021

If you want Windows 7 to work more like XP here is a trick you can employ.

Update: Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. For the latest OS, make sure you’re running an updated version of Windows 10.

Do you love Windows 7 but miss the old Start Menu from Windows XP? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, the demand is high enough that several third-party developers have created software packages that will modify the start menu and give it that old XP groove. However, I love the Windows 7 start menu and highly recommend against tweaking it back to XP.

However, for those of you who fear change and want that good ole’ retro-XP feel, follow the steps below:

 Add The Windows XP “All Programs” Menu to The Start Menu on Windows 7

Editors Note: As mentioned in the comments below, this Hack has a few nasty side-effects, which I feel are fairly significant (moves your Favorites folders and messes with .exe security permissions.)  With that in mind, I recommend against using this hack on anything but a test system until you fully understand its impact on your PC. Please see the comments section below for more information on this and alternatives to the hack.

Step 1 – Click the Windows Start Menu Orb and Type regedit into the search box.  Then Press Enter or Click the regedit program link.

Step 2 – Browse to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Step 3 – Right-click the Favorites entry from the right pane. Select Modify from the context menu that appears. You can also double-click the Favorites to achieve the same effect.

Step 4 – In the Value data line, paste the following line of text into the box:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Step 5 – Now go down to a similar name key as Step 4.  User Shell folders and repeat the process.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

From this key, also Right-Click the Favorites entry and Select Modify.

Step 6 – In the Value data line, paste the same following line of text into the box as before:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Step 7 Exit Registry Editor, then Right-Click the Windows Start Menu Orb and Select Properties.

Step 8 – The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties box should appear.  On the Start Menu tab Click Customize.

Step 9 – Scroll down the customization window and Check the Favorites menu box.  Then click OK.

Step 10 Quickly restart Explorer (follow the link to the groovy how-to guide on restarting Explorer in Windows 7.) Restarting your entire computer has the same effect.

Summing Up

Now you should have a groovy new bar on your Start Menu called Programs. This menu will list all of your installed programs and start menu shortcuts just like the old “All Programs” menu did in Windows XP.  Enjoy!

Want to reverse these changes?

All you have to do is go back into the same folders and modify the values to:
%userprofile%Favorites

Or download this pre-made registry fix and Presto! All back to normal. If you have lingering security pop-ups, you can learn How To get rid of them from here.

Conclusion

One of the things I’ve always liked about Windows is that there is no end to the level of customization you can make to the OS, whether from third-party apps or hacks like this one. Credit for this particular hack goes to the fine folks over at AskVG.com, who originally came up with the registry hack.

Whenever you mess with the registry, be careful as your playing with the core/guts of how the OS works.