Automatically sort Windows XP Start menu alphabetically

[Erskine]

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Whenever you install an application, an entry thereof is added in the Start Menu and place the end of the list while the other entries are arranged alphabetically. So that new entries to also put in good order you must right-click anywhere and "Sort by name". But Windows is full of subtleties and small tip can sort this automatically each time a new entry added.

• Open the Registry
  
  
• Click on "start", "Run ..." then type "regedit" and click on "OK"
  
  
• Go to the key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder
  
  
• Pull down the key named "MenuOrder"
  
  
• Delete the key named "Start Menu (Classic Start Menu) and /or" Start Menu2 "(XP style Start Menu)
  
  
• Deleting this key will also eliminate its subkeys, but will have no impact

If you use the Classic Start Menu, you must perform the following steps to avoid that this key does not recur:

• Right-click on "start" then "Properties"
  
  
• Click on "Customize ..." then in drop-down list box, uncheck "Use Personalized Menus"
  
  
• The changes take effect immediately.

[Ehsaan]

Really useful every time I just right-click into the program group and select " sort by name " and everything is in order. But this makes automatically. No need to right click every time...really nice one dude.

[Tillie]

To make it work for another windows pc. Here are the steps:

• Right-click the programs folder and select sort by name
• Go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder registry key and delete the key "menu order"
• Restart windows.

[Sunena]

Interesting ,i will try that. Thanks for sharing with us.

[LSF11]

Erskine,

Thanks a bunch for this tip. It was exactly what I was looking for! I can only imagine how much time this will save me.

Best,

LSF11

[EgbertZ]

I'm running XP Pro. This "trick" does not really work on my system. After each reboot Windows recreates the Menuorder-key and new shortcuts will be listed at the bottom of the start menu again. In other words: you have to delete this registry setting after each reboot. This is not what I call "automatically".

[remlap]

I have just followed these instructions, without success. I then clicked Start:Then Settings Then Taskbar and Start Menu Then Start Menu tab Then Customise... Ticked the box Allow dragging and Dropping No need to reboot. Now all I do is right click and choose Sort Hope this helps someone.