Missing Start Menu Shortcuts

Ask Ben - Missing Start Menu Shortcuts

10.12.2007

In Tips & Advice

Network start menu shortcuts not showing up? Have a look here to fix the problem by copying the shortcut from administrator to all logins.

Hello Ben,

I am an IT Co-ordinator for a school in Nottingham. Today I have installed some network software in our IT suite but none of the pupils can access it! I installed the software logged in as administrator, and as administrator the software is accessible through the start menu. When logged on as a pupil the shortcuts are gone. Please help.

Wendy McLeet, Nottingham.

Dear Wendy,

This usually occurs when the software you are installing was intended to be used on a stand-alone computer, with only a single login.

To fix this problem in Windows Vista, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Users. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Users and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

To fix this problem in Windows XP/2000, log in as administrator and navigate to C:\Documents and Settings. In here you should see all the different names that have logged into this computer. Find the ‘Administrator' folder and double click this, then double click "Start Menu". Find the shortcut to the program you want and copy it (right click, copy). Now navigate back to C:\Documents and Settings and double click the ‘All Users' folder, then double click "Start Menu". Paste the new shortcut here (Right click, paste).

Now when you log in as a pupil or anyone else for that matter, they should find the shortcut is now on the start menu.

Regards,

Ben.