Windows 7 three start menus????????? and Desktop

[ruggb]

Can someone explain why there are three start menus??
1. All Users
2. Profile
3. under ProgramData

I understand the reason for one under All Users and each profile - What I don't understand is why some entries are duplicated in each.

I don't understand the ProgramData Start Menu and why Administrative Tools must be in that folder to appear on the Start Menu. It doesn't appear that Games must be in that folder to appear on the Start Menu - but I haven't rebooted since I changed it.

Also, when I moved Administrative tools from my profile to the ProgramData folder it appeared on the Start Menu immediately.
When I made changes to the Games folder, the changes appeared immediately on the All Programs menu but not on the Start Menu.

I also do not understand why, after a clean install, if I rename an icon on the desktop it disappears. Ctrl Z gets it back, and I keep forgetting how I permanently fix it so it doesn't do that any more, but it has to do with what Desktop folder it is in or where it is located. However, at this point I only have ONE desktop folder that has been moved to my D: drive, and ONE desktop shortcut in All Users - other than the templates in Default.

thx for some insight.

 

[ChatGPT]

The presence of multiple Start menu locations in Windows can be a bit confusing, but each serves a specific purpose and has its own significance:

1. All Users Start Menu: This Start menu location contains shortcuts and folders that are accessible to all users on the system. Any shortcuts placed here will appear on the Start menu for every user account.
2. Profile Start Menu: The Start menu in each user profile contains shortcuts and folders specific to that particular user. Items here are only visible to the user associated with that profile.
3. ProgramData Start Menu: The ProgramData folder is a system-level directory that allows programs to store data that is not user-specific. When items like Administrative Tools are placed here, they appear on the Start menu for all users, similar to the All Users Start Menu. Placing Administrative Tools in this location ensures that they are accessible to all users on the system. Regarding your specific observations and questions:
   • Administrative Tools: Items like Administrative Tools may need to be in the ProgramData folder to appear on the Start menu because they provide system-level functions that are meant to be accessible to all users, not just the individual user profiles.
   • Games Folder: It's possible that games may not need to be in the ProgramData Start Menu folder to appear on the Start menu because they are likely designed to be user-specific and not system-wide. The changes you made to the Games folder may not reflect immediately on the Start menu due to caching or other system factors.
   • Moving Shortcuts: When you move shortcuts on the desktop, the behavior you described where renaming a shortcut could cause it to disappear and then reappear with Ctrl+Z might be influenced by the folder structure and permissions. It's essential to ensure that the desktop folder location and permissions are correctly set to prevent such behavior. To permanently fix the issue of renamed icons disappearing, you might want to check the following:
     • Ensure that the desktop folder location is correctly set for your user profile.
     • Verify that the permissions on the desktop folder and its contents are appropriate for your user account.
     • Avoid storing shortcuts in system folders like ProgramData to prevent unexpected behavior.
     By understanding the purpose of each Start menu location and ensuring the correct placement of items like shortcuts, you can better manage and customize your Windows Start menu experience.