Start Menu Left Column

Table 2.1

Start Menu Left Column
Section	Description
Pinned Items list	Items in the top section of this column remain there, always available to open. You can select programs to appear here, as well as their order. By default, your web browser and email program are in the list. See “Adding items to the Start menu” in the next section.
Most Frequently Used Programs list	Windows maintains this list by appending programs as you use them. Each added program replaces one that you haven’t used recently. You can delete items from this list and set the number of items displayed, but you can’t reorder or add them manually.
All Programs menu	This menu lists all the programs that you’ve installed and that come with Windows. Click or hover over All Programs to expand the menu. Click the word Back to collapse it. Use the menu’s scroll bar or your mouse’s scroll wheel to move up and down the list.
Search box	This feature find files, folders, and programs on your computer. Type search text in the Search box. As you type, items that match your text appear instantly in the menu’s left column. Search looks at your personal folder, offline files, email, contacts, calendar events, and internet favorites and history, basing its search on the filename, the program title (excel, for example), text in the file, tags, and other file properties. Click an item in the results list to open it, or press Esc to cancel the search. For details, see “Searching for Files and Folders” in Chapter 5.

Table 2.2

Start Menu Right Column
Section	Description
User picture	Shows your account picture. This picture initially shows your user-account picture and changes to the icon of whatever you’re pointing to on the right side of the menu. If you click the picture, the User Accounts tool opens to let you make changes to your account.
Personal folder	Opens your personal folder. This link (chris, in Figure 2.2) shows the user name of the currently logged-on user—you, usually. See “Storing Stuff in Your Personal Folder” in Chapter 5.
Documents, Pictures, and Music	Opens subfolders in your personal folder that contain specific types of files.
Games	Lets you play games (this entry doesn’t appear in Vista Business editions).
Search	Opens a window where you can search your computer by using advanced options. See “Searching for Files and Folders” in Chapter 5.
Recent Items	Shows a menu of your recently opened files; click any entry to reopen that file.
Computer	Opens a window that lets you access disk drives, cameras, and other hardware connected to your computer. See “Exploring Your Computer” in Chapter 5.
Network	Opens a window that lets you access the computers and devices on your network, and provides quick access to Network and Sharing Center. See Chapter 18.
Connect To	Shows the Connect to a Network dialog box for connecting to wireless and other networks. See Chapter 18.
Control Panel	Opens Control Panel, which lets you configure and manage your system. See “Using Control Panel” in Chapter 4.
Default Programs	Shows the Default Programs window, which lets you choose the programs that Vista uses by default for web browsing, email, documents, pictures, and more. You also can associate file types with programs, change AutoPlay settings, and set program access.
Help and Support	Gets Windows help. See Chapter 3.