Member Avatar for mark_vasty

when im browsing my programs in the start menu. it takes a couple of seconds to view all my installed programs. how can i make it load faster. i got a suggestion to a friend that i can edit it in registry but i cant find the exact category in the registry.... need help...... thanks.

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Good catch, — and glad it helped, . For anyone who finds this thread later: the tweak that fixed the problem changed how long Windows waits before expanding Start Menu submenus, so the menu feels snappier. If the change helped you once but the menu is slow again, or if you want alternatives that avoid editing the registry, try the checks and fixes below.

Start with quick diagnostics so you know whether the problem is system-wide or just one profile:

  • Create a new local user and see whether the Programs menu is fast there. If it is, the slowness is in the user profile (Start Menu items, broken shortcuts, corrupt cache).
  • Open your Start Menu Programs folder in Explorer (XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Start Menu\Programs; modern Windows: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs) and scan for many or deeply nested folders, shortcuts that point to removable/network drives, or broken targets. Those cause the shell to pause while resolving targets and icons.
  • Temporarily disable real-time antivirus scanning to test whether on-access scanning is delaying folder enumeration.

Practical fixes that often help:

  • Remove or consolidate rarely used shortcuts (move them to an archive folder outside the Start Menu).
  • Replace shortcuts that point to disconnected network/USB locations or uninstall apps that left orphaned links.
  • Rebuild the icon cache and restart Explorer if icons are slow to appear.
  • Disable unnecessary shell extensions (use a trusted tool like ShellExView or Autoruns) — focus on third-party context-menu handlers.
  • If visual effects are a factor, try turning off menu animation effects in Performance Options to see measurable improvement.

Cautions: always make a system restore point and back up the Start Menu folder (or export any registry keys) before editing the registry or disabling system components. If the menu remains slow after these steps, note the exact behavior (which submenu, whether network drives are involved) and collect that detail before trying deeper changes.

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Member Avatar for p3-450

Hi

This should do it

:)

Member Avatar for mark_vasty

Hi

This should do it

:)

thanks a lot... it works!

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