Windows 7 forum: How to permanently remove programs from the Start Menu

Hi

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question: you will notice that if you use the Google link you provided, what shows up is my exact question in other forums (not yet answered), or the question/user I quoted in my question. Other links there do not really answer my question, I feel.
Having said this, I also thank you for suggesting writing an app, something unfortunately that I am not inclined to try nor find myself qualified to do. I was hoping to either find some free tweaking soft6ware that would do this, or a way for windows 7 itself to do this--even going to the registry would work for me.

thanks again

I looked at the policies that Windows supplies and there is no registry tweak to ban an entry from that tree. I've been writing Windows apps since about Windows 3.0 and no registry entry or policy exists to do what you have asked for. That's why I wrote it's not a feature and why we would have to write an app for that.
Bob

Wow bro, once again thanks. You went to all that trouble, cool. Truly appreciated. Since you go way back, as I do, then you may recall what I said re: Microsoft's TweakUI (Power Toys) which dates back to WIndows 3.0 I believe and continued to Windows XP. Since TweakUI can do this for those OS'es do you think it safe to try it on Win 7 as well?

PowerToys for XP's TweakUI wasn't an official Microsoft utility although I understand it was developed by some Microsoft workers, or with Microsoft's approval, (or both), but it is not suitable for Vista and Win 7. In particular the Most Recent List in Vista/Win 7 wasn't there in XP and below.

I've just checked and the Start menu MRU list, (Most Recently Used), is displayed on the right column of the Start Menu, so it is there, but different location.

However there is a utility called the Ultimate Windows Tweaker for Vista and Win 7 from http://www.windowsvalley.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker/ and I have used it myself.

I see that it has an option to;

1] Set the number of entries for "Store and display a list of recently opened programs", and

2] Set the number of entries for "Enable Jump lists and number of recent items.

It has many other tweaks, similar to what TweakUI had/has for XP.

I can't say I entirely understand your requirements, but perhaps this one will get you there.

Mark

Thanks again buddy
It was suggested elsewhere that The original TweakUI could indeed be used with Win& however it should be installed in compatibility mode. The reader also suggested I create a restore point prior to trying it though. What do you think? Or should I even go further and do a full system image backup?
As to your idea, I did try that software and it wasn't really my thing. As you wrote, one can "set the number of entries" but this only takes care of a number, an amount and does not control which do and which don't. If you have an answer to the above thanks for your help once again in advance. having said this, if you have a life, then do not worry so much about this. Your your efforts and kindness have already been appreciated.

While there are many similarities between XP and Win 7 they are very different under the hood. The problem is that XP's TweakUI, even if it can be installed in Win 7, will attempt to make registry changes in Win 7 in the same keys that it would do in XP. If those keys are now used for some other setting then changing that could cause problems for the OS.

So if Ultimate Windows Tweaker doesn't do it for you then I am unsure what other options you have.

"if I have a life"? Hmm, thank you!

Mark