How to fix an ancient Windows XP start menu bug?

07
2014-07
  • Steve314

    I dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows XP. I still use Windows XP for some old software, but I never allow it to go online - the ethernet drivers are disabled in case I forget to power off the cable modem.

    Probably not long after I first used Windows XP, I noticed a minor bug in the start menu handling. Pinned items can be dragged and dropped to re-order them, but when you drop them, they drop in the wrong out-by-one position - one position up from where the mouse is aimed. The drop-line shows in the correct place where you'd expect it, but when you release the mouse button, the item drops in an out-by-one position.

    This bug has always fixed itself in the past. I thought maybe the it was due to me installing from a prior-to-any-service-packs disk, and maybe the fix gets fixed by Windows Update. Except that now it doesn't, because I don't let Windows XP go online and therefore Windows Update isn't getting run. I install service pack 3, but this doesn't seem to fix the issue.

    Since it's a minor issue, I've mostly just worked around it or ignored it, but I'd really like a fix for this if possible. It seems daft to put up with a bug that had a fix probably before even SP1 was released.

    Any ideas?

    For example is there a hotfix I could download now which for some bizarre reason Microsoft never included in a service pack?

    • Answers
  • Journeyman Geek

    If you want to install all the updates, or at least download everything for offline installation, you can use wsus offline update. Without knowing which specific hotfix fixes it, this would probably be the best alternative


    • Related Question

    windows xp - How to remove Taskbar and Start Menu option from the start menu?
  • Rob Kam

    On XP's "classic start menu" under settings there is an item Taskbar and Start Menu, it's also in the control panel, is there an easy way to remove this but only from the start menu, preferably by editing the registry?


    • Related Answers
  • DHayes

    I found a reference to using resource hacker to accomplish what you are looking to do. This goes a bit further then just a registry tweak, so YMMV. It implies that you remove the appropriate menuitem. I can't verify it on this system since it isn't XP, and frankly, I don't want to mess around with those files if I don't have to.

    http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t452600.html

  • Rob Kam

    In safe mode (use ResHacker on \windows\explorer.exe menu 204) to remove just the single line MENUITEM "&Taskbar and Start Menu", 413, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, compile and save.