How to remove orphan Start menu item

Hi

Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.

I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and Features.
This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the C:\Program Files
folder, but I was left with the application with sub folders on the Start
Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this anymore, I tried right clicking
on it and selected Delete - this resulted in a dialog 'You need to confirm
this operation - Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I selected Continue - the dialog
box disappears but nothing else happens - the menu entries remained.

Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
registry thing - I installed this.

Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
(entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the application
still remain.

Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the folder
'\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried Delete
there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same dialog
which when clicking Continue results in no action.

On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something from
(say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the Permissions
procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time remaining etc but at
the end, no actual deletions take place - strange! (btw I am not doing
anything unorthodox in as much as I was only changing an installed
application .dll updated file) - *however*, I found the Take Ownership did
work in this instance.

I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and relying
on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.

--
regards,
Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

Try this: Boot into safe mode and go through the same process.

"Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi
>
> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>
> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this anymore,
> I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this resulted in a
> dialog 'You need to confirm this operation - Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I
> selected Continue - the dialog box disappears but nothing else happens -
> the menu entries remained.
>
> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
> registry thing - I installed this.
>
> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
> application still remain.
>
> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the folder
> '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried Delete
> there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same dialog
> which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>
> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something from
> (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only changing
> an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I found the Take
> Ownership did work in this instance.
>
> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>
> --
> regards,
> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

"Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi
>
> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>
> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this anymore,
> I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this resulted in a
> dialog 'You need to confirm this operation - Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I
> selected Continue - the dialog box disappears but nothing else happens -
> the menu entries remained.
>
> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
> registry thing - I installed this.
>
> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
> application still remain.
>
> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the folder
> '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried Delete
> there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same dialog
> which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>
> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something from
> (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only changing
> an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I found the Take
> Ownership did work in this instance.
>
> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>
> --
> regards,
> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

Have you tried
Right clicking the item
select Properties
Select the Security Tab.
Highlight the user you are logged in as.
Click the 'Edit' button
Place a check in the box for the Allow Full Control
Click Apply
Click OK

Now go back to the start menu and delete the item

"PC Medic" <pcmedic2@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:uInXIMSZIHA.5396@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
> news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Hi
>>
>> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>>
>> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
>> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
>> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
>> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this anymore,
>> I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this resulted in a
>> dialog 'You need to confirm this operation - Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I
>> selected Continue - the dialog box disappears but nothing else happens -
>> the menu entries remained.
>>
>> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
>> registry thing - I installed this.
>>
>> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
>> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
>> application still remain.
>>
>> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the
>> folder '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried
>> Delete there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same
>> dialog which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>>
>> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something from
>> (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
>> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
>> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
>> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only changing
>> an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I found the Take
>> Ownership did work in this instance.
>>
>> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
>> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>>
>> --
>> regards,
>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>
> Have you tried
> Right clicking the item
> select Properties
> Select the Security Tab.
> Highlight the user you are logged in as.
> Click the 'Edit' button
> Place a check in the box for the Allow Full Control
> Click Apply
> Click OK
>
> Now go back to the start menu and delete the item
>
>
>

Thanks for the reply

Well, I followed your suggestion, but when I get to the dialog that has the
check boxes, they are all grayed out - same for all users (Administrator, Me
and System) - the default from new when I created the Me account.

--
regards,
Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

Thanks for the reply

I could possibly do this, but as the only user and admin of my own computer
I feel it is somewhat inconvenient and shouldn't be necessary. Of course, if
I can't find another more convenient method I will of course swallow my
indignation and do as you suggest

"Bob" <nowhere@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:i6WdnbTXkufiCz7anZ2dnUVZ_ruqnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Try this: Boot into safe mode and go through the same process.
>
> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
> news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Hi
>>
>> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>>
>> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
>> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
>> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
>> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this anymore,
>> I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this resulted in a
>> dialog 'You need to confirm this operation - Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I
>> selected Continue - the dialog box disappears but nothing else happens -
>> the menu entries remained.
>>
>> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
>> registry thing - I installed this.
>>
>> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
>> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
>> application still remain.
>>
>> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the
>> folder '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried
>> Delete there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same
>> dialog which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>>
>> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something from
>> (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
>> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
>> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
>> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only changing
>> an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I found the Take
>> Ownership did work in this instance.
>>
>> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
>> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>>
>> --
>> regards,
>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>



--
regards,
Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

You're welcome.
Unfortunately your feelings having nothing to do with it.

"Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
news:eVCxEOVZIHA.4180@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the reply
>
> I could possibly do this, but as the only user and admin of my own
> computer I feel it is somewhat inconvenient and shouldn't be necessary. Of
> course, if I can't find another more convenient method I will of course
> swallow my indignation and do as you suggest
>
> "Bob" <nowhere@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> news:i6WdnbTXkufiCz7anZ2dnUVZ_ruqnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Try this: Boot into safe mode and go through the same process.
>>
>> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
>> news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>>>
>>> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
>>> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
>>> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
>>> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this
>>> anymore, I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this
>>> resulted in a dialog 'You need to confirm this operation -
>>> Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I selected Continue - the dialog box disappears
>>> but nothing else happens - the menu entries remained.
>>>
>>> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
>>> registry thing - I installed this.
>>>
>>> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
>>> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
>>> application still remain.
>>>
>>> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the
>>> folder '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried
>>> Delete there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same
>>> dialog which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>>>
>>> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something
>>> from (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
>>> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
>>> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
>>> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only
>>> changing an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I
>>> found the Take Ownership did work in this instance.
>>>
>>> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
>>> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>>>
>>> --
>>> regards,
>>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>>
>
>
>
> --
> regards,
> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

Hi Les,

See if this will work for you...
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vi...te-folder.html

Look down at #7
Posts: 72
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Experience: Advanced

--
All the best,
SG

"Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
news:u27n9LVZIHA.4272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "PC Medic" <pcmedic2@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:uInXIMSZIHA.5396@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
>> news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>>>
>>> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
>>> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
>>> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
>>> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this
>>> anymore, I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this
>>> resulted in a dialog 'You need to confirm this operation -
>>> Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I selected Continue - the dialog box disappears
>>> but nothing else happens - the menu entries remained.
>>>
>>> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
>>> registry thing - I installed this.
>>>
>>> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
>>> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
>>> application still remain.
>>>
>>> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the
>>> folder '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried
>>> Delete there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same
>>> dialog which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>>>
>>> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something
>>> from (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
>>> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
>>> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
>>> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only
>>> changing an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I
>>> found the Take Ownership did work in this instance.
>>>
>>> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
>>> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>>>
>>> --
>>> regards,
>>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>>
>> Have you tried
>> Right clicking the item
>> select Properties
>> Select the Security Tab.
>> Highlight the user you are logged in as.
>> Click the 'Edit' button
>> Place a check in the box for the Allow Full Control
>> Click Apply
>> Click OK
>>
>> Now go back to the start menu and delete the item
>>
>>
>>
>
> Thanks for the reply
>
> Well, I followed your suggestion, but when I get to the dialog that has
> the check boxes, they are all grayed out - same for all users
> (Administrator, Me and System) - the default from new when I created the
> Me account.
>
> --
> regards,
> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland

Thanks SG, good info. Will give it a try. I also saw from that link, an
indication of what else I had noticed but didn't mention - that items on the
start menu don't appear in the start menu programme folder - I suppose
that's a separate thing though.

"SG" <sorry@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:OjR4lqXZIHA.4696@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hi Les,
>
> See if this will work for you...
> http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vi...te-folder.html
>
> Look down at #7
> Posts: 72
> Join Date: Oct 2007
> Location: Amsterdam
> Experience: Advanced
>
> --
> All the best,
> SG
>
> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
> news:u27n9LVZIHA.4272@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> "PC Medic" <pcmedic2@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:uInXIMSZIHA.5396@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> "Les" <completelyfalse@mailaddress.toavoid.spam> wrote in message
>>> news:OXiUZ4OZIHA.5980@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> Vista Ultimate - fully up to date.
>>>>
>>>> I uninstalled a program through the Control Panel -> Programs and
>>>> Features. This seemed to remove all signs of the application from the
>>>> C:\Program Files folder, but I was left with the application with sub
>>>> folders on the Start Menu/All Programs. Since I didn't need this
>>>> anymore, I tried right clicking on it and selected Delete - this
>>>> resulted in a dialog 'You need to confirm this operation -
>>>> Continue/Skip/Cancel' - I selected Continue - the dialog box disappears
>>>> but nothing else happens - the menu entries remained.
>>>>
>>>> Looking through various Vista newsgroups, I found a 'Take Ownership'
>>>> registry thing - I installed this.
>>>>
>>>> Retrying the above and after 'Taking Ownership' of the start menu entry
>>>> (entries), has exactly the same results - the references to the
>>>> application still remain.
>>>>
>>>> Next I tried search for the application name and this led me to the
>>>> folder '\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' and I tried
>>>> Delete there both without then with the Take Ownership - still the same
>>>> dialog which when clicking Continue results in no action.
>>>>
>>>> On a related note: I have had times where I want to delete something
>>>> from (say) the Program Files folder where I needed to go through the
>>>> Permissions procedure and then get a dialog showing progress/time
>>>> remaining etc but at the end, no actual deletions take place - strange!
>>>> (btw I am not doing anything unorthodox in as much as I was only
>>>> changing an installed application .dll updated file) - *however*, I
>>>> found the Take Ownership did work in this instance.
>>>>
>>>> I'm now at a dead end in getting this start menu entry removed, and
>>>> relying on the collective wisdom of this group to help me out.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> regards,
>>>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>>>
>>> Have you tried
>>> Right clicking the item
>>> select Properties
>>> Select the Security Tab.
>>> Highlight the user you are logged in as.
>>> Click the 'Edit' button
>>> Place a check in the box for the Allow Full Control
>>> Click Apply
>>> Click OK
>>>
>>> Now go back to the start menu and delete the item
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Thanks for the reply
>>
>> Well, I followed your suggestion, but when I get to the dialog that has
>> the check boxes, they are all grayed out - same for all users
>> (Administrator, Me and System) - the default from new when I created the
>> Me account.
>>
>> --
>> regards,
>> Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland
>



--
regards,
Les Hay, Livingston, Scotland