Vista Start Menu Handling of Special Office Shortcuts

Well... I'd say it would seem most likely to be some software screwup... if
you're seeing this on multiple machines (read: reproducible) then if you
want to narrow down the problem, start with a clean Vista build, install
Office without OneNote, check for the problem, add OneNote to Office, check
for the problem, install Visio, check for the problem. That's what I'd do,
anyway... not that I'm the SME on this type of stuff, but I've had to run
down a few problems in the past.

Lang

"jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B39F7AFE-B208-440F-A99D-08636FEE616F@microsoft.com...
> Some day, when I have a few hours to burn, or when I don't have the time
> but
> opportunity knocks, I'll look at this again to see if I can figure out
> just
> what was going on. But the arrangement I have here is just fine -- only
> requiring a little adaptation in the way I do a few things with respect to
> opening a few specific documents.
>
> Can't say that the Vista / Office 2007 experience has been negative
> overall.
> Pretty good software all around. I really can't believe how smoothly and
> quickly everything works. I'm running it on a couple of notebook
> computers --
> one of them a pretty high end Dell Precision model with a couple of gigs
> of
> RAM from a couple of years ago and the other a Panasonic R3
> (ultra-portable).
> The Panny has Intel integrated video, so it doesn't get to use Aero Glass.
> The OS and other software look great on both computers, and everything
> (including boot and shutdown) is quick and responsive.
>
> But someone, either Microsoft or myself, screwed up a little on those
> shortcuts.
>
>
>
> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
>
>> Yeah, sometimes you just have to file stuff away in the Weird Folder and
>> move on...
>>
>> Lang
>>
>> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:9A11FE85-E551-4EBD-873D-B3C88598AA4E@microsoft.com...
>> > Aw, heck. I got tired of fiddling around with this. Life is too danged
>> > short
>> > to worry about something like this. Pretty much everything else I'm
>> > using
>> > in
>> > Office and Vista is working fine. Life is good.
>> >
>> > So I blew away the stupid "Microsoft Office blah blah" shortcuts and
>> > just
>> > created my own shortcuts to the executables. All of those work just
>> > fine --
>> > with pin/unpin to start menu and with the start menu search function.
>> > I'll
>> > just have to do without the Open and New shortcuts.
>> >
>> > And, by the way, I did have to blow away the Microsoft shortcuts
>> > because
>> > their presence in the Start Menu folders prevented the search function
>> > from
>> > finding the working versions. Yes, that's right. Say, for instance, I
>> > typed
>> > "exc.." in the start menu search. The Microsoft Office Excel shortcut
>> > would
>> > get selected (despite the Excel one I created being pinned to the start
>> > menu
>> > AND ahead of it in the Microsoft Office folder, and hitting Enter would
>> > still
>> > get me nada.
>> >
>> > Weird. Weird. Weird.
>> >
>> > "jimmuh" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hmmm. I guess I should have been more explicit about what I'm trying
>> >> to
>> >> accomplish.
>> >>
>> >> Yes, I can create new shortcuts directly to the actual executables in
>> >> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\". I've created those
>> >> shortcuts
>> >> directly on the Desktop and dragged them into
>> >> "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\", and those
>> >> shortcuts,
>> >> in turn, do behave "properly" when pinned to the start menu.
>> >>
>> >> But what I'm wondering about is why the special type of link that
>> >> Microsoft
>> >> creates for the Office apps with the installation procedure won't work
>> >> this
>> >> way? Could this be by design, as a result of some specific setting? It
>> >> wouldn't seem to make any sense. I'm pursuing this because I want to
>> >> be
>> >> sure
>> >> that there's not some issue with the way I'm preparing these systems.
>> >> I
>> >> don't
>> >> want to be breaking stuff. Particularly since I would really prefer
>> >> using
>> >> the
>> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office Document"
>> >> shortcuts, and I don't think there's a direct executable I can link to
>> >> create
>> >> regular shortcuts for those functions. At least I haven't found any
>> >> way
>> >> to do
>> >> it.
>> >>
>> >> A few additional observations about my system.
>> >>
>> >> 1. You'll notice I said that I create shortcuts to the Microsoft apps
>> >> on
>> >> the
>> >> Desktop and then place them under the Programs folder. The reason I do
>> >> it
>> >> that way is that Explorer doesn't seem to want me to create shortcuts
>> >> directly within the start menu location. The option to create a new
>> >> folder is
>> >> there, but no option to create a new shortcut. This goes for both the
>> >> Organize menu and the right-click context menu. Design, or symptom of
>> >> a
>> >> problem on these systems I'm preparing? All Vista systems I've seen
>> >> have
>> >> been
>> >> this way. (Of course I'm the one who prepared them, so who knows...)
>> >>
>> >> 2. When I look at the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" I
>> >> see
>> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office Document"
>> >> shortcuts already there that are NOT being displayed on the top level
>> >> of
>> >> the
>> >> start menu. When I look in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
>> >> Menu\Programs\" I do NOT see those two shortcuts, but both of those
>> >> shortcuts
>> >> are displayed AT THAT LEVEL of the Start Menu! Again, I'm asking
>> >> myself
>> >> if
>> >> this is by design or if it is a symptom of an issue with the way these
>> >> systems were prepared. If it is by design -- putting the shortcuts in
>> >> one
>> >> physical location in the file structure but showing them in a
>> >> non-corresponding organizational location in the Start Menu -- then I
>> >> think
>> >> that's kind of a wacky thing for Microsoft to do. And way out of
>> >> keeping
>> >> with
>> >> the rather decent organizational approach I think they have taken
>> >> toward
>> >> the
>> >> UI in this operating system.
>> >>
>> >> I'd appreciate further communication from anyone who's in the least
>> >> bit
>> >> interested because my foray into solving this little conundrum hasn't
>> >> been
>> >> getting anywhere.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks.
>> >>
>> >> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Have you tried deleting the shortcuts and recreating your own? I'm
>> >> > running
>> >> > O2007 Beta on Vista RTM and not having those types of problems, but
>> >> > I
>> >> > don't
>> >> > have Visio or OneNote installed. Have you tried installing O2007,
>> >> > checking
>> >> > to see if the problem exists, install Visio, check the problem,
>> >> > install
>> >> > OneNote, check the problem?
>> >> >
>> >> > Lang
>> >> >
>> >> > "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> > news:ED24F098-EEE5-43F3-AD04-30B3F6C664A7@microsoft.com...
>> >> > > I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but
>> >> > > we
>> >> > > haven't
>> >> > > got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
>> >> > >
>> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
>> >> > >
>> >> > > I'll restate as briefly as possible:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007,
>> >> > > Office
>> >> > > Visio
>> >> > > Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete
>> >> > > install
>> >> > > was
>> >> > > used
>> >> > > for each of the Office applications.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the
>> >> > > Start
>> >> > > Menu
>> >> > > work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work
>> >> > > when
>> >> > > selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If
>> >> > > I
>> >> > > pin
>> >> > > any
>> >> > > of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't
>> >> > > function
>> >> > > at
>> >> > > all,
>> >> > > regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the
>> >> > > Quick
>> >> > > Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on
>> >> > > the
>> >> > > Start
>> >> > > Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user
>> >> > > accounts
>> >> > > behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not
>> >> > > seen the
>> >> > > shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be
>> >> > > proper,
>> >> > > anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary
>> >> > > accounts,
>> >> > > Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user.
>> >> > > Nothing
>> >> > > fancy.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A
>> >> > > hidden
>> >> > > setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area
>> >> > > don't
>> >> > > seem
>> >> > > to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up
>> >> > > with
>> >> > > anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have
>> >> > > tried a
>> >> > > removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system -
>> >> > > same
>> >> > > result.
>> >> > > If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about
>> >> > > it.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > :\
>> >> >
>>

Yup, that's the plan. I just hope that, when I find the problem, it won't be
of the variety that will make me feel compelled to redo the systems I've
already configured with Vista. They work very well.

My wife has a software development system that really should be reconfigured
after the last horrendous crapload of RAD utilities she tested imploded. I'm
trying to convince her to let me stick Vista on that box and let her run her
development environments within virtual machines -- so that they are easy for
her (and, ahem, me) to restore when entropy takes its course.

But that will have to wait a few weeks until she finds out about a couple of
new projects and the next load of geekware in store for that system.

I'm glad I'm a physicist and not a software developer. (Are all developer's
machines that -- disorganized?)

"Lang Murphy" wrote:

> Well... I'd say it would seem most likely to be some software screwup... if
> you're seeing this on multiple machines (read: reproducible) then if you
> want to narrow down the problem, start with a clean Vista build, install
> Office without OneNote, check for the problem, add OneNote to Office, check
> for the problem, install Visio, check for the problem. That's what I'd do,
> anyway... not that I'm the SME on this type of stuff, but I've had to run
> down a few problems in the past.
>
> Lang
>
> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B39F7AFE-B208-440F-A99D-08636FEE616F@microsoft.com...
> > Some day, when I have a few hours to burn, or when I don't have the time
> > but
> > opportunity knocks, I'll look at this again to see if I can figure out
> > just
> > what was going on. But the arrangement I have here is just fine -- only
> > requiring a little adaptation in the way I do a few things with respect to
> > opening a few specific documents.
> >
> > Can't say that the Vista / Office 2007 experience has been negative
> > overall.
> > Pretty good software all around. I really can't believe how smoothly and
> > quickly everything works. I'm running it on a couple of notebook
> > computers --
> > one of them a pretty high end Dell Precision model with a couple of gigs
> > of
> > RAM from a couple of years ago and the other a Panasonic R3
> > (ultra-portable).
> > The Panny has Intel integrated video, so it doesn't get to use Aero Glass.
> > The OS and other software look great on both computers, and everything
> > (including boot and shutdown) is quick and responsive.
> >
> > But someone, either Microsoft or myself, screwed up a little on those
> > shortcuts.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Lang Murphy" wrote:
> >
> >> Yeah, sometimes you just have to file stuff away in the Weird Folder and
> >> move on...
> >>
> >> Lang
> >>
> >> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:9A11FE85-E551-4EBD-873D-B3C88598AA4E@microsoft.com...
> >> > Aw, heck. I got tired of fiddling around with this. Life is too danged
> >> > short
> >> > to worry about something like this. Pretty much everything else I'm
> >> > using
> >> > in
> >> > Office and Vista is working fine. Life is good.
> >> >
> >> > So I blew away the stupid "Microsoft Office blah blah" shortcuts and
> >> > just
> >> > created my own shortcuts to the executables. All of those work just
> >> > fine --
> >> > with pin/unpin to start menu and with the start menu search function.
> >> > I'll
> >> > just have to do without the Open and New shortcuts.
> >> >
> >> > And, by the way, I did have to blow away the Microsoft shortcuts
> >> > because
> >> > their presence in the Start Menu folders prevented the search function
> >> > from
> >> > finding the working versions. Yes, that's right. Say, for instance, I
> >> > typed
> >> > "exc.." in the start menu search. The Microsoft Office Excel shortcut
> >> > would
> >> > get selected (despite the Excel one I created being pinned to the start
> >> > menu
> >> > AND ahead of it in the Microsoft Office folder, and hitting Enter would
> >> > still
> >> > get me nada.
> >> >
> >> > Weird. Weird. Weird.
> >> >
> >> > "jimmuh" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hmmm. I guess I should have been more explicit about what I'm trying
> >> >> to
> >> >> accomplish.
> >> >>
> >> >> Yes, I can create new shortcuts directly to the actual executables in
> >> >> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\". I've created those
> >> >> shortcuts
> >> >> directly on the Desktop and dragged them into
> >> >> "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\", and those
> >> >> shortcuts,
> >> >> in turn, do behave "properly" when pinned to the start menu.
> >> >>
> >> >> But what I'm wondering about is why the special type of link that
> >> >> Microsoft
> >> >> creates for the Office apps with the installation procedure won't work
> >> >> this
> >> >> way? Could this be by design, as a result of some specific setting? It
> >> >> wouldn't seem to make any sense. I'm pursuing this because I want to
> >> >> be
> >> >> sure
> >> >> that there's not some issue with the way I'm preparing these systems.
> >> >> I
> >> >> don't
> >> >> want to be breaking stuff. Particularly since I would really prefer
> >> >> using
> >> >> the
> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office Document"
> >> >> shortcuts, and I don't think there's a direct executable I can link to
> >> >> create
> >> >> regular shortcuts for those functions. At least I haven't found any
> >> >> way
> >> >> to do
> >> >> it.
> >> >>
> >> >> A few additional observations about my system.
> >> >>
> >> >> 1. You'll notice I said that I create shortcuts to the Microsoft apps
> >> >> on
> >> >> the
> >> >> Desktop and then place them under the Programs folder. The reason I do
> >> >> it
> >> >> that way is that Explorer doesn't seem to want me to create shortcuts
> >> >> directly within the start menu location. The option to create a new
> >> >> folder is
> >> >> there, but no option to create a new shortcut. This goes for both the
> >> >> Organize menu and the right-click context menu. Design, or symptom of
> >> >> a
> >> >> problem on these systems I'm preparing? All Vista systems I've seen
> >> >> have
> >> >> been
> >> >> this way. (Of course I'm the one who prepared them, so who knows...)
> >> >>
> >> >> 2. When I look at the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu" I
> >> >> see
> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office Document"
> >> >> shortcuts already there that are NOT being displayed on the top level
> >> >> of
> >> >> the
> >> >> start menu. When I look in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
> >> >> Menu\Programs\" I do NOT see those two shortcuts, but both of those
> >> >> shortcuts
> >> >> are displayed AT THAT LEVEL of the Start Menu! Again, I'm asking
> >> >> myself
> >> >> if
> >> >> this is by design or if it is a symptom of an issue with the way these
> >> >> systems were prepared. If it is by design -- putting the shortcuts in
> >> >> one
> >> >> physical location in the file structure but showing them in a
> >> >> non-corresponding organizational location in the Start Menu -- then I
> >> >> think
> >> >> that's kind of a wacky thing for Microsoft to do. And way out of
> >> >> keeping
> >> >> with
> >> >> the rather decent organizational approach I think they have taken
> >> >> toward
> >> >> the
> >> >> UI in this operating system.
> >> >>
> >> >> I'd appreciate further communication from anyone who's in the least
> >> >> bit
> >> >> interested because my foray into solving this little conundrum hasn't
> >> >> been
> >> >> getting anywhere.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks.
> >> >>
> >> >> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Have you tried deleting the shortcuts and recreating your own? I'm
> >> >> > running
> >> >> > O2007 Beta on Vista RTM and not having those types of problems, but
> >> >> > I
> >> >> > don't
> >> >> > have Visio or OneNote installed. Have you tried installing O2007,
> >> >> > checking
> >> >> > to see if the problem exists, install Visio, check the problem,
> >> >> > install
> >> >> > OneNote, check the problem?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Lang
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> > news:ED24F098-EEE5-43F3-AD04-30B3F6C664A7@microsoft.com...
> >> >> > > I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but
> >> >> > > we
> >> >> > > haven't
> >> >> > > got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > I'll restate as briefly as possible:
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007,
> >> >> > > Office
> >> >> > > Visio
> >> >> > > Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete
> >> >> > > install
> >> >> > > was
> >> >> > > used
> >> >> > > for each of the Office applications.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the
> >> >> > > Start
> >> >> > > Menu
> >> >> > > work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work
> >> >> > > when
> >> >> > > selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If
> >> >> > > I
> >> >> > > pin
> >> >> > > any
> >> >> > > of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't
> >> >> > > function
> >> >> > > at
> >> >> > > all,
> >> >> > > regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the
> >> >> > > Quick
> >> >> > > Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on
> >> >> > > the
> >> >> > > Start
> >> >> > > Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user
> >> >> > > accounts
> >> >> > > behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not
> >> >> > > seen the
> >> >> > > shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be
> >> >> > > proper,
> >> >> > > anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary
> >> >> > > accounts,
> >> >> > > Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user.
> >> >> > > Nothing
> >> >> > > fancy.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A
> >> >> > > hidden
> >> >> > > setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area
> >> >> > > don't
> >> >> > > seem
> >> >> > > to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up
> >> >> > > with
> >> >> > > anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have
> >> >> > > tried a
> >> >> > > removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system -
> >> >> > > same
> >> >> > > result.
> >> >> > > If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about
> >> >> > > it.
> >> >> > >
> >> >> > > :\
> >> >> >
> >>
>

Heh, heh, heh... yeah, I don't know if all developer boxes are
disorganized... I'm sure many are. I do some programming... right now in
WinBatch but the powers that be want us to move to VB. We don't write full
apps... mostly utility type configuration apps that are a good fit for WB,
which almost anyone can get up to speed on pretty quickly if one has any
experience with programming logic.

I love testing in VM's. Take snapshots (in VMWare... I think VPC has similar
functionality with an add-on) and if something barfs, roll back to a
previous snapshot in under a minute without having to take the time to
rebuild the seat to the state it was in right before it barfed.

Lang

"jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ABBE60BE-61A4-4731-8A28-F043C5BA9759@microsoft.com...
> Yup, that's the plan. I just hope that, when I find the problem, it won't
> be
> of the variety that will make me feel compelled to redo the systems I've
> already configured with Vista. They work very well.
>
> My wife has a software development system that really should be
> reconfigured
> after the last horrendous crapload of RAD utilities she tested imploded.
> I'm
> trying to convince her to let me stick Vista on that box and let her run
> her
> development environments within virtual machines -- so that they are easy
> for
> her (and, ahem, me) to restore when entropy takes its course.
>
> But that will have to wait a few weeks until she finds out about a couple
> of
> new projects and the next load of geekware in store for that system.
>
> I'm glad I'm a physicist and not a software developer. (Are all
> developer's
> machines that -- disorganized?)
>
> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
>
>> Well... I'd say it would seem most likely to be some software screwup...
>> if
>> you're seeing this on multiple machines (read: reproducible) then if you
>> want to narrow down the problem, start with a clean Vista build, install
>> Office without OneNote, check for the problem, add OneNote to Office,
>> check
>> for the problem, install Visio, check for the problem. That's what I'd
>> do,
>> anyway... not that I'm the SME on this type of stuff, but I've had to run
>> down a few problems in the past.
>>
>> Lang
>>
>> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B39F7AFE-B208-440F-A99D-08636FEE616F@microsoft.com...
>> > Some day, when I have a few hours to burn, or when I don't have the
>> > time
>> > but
>> > opportunity knocks, I'll look at this again to see if I can figure out
>> > just
>> > what was going on. But the arrangement I have here is just fine -- only
>> > requiring a little adaptation in the way I do a few things with respect
>> > to
>> > opening a few specific documents.
>> >
>> > Can't say that the Vista / Office 2007 experience has been negative
>> > overall.
>> > Pretty good software all around. I really can't believe how smoothly
>> > and
>> > quickly everything works. I'm running it on a couple of notebook
>> > computers --
>> > one of them a pretty high end Dell Precision model with a couple of
>> > gigs
>> > of
>> > RAM from a couple of years ago and the other a Panasonic R3
>> > (ultra-portable).
>> > The Panny has Intel integrated video, so it doesn't get to use Aero
>> > Glass.
>> > The OS and other software look great on both computers, and everything
>> > (including boot and shutdown) is quick and responsive.
>> >
>> > But someone, either Microsoft or myself, screwed up a little on those
>> > shortcuts.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Lang Murphy" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Yeah, sometimes you just have to file stuff away in the Weird Folder
>> >> and
>> >> move on...
>> >>
>> >> Lang
>> >>
>> >> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:9A11FE85-E551-4EBD-873D-B3C88598AA4E@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Aw, heck. I got tired of fiddling around with this. Life is too
>> >> > danged
>> >> > short
>> >> > to worry about something like this. Pretty much everything else I'm
>> >> > using
>> >> > in
>> >> > Office and Vista is working fine. Life is good.
>> >> >
>> >> > So I blew away the stupid "Microsoft Office blah blah" shortcuts and
>> >> > just
>> >> > created my own shortcuts to the executables. All of those work just
>> >> > fine --
>> >> > with pin/unpin to start menu and with the start menu search
>> >> > function.
>> >> > I'll
>> >> > just have to do without the Open and New shortcuts.
>> >> >
>> >> > And, by the way, I did have to blow away the Microsoft shortcuts
>> >> > because
>> >> > their presence in the Start Menu folders prevented the search
>> >> > function
>> >> > from
>> >> > finding the working versions. Yes, that's right. Say, for instance,
>> >> > I
>> >> > typed
>> >> > "exc.." in the start menu search. The Microsoft Office Excel
>> >> > shortcut
>> >> > would
>> >> > get selected (despite the Excel one I created being pinned to the
>> >> > start
>> >> > menu
>> >> > AND ahead of it in the Microsoft Office folder, and hitting Enter
>> >> > would
>> >> > still
>> >> > get me nada.
>> >> >
>> >> > Weird. Weird. Weird.
>> >> >
>> >> > "jimmuh" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Hmmm. I guess I should have been more explicit about what I'm
>> >> >> trying
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> accomplish.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Yes, I can create new shortcuts directly to the actual executables
>> >> >> in
>> >> >> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\". I've created those
>> >> >> shortcuts
>> >> >> directly on the Desktop and dragged them into
>> >> >> "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\", and those
>> >> >> shortcuts,
>> >> >> in turn, do behave "properly" when pinned to the start menu.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> But what I'm wondering about is why the special type of link that
>> >> >> Microsoft
>> >> >> creates for the Office apps with the installation procedure won't
>> >> >> work
>> >> >> this
>> >> >> way? Could this be by design, as a result of some specific setting?
>> >> >> It
>> >> >> wouldn't seem to make any sense. I'm pursuing this because I want
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> be
>> >> >> sure
>> >> >> that there's not some issue with the way I'm preparing these
>> >> >> systems.
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> don't
>> >> >> want to be breaking stuff. Particularly since I would really prefer
>> >> >> using
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office
>> >> >> Document"
>> >> >> shortcuts, and I don't think there's a direct executable I can link
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> create
>> >> >> regular shortcuts for those functions. At least I haven't found any
>> >> >> way
>> >> >> to do
>> >> >> it.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> A few additional observations about my system.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 1. You'll notice I said that I create shortcuts to the Microsoft
>> >> >> apps
>> >> >> on
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> Desktop and then place them under the Programs folder. The reason I
>> >> >> do
>> >> >> it
>> >> >> that way is that Explorer doesn't seem to want me to create
>> >> >> shortcuts
>> >> >> directly within the start menu location. The option to create a new
>> >> >> folder is
>> >> >> there, but no option to create a new shortcut. This goes for both
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> Organize menu and the right-click context menu. Design, or symptom
>> >> >> of
>> >> >> a
>> >> >> problem on these systems I'm preparing? All Vista systems I've seen
>> >> >> have
>> >> >> been
>> >> >> this way. (Of course I'm the one who prepared them, so who
>> >> >> knows...)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> 2. When I look at the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> see
>> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office
>> >> >> Document"
>> >> >> shortcuts already there that are NOT being displayed on the top
>> >> >> level
>> >> >> of
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> start menu. When I look in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
>> >> >> Menu\Programs\" I do NOT see those two shortcuts, but both of those
>> >> >> shortcuts
>> >> >> are displayed AT THAT LEVEL of the Start Menu! Again, I'm asking
>> >> >> myself
>> >> >> if
>> >> >> this is by design or if it is a symptom of an issue with the way
>> >> >> these
>> >> >> systems were prepared. If it is by design -- putting the shortcuts
>> >> >> in
>> >> >> one
>> >> >> physical location in the file structure but showing them in a
>> >> >> non-corresponding organizational location in the Start Menu -- then
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> think
>> >> >> that's kind of a wacky thing for Microsoft to do. And way out of
>> >> >> keeping
>> >> >> with
>> >> >> the rather decent organizational approach I think they have taken
>> >> >> toward
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> UI in this operating system.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I'd appreciate further communication from anyone who's in the least
>> >> >> bit
>> >> >> interested because my foray into solving this little conundrum
>> >> >> hasn't
>> >> >> been
>> >> >> getting anywhere.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Have you tried deleting the shortcuts and recreating your own?
>> >> >> > I'm
>> >> >> > running
>> >> >> > O2007 Beta on Vista RTM and not having those types of problems,
>> >> >> > but
>> >> >> > I
>> >> >> > don't
>> >> >> > have Visio or OneNote installed. Have you tried installing O2007,
>> >> >> > checking
>> >> >> > to see if the problem exists, install Visio, check the problem,
>> >> >> > install
>> >> >> > OneNote, check the problem?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Lang
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> >> > news:ED24F098-EEE5-43F3-AD04-30B3F6C664A7@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > > I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions,
>> >> >> > > but
>> >> >> > > we
>> >> >> > > haven't
>> >> >> > > got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > I'll restate as briefly as possible:
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007,
>> >> >> > > Office
>> >> >> > > Visio
>> >> >> > > Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete
>> >> >> > > install
>> >> >> > > was
>> >> >> > > used
>> >> >> > > for each of the Office applications.
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in
>> >> >> > > the
>> >> >> > > Start
>> >> >> > > Menu
>> >> >> > > work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT
>> >> >> > > work
>> >> >> > > when
>> >> >> > > selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder.
>> >> >> > > If
>> >> >> > > I
>> >> >> > > pin
>> >> >> > > any
>> >> >> > > of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't
>> >> >> > > function
>> >> >> > > at
>> >> >> > > all,
>> >> >> > > regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in
>> >> >> > > the
>> >> >> > > Quick
>> >> >> > > Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position
>> >> >> > > on
>> >> >> > > the
>> >> >> > > Start
>> >> >> > > Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user
>> >> >> > > accounts
>> >> >> > > behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have
>> >> >> > > not
>> >> >> > > seen the
>> >> >> > > shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to
>> >> >> > > be
>> >> >> > > proper,
>> >> >> > > anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary
>> >> >> > > accounts,
>> >> >> > > Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user.
>> >> >> > > Nothing
>> >> >> > > fancy.
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A
>> >> >> > > hidden
>> >> >> > > setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion
>> >> >> > > area
>> >> >> > > don't
>> >> >> > > seem
>> >> >> > > to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up
>> >> >> > > with
>> >> >> > > anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing.
>> >> >> > > Have
>> >> >> > > tried a
>> >> >> > > removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system -
>> >> >> > > same
>> >> >> > > result.
>> >> >> > > If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent
>> >> >> > > about
>> >> >> > > it.
>> >> >> > >
>> >> >> > > :\
>> >> >> >
>> >>
>>

That is the dream. It's not a big dream, as dreams go. But it's enough for now.

Have a good one!

"Lang Murphy" wrote:

> Heh, heh, heh... yeah, I don't know if all developer boxes are
> disorganized... I'm sure many are. I do some programming... right now in
> WinBatch but the powers that be want us to move to VB. We don't write full
> apps... mostly utility type configuration apps that are a good fit for WB,
> which almost anyone can get up to speed on pretty quickly if one has any
> experience with programming logic.
>
> I love testing in VM's. Take snapshots (in VMWare... I think VPC has similar
> functionality with an add-on) and if something barfs, roll back to a
> previous snapshot in under a minute without having to take the time to
> rebuild the seat to the state it was in right before it barfed.
>
> Lang
>
> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:ABBE60BE-61A4-4731-8A28-F043C5BA9759@microsoft.com...
> > Yup, that's the plan. I just hope that, when I find the problem, it won't
> > be
> > of the variety that will make me feel compelled to redo the systems I've
> > already configured with Vista. They work very well.
> >
> > My wife has a software development system that really should be
> > reconfigured
> > after the last horrendous crapload of RAD utilities she tested imploded.
> > I'm
> > trying to convince her to let me stick Vista on that box and let her run
> > her
> > development environments within virtual machines -- so that they are easy
> > for
> > her (and, ahem, me) to restore when entropy takes its course.
> >
> > But that will have to wait a few weeks until she finds out about a couple
> > of
> > new projects and the next load of geekware in store for that system.
> >
> > I'm glad I'm a physicist and not a software developer. (Are all
> > developer's
> > machines that -- disorganized?)
> >
> > "Lang Murphy" wrote:
> >
> >> Well... I'd say it would seem most likely to be some software screwup...
> >> if
> >> you're seeing this on multiple machines (read: reproducible) then if you
> >> want to narrow down the problem, start with a clean Vista build, install
> >> Office without OneNote, check for the problem, add OneNote to Office,
> >> check
> >> for the problem, install Visio, check for the problem. That's what I'd
> >> do,
> >> anyway... not that I'm the SME on this type of stuff, but I've had to run
> >> down a few problems in the past.
> >>
> >> Lang
> >>
> >> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:B39F7AFE-B208-440F-A99D-08636FEE616F@microsoft.com...
> >> > Some day, when I have a few hours to burn, or when I don't have the
> >> > time
> >> > but
> >> > opportunity knocks, I'll look at this again to see if I can figure out
> >> > just
> >> > what was going on. But the arrangement I have here is just fine -- only
> >> > requiring a little adaptation in the way I do a few things with respect
> >> > to
> >> > opening a few specific documents.
> >> >
> >> > Can't say that the Vista / Office 2007 experience has been negative
> >> > overall.
> >> > Pretty good software all around. I really can't believe how smoothly
> >> > and
> >> > quickly everything works. I'm running it on a couple of notebook
> >> > computers --
> >> > one of them a pretty high end Dell Precision model with a couple of
> >> > gigs
> >> > of
> >> > RAM from a couple of years ago and the other a Panasonic R3
> >> > (ultra-portable).
> >> > The Panny has Intel integrated video, so it doesn't get to use Aero
> >> > Glass.
> >> > The OS and other software look great on both computers, and everything
> >> > (including boot and shutdown) is quick and responsive.
> >> >
> >> > But someone, either Microsoft or myself, screwed up a little on those
> >> > shortcuts.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Lang Murphy" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Yeah, sometimes you just have to file stuff away in the Weird Folder
> >> >> and
> >> >> move on...
> >> >>
> >> >> Lang
> >> >>
> >> >> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> news:9A11FE85-E551-4EBD-873D-B3C88598AA4E@microsoft.com...
> >> >> > Aw, heck. I got tired of fiddling around with this. Life is too
> >> >> > danged
> >> >> > short
> >> >> > to worry about something like this. Pretty much everything else I'm
> >> >> > using
> >> >> > in
> >> >> > Office and Vista is working fine. Life is good.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > So I blew away the stupid "Microsoft Office blah blah" shortcuts and
> >> >> > just
> >> >> > created my own shortcuts to the executables. All of those work just
> >> >> > fine --
> >> >> > with pin/unpin to start menu and with the start menu search
> >> >> > function.
> >> >> > I'll
> >> >> > just have to do without the Open and New shortcuts.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > And, by the way, I did have to blow away the Microsoft shortcuts
> >> >> > because
> >> >> > their presence in the Start Menu folders prevented the search
> >> >> > function
> >> >> > from
> >> >> > finding the working versions. Yes, that's right. Say, for instance,
> >> >> > I
> >> >> > typed
> >> >> > "exc.." in the start menu search. The Microsoft Office Excel
> >> >> > shortcut
> >> >> > would
> >> >> > get selected (despite the Excel one I created being pinned to the
> >> >> > start
> >> >> > menu
> >> >> > AND ahead of it in the Microsoft Office folder, and hitting Enter
> >> >> > would
> >> >> > still
> >> >> > get me nada.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Weird. Weird. Weird.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > "jimmuh" wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> Hmmm. I guess I should have been more explicit about what I'm
> >> >> >> trying
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> accomplish.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Yes, I can create new shortcuts directly to the actual executables
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\". I've created those
> >> >> >> shortcuts
> >> >> >> directly on the Desktop and dragged them into
> >> >> >> "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\", and those
> >> >> >> shortcuts,
> >> >> >> in turn, do behave "properly" when pinned to the start menu.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> But what I'm wondering about is why the special type of link that
> >> >> >> Microsoft
> >> >> >> creates for the Office apps with the installation procedure won't
> >> >> >> work
> >> >> >> this
> >> >> >> way? Could this be by design, as a result of some specific setting?
> >> >> >> It
> >> >> >> wouldn't seem to make any sense. I'm pursuing this because I want
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> be
> >> >> >> sure
> >> >> >> that there's not some issue with the way I'm preparing these
> >> >> >> systems.
> >> >> >> I
> >> >> >> don't
> >> >> >> want to be breaking stuff. Particularly since I would really prefer
> >> >> >> using
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office
> >> >> >> Document"
> >> >> >> shortcuts, and I don't think there's a direct executable I can link
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> create
> >> >> >> regular shortcuts for those functions. At least I haven't found any
> >> >> >> way
> >> >> >> to do
> >> >> >> it.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> A few additional observations about my system.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> 1. You'll notice I said that I create shortcuts to the Microsoft
> >> >> >> apps
> >> >> >> on
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> Desktop and then place them under the Programs folder. The reason I
> >> >> >> do
> >> >> >> it
> >> >> >> that way is that Explorer doesn't seem to want me to create
> >> >> >> shortcuts
> >> >> >> directly within the start menu location. The option to create a new
> >> >> >> folder is
> >> >> >> there, but no option to create a new shortcut. This goes for both
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> Organize menu and the right-click context menu. Design, or symptom
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> a
> >> >> >> problem on these systems I'm preparing? All Vista systems I've seen
> >> >> >> have
> >> >> >> been
> >> >> >> this way. (Of course I'm the one who prepared them, so who
> >> >> >> knows...)
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> 2. When I look at the "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu"
> >> >> >> I
> >> >> >> see
> >> >> >> "Open Microsoft Office Document" and "New Microsoft Office
> >> >> >> Document"
> >> >> >> shortcuts already there that are NOT being displayed on the top
> >> >> >> level
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> start menu. When I look in "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
> >> >> >> Menu\Programs\" I do NOT see those two shortcuts, but both of those
> >> >> >> shortcuts
> >> >> >> are displayed AT THAT LEVEL of the Start Menu! Again, I'm asking
> >> >> >> myself
> >> >> >> if
> >> >> >> this is by design or if it is a symptom of an issue with the way
> >> >> >> these
> >> >> >> systems were prepared. If it is by design -- putting the shortcuts
> >> >> >> in
> >> >> >> one
> >> >> >> physical location in the file structure but showing them in a
> >> >> >> non-corresponding organizational location in the Start Menu -- then
> >> >> >> I
> >> >> >> think
> >> >> >> that's kind of a wacky thing for Microsoft to do. And way out of
> >> >> >> keeping
> >> >> >> with
> >> >> >> the rather decent organizational approach I think they have taken
> >> >> >> toward
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> UI in this operating system.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I'd appreciate further communication from anyone who's in the least
> >> >> >> bit
> >> >> >> interested because my foray into solving this little conundrum
> >> >> >> hasn't
> >> >> >> been
> >> >> >> getting anywhere.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Thanks.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> "Lang Murphy" wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> > Have you tried deleting the shortcuts and recreating your own?
> >> >> >> > I'm
> >> >> >> > running
> >> >> >> > O2007 Beta on Vista RTM and not having those types of problems,
> >> >> >> > but
> >> >> >> > I
> >> >> >> > don't
> >> >> >> > have Visio or OneNote installed. Have you tried installing O2007,
> >> >> >> > checking
> >> >> >> > to see if the problem exists, install Visio, check the problem,
> >> >> >> > install
> >> >> >> > OneNote, check the problem?
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > Lang
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> >> > news:ED24F098-EEE5-43F3-AD04-30B3F6C664A7@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >> > > I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions,
> >> >> >> > > but
> >> >> >> > > we
> >> >> >> > > haven't
> >> >> >> > > got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > > http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > > I'll restate as briefly as possible:
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > > Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007,
> >> >> >> > > Office
> >> >> >> > > Visio
> >> >> >> > > Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete
> >> >> >> > > install
> >> >> >> > > was
> >> >> >> > > used
> >> >> >> > > for each of the Office applications.
> >> >> >> > >
> >> >> >> > > The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in
> >> >> >> > > the
> >> >> >> > > Start
> >> >> >> > > Menu
> >> >> >> > > work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT
> >> >> >> > > work
> >> >> >> > > when
> >> >> >> > > selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder.
> >> >> >> > > If
> >> >> >> > > I
> >> >> >> > > pin
> >> >> >> > > any
> >> >> >> > > of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't
> >> >> >> > > function
> >> >> >> > > at
> >> >> >> > > all,
> >> >> >> > > regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in
> >> >> >> > > the

I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of my
work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
with Visio and One Note installed.

I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who installs
this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!

I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET development
right now. Cheers.

Mark Lindell

"jimmuh" wrote:

> I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we haven't
> got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
>
> I'll restate as briefly as possible:
>
> Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office Visio
> Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was used
> for each of the Office applications.
>
> The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start Menu
> work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
> selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin any
> of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at all,
> regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
> Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the Start
> Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
> behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen the
> shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
> anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
>
> Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
> Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing fancy.
>
> Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
> setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't seem
> to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
> anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
> removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same result.
> If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
>
> :\

Hi, Mark. Thanks for the information. I've been too busy to go into it any
further. I suppose it really might be an issue for some folks, but possibly
only a minor annoyance for most who would install Office + Visio + OneNote.
Not the average crowd, I suppose.

I'm keeping tabls and will post back if I ever get the ambition and time to
look into it any further. I hope you'll do the same.

Regards,
Jim

"Mark Lindell" wrote:

> I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of my
> work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
> minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
> with Visio and One Note installed.
>
> I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
> shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who installs
> this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!
>
> I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET development
> right now. Cheers.
>
> Mark Lindell
>
> "jimmuh" wrote:
>
> > I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we haven't
> > got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
> >
> > http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
> >
> > I'll restate as briefly as possible:
> >
> > Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office Visio
> > Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was used
> > for each of the Office applications.
> >
> > The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start Menu
> > work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
> > selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin any
> > of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at all,
> > regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
> > Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the Start
> > Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
> > behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen the
> > shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
> > anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
> >
> > Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
> > Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing fancy.
> >
> > Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
> > setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't seem
> > to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
> > anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
> > removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same result.
> > If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
> >
> > :\

Maybe the folders where the executables are stored have not been indexed
yet. Have you tried seaching using the Program Files folder shortcut name
such as WINWORD, EXCEL, PPT, MSACCESS?
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Mark Lindell" <MarkLindell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B8E27C10-A754-4AF1-937A-1497A0BBB46A@microsoft.com...
>I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of
>my
> work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
> minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
> with Visio and One Note installed.
>
> I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
> shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who
> installs
> this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!
>
> I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET
> development
> right now. Cheers.
>
> Mark Lindell
>
> "jimmuh" wrote:
>
>> I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we
>> haven't
>> got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
>>
>> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
>>
>> I'll restate as briefly as possible:
>>
>> Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office
>> Visio
>> Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was
>> used
>> for each of the Office applications.
>>
>> The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start
>> Menu
>> work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
>> selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin
>> any
>> of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at
>> all,
>> regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
>> Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the
>> Start
>> Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
>> behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen
>> the
>> shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
>> anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
>>
>> Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
>> Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing
>> fancy.
>>
>> Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
>> setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't
>> seem
>> to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
>> anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
>> removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same
>> result.
>> If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
>>
>> :\

In the case of the machines on which I saw this problem, indexing (or lack
thereof) was not the issue. In fact, the problem was that the shortcuts WERE
found when I started typing. I say they were FOUND -- but they would not
LAUNCH through the search system. (In other words, they were highlighted, but
hitting the Enter key resulted in nada.) After I created replacement
shortcuts the original shortcuts actually had to be deleted so that they
wouldn't pop up first in the start menu search list and force me to
down-arrow to get to a shortcut that would actually start the software! And,
of course, the two general shortcuts for Open and New didn't work at all
through the search function. However, they all worked as expected (in their
original positions) when found by mouse and clicked. Pin them to the top
level of the start menu or put them in Quick Launch, and they wouldn't work
at all -- even by mouse click. Stick them on the desktop, and they worked.
Weird, eh?

Anyway, I "fixed" the issue on my test machines because we had to get on
with the business of using those systems. They show no other strange
behaviors during some thorough wringing out, so I have to think the issue was
pretty much limited to some kind of effect upon those specific shortcuts.
Absolutely no other applications (including other MS apps) were affected in
this manner.

"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:

> Maybe the folders where the executables are stored have not been indexed
> yet. Have you tried seaching using the Program Files folder shortcut name
> such as WINWORD, EXCEL, PPT, MSACCESS?
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "Mark Lindell" <MarkLindell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:B8E27C10-A754-4AF1-937A-1497A0BBB46A@microsoft.com...
> >I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of
> >my
> > work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
> > minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
> > with Visio and One Note installed.
> >
> > I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
> > shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who
> > installs
> > this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!
> >
> > I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET
> > development
> > right now. Cheers.
> >
> > Mark Lindell
> >
> > "jimmuh" wrote:
> >
> >> I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we
> >> haven't
> >> got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
> >>
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
> >>
> >> I'll restate as briefly as possible:
> >>
> >> Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office
> >> Visio
> >> Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was
> >> used
> >> for each of the Office applications.
> >>
> >> The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start
> >> Menu
> >> work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
> >> selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin
> >> any
> >> of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at
> >> all,
> >> regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
> >> Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the
> >> Start
> >> Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
> >> behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen
> >> the
> >> shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
> >> anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
> >>
> >> Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
> >> Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing
> >> fancy.
> >>
> >> Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
> >> setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't
> >> seem
> >> to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
> >> anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
> >> removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same
> >> result.
> >> If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
> >>
> >> :\
>
>
>

This probably doesn't have anything to do with your
problem, but since you've tried everything else.
Have you used a registry tweak/program to remove the shortcut
arrows on your desktop icons? For some, myself included,
that tweak in Vista has caused a few weird things to happen.

Just a thought.

-Michael


"jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AC53C31A-60D3-4010-934F-994F0BF63B10@microsoft.com...
> In the case of the machines on which I saw this problem, indexing (or lack
> thereof) was not the issue. In fact, the problem was that the shortcuts WERE
> found when I started typing. I say they were FOUND -- but they would not
> LAUNCH through the search system. (In other words, they were highlighted, but
> hitting the Enter key resulted in nada.) After I created replacement
> shortcuts the original shortcuts actually had to be deleted so that they
> wouldn't pop up first in the start menu search list and force me to
> down-arrow to get to a shortcut that would actually start the software! And,
> of course, the two general shortcuts for Open and New didn't work at all
> through the search function. However, they all worked as expected (in their
> original positions) when found by mouse and clicked. Pin them to the top
> level of the start menu or put them in Quick Launch, and they wouldn't work
> at all -- even by mouse click. Stick them on the desktop, and they worked.
> Weird, eh?
>
> Anyway, I "fixed" the issue on my test machines because we had to get on
> with the business of using those systems. They show no other strange
> behaviors during some thorough wringing out, so I have to think the issue was
> pretty much limited to some kind of effect upon those specific shortcuts.
> Absolutely no other applications (including other MS apps) were affected in
> this manner.
>
> "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
>
>> Maybe the folders where the executables are stored have not been indexed
>> yet. Have you tried seaching using the Program Files folder shortcut name
>> such as WINWORD, EXCEL, PPT, MSACCESS?
>> --
>> Andre
>> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
>> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
>> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>> "Mark Lindell" <MarkLindell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:B8E27C10-A754-4AF1-937A-1497A0BBB46A@microsoft.com...
>> >I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of
>> >my
>> > work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
>> > minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
>> > with Visio and One Note installed.
>> >
>> > I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
>> > shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who
>> > installs
>> > this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!
>> >
>> > I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET
>> > development
>> > right now. Cheers.
>> >
>> > Mark Lindell
>> >
>> > "jimmuh" wrote:
>> >
>> >> I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we
>> >> haven't
>> >> got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
>> >>
>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
>> >>
>> >> I'll restate as briefly as possible:
>> >>
>> >> Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office
>> >> Visio
>> >> Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was
>> >> used
>> >> for each of the Office applications.
>> >>
>> >> The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start
>> >> Menu
>> >> work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
>> >> selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin
>> >> any
>> >> of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at
>> >> all,
>> >> regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
>> >> Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the
>> >> Start
>> >> Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
>> >> behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen
>> >> the
>> >> shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
>> >> anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
>> >>
>> >> Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
>> >> Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing
>> >> fancy.
>> >>
>> >> Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
>> >> setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't
>> >> seem
>> >> to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
>> >> anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
>> >> removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same
>> >> result.
>> >> If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
>> >>
>> >> :\
>>
>>
>>

These were stone cold standard installations of Office 2007 apps on Vista
Business RTM. No fiddling with registry, and only minor changes to group
policy editor to change the login to require Ctrl-Alt-Del and to NOT show
previous user name on the login screen. These are for testing to prepare for
rollout of Vista and Office 2007 over a small division so we're not doing
weird things with them like customizing them the way a home user might. And
these are not the types of shortcuts that have arrows on them in the first
place. They are the "special" shortcuts that the MS installer creates when
Office is installed.

Just to satisfy my personal curiosity, why is it that so many people have an
issue with the little shortcut arrows? Is it just aesthetics, or is there
some other reason for people wanting to be rid of them? I remember this was
an option with the TweakUI PowerToy (and earlier versions of TweakUI, I
think).





"MICHAEL" wrote:

> This probably doesn't have anything to do with your
> problem, but since you've tried everything else.
> Have you used a registry tweak/program to remove the shortcut
> arrows on your desktop icons? For some, myself included,
> that tweak in Vista has caused a few weird things to happen.
>
> Just a thought.
>
> -Michael
>
>
> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AC53C31A-60D3-4010-934F-994F0BF63B10@microsoft.com...
> > In the case of the machines on which I saw this problem, indexing (or lack
> > thereof) was not the issue. In fact, the problem was that the shortcuts WERE
> > found when I started typing. I say they were FOUND -- but they would not
> > LAUNCH through the search system. (In other words, they were highlighted, but
> > hitting the Enter key resulted in nada.) After I created replacement
> > shortcuts the original shortcuts actually had to be deleted so that they
> > wouldn't pop up first in the start menu search list and force me to
> > down-arrow to get to a shortcut that would actually start the software! And,
> > of course, the two general shortcuts for Open and New didn't work at all
> > through the search function. However, they all worked as expected (in their
> > original positions) when found by mouse and clicked. Pin them to the top
> > level of the start menu or put them in Quick Launch, and they wouldn't work
> > at all -- even by mouse click. Stick them on the desktop, and they worked.
> > Weird, eh?
> >
> > Anyway, I "fixed" the issue on my test machines because we had to get on
> > with the business of using those systems. They show no other strange
> > behaviors during some thorough wringing out, so I have to think the issue was
> > pretty much limited to some kind of effect upon those specific shortcuts.
> > Absolutely no other applications (including other MS apps) were affected in
> > this manner.
> >
> > "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:
> >
> >> Maybe the folders where the executables are stored have not been indexed
> >> yet. Have you tried seaching using the Program Files folder shortcut name
> >> such as WINWORD, EXCEL, PPT, MSACCESS?
> >> --
> >> Andre
> >> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> >> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> >> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> >> "Mark Lindell" <MarkLindell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:B8E27C10-A754-4AF1-937A-1497A0BBB46A@microsoft.com...
> >> >I just wanted to let you know that I am having the same problem on one of
> >> >my
> >> > work machine. I too have not had the time to dive into it as it seems so
> >> > minor. I'm not sure when it started happening but I also have Office 2007
> >> > with Visio and One Note installed.
> >> >
> >> > I think this is a real issue as some people have no clue how to create
> >> > shortcuts as you did and add them to the start menu. The newbie who
> >> > installs
> >> > this stuff out of the box is going to be stumped!
> >> >
> >> > I may look at this more when I get a chance. Too busy with .NET
> >> > development
> >> > right now. Cheers.
> >> >
> >> > Mark Lindell
> >> >
> >> > "jimmuh" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> I've posted about this issue under Office General Questions, but we
> >> >> haven't
> >> >> got very far with it. Location of that discussion --
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.microsoft.com/communities...xp=&sloc=en-us
> >> >>
> >> >> I'll restate as briefly as possible:
> >> >>
> >> >> Systems are running Vista Business, Office Professional 2007, Office
> >> >> Visio
> >> >> Professional 2007, Office OneNote 2007 -- all RTM. Complete install was
> >> >> used
> >> >> for each of the Office applications.
> >> >>
> >> >> The Office shortcuts produced by the installation process in the Start
> >> >> Menu
> >> >> work fine when selected by mouse or by arrow keys. The do NOT work when
> >> >> selected with the Start Menu search function. It gets weirder. If I pin
> >> >> any
> >> >> of these shortcuts to the Start Menu's top level, they don't function at
> >> >> all,
> >> >> regardless of how they are selected. Same for placing them in the Quick
> >> >> Launch toolbar. Drag them from their non-functioning position on the
> >> >> Start
> >> >> Menu or in Quick Launch to the Desktop, and they work. All user accounts
> >> >> behave the same. I have seen this now on five systems. I have not seen
> >> >> the
> >> >> shortcuts behave properly (or in a manner that I would deem to be proper,
> >> >> anyway) on a single machine with this combination of software.
> >> >>
> >> >> Systems are configured very much alike -- using renamed primary accounts,
> >> >> Ctrl-Alt-Del required to log in, not showing last logged user. Nothing
> >> >> fancy.
> >> >>
> >> >> Am I doing something wrong / dumb? Is there a fix for this? A hidden
> >> >> setting? An obvious setting? Folks in the Office discussion area don't
> >> >> seem
> >> >> to be coming up with anything. I'm most CERTAINLY not coming up with
> >> >> anything. Have tried Office diagnostics / repair - nothing. Have tried a
> >> >> removal then reinstallation of the applications on one system - same
> >> >> result.
> >> >> If I'm doing something dumb, at least I'm being consistent about it.
> >> >>
> >> >> :\
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>