Vista Start Menu Handling of Special Office Shortcuts

I think most don't like shortcut arrows for aesthetic reasons.
Especially, with Vista- the icons are so pretty. :-)

I am surprised that after all these years Microsoft hasn't made
a setting so that users could remove those arrows. Lots of folks
don't like them.

-Michael

"jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:211CFB1C-331F-4B02-818A-8066E9DA5A03@microsoft.com...
> 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.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> :\
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

Okay, well, I can understand that. I mean, why make the UI so customizable if
you aren't going to give the user the ability to deal with the minutiae?
These GUIs tend to turn all of us into interior decorators.

Now I'm from a generation that appreciated arrows. I was the first kid on my
block with one of those arrow-through-the-head cowboy hats. And I do mean the
first time around for that very old gag. Later on they had them without the
cowboy hat, and then, about 20 years after that, Stever Martin showed up
wearing one of them on SNL. Ah...the classics!

;-)

"MICHAEL" wrote:

> I think most don't like shortcut arrows for aesthetic reasons.
> Especially, with Vista- the icons are so pretty. :-)
>
> I am surprised that after all these years Microsoft hasn't made
> a setting so that users could remove those arrows. Lots of folks
> don't like them.
>
> -Michael
>
> "jimmuh" <jimmuh@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:211CFB1C-331F-4B02-818A-8066E9DA5A03@microsoft.com...
> > 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.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> :\
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

"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.
> >
> > :\

OK, It's been quite some time since this post was originally made, but I'd
like to chalk up another occurrence of this problem. I have the Office 2007
Pro OEM version installed and had no issues with the pin menu for a good 8
months on my Vista Pro machine. I am only guessing, but it appears my Office
Apps stopped working from the pin menu when I had switched off UAC option to
install an app and then re-enabled it. I have tried created shortcuts of the
apps to the desktop and then pin these shortcuts to the start menu and this
didn't solve anything. The original links in teh Start menu->All Programs to
the office applications appear to work. I'm hoping SP1 fixes these issues

The Vista Start Menu is not a stark difference from XPs Start Menu, its just
more functional. Pinning shortcuts to the Start Menu left side, works just
the same.

Click All Programs > click to Expand the Microsoft Office group > right the
desired application and click 'Pin to Start menu'.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Jim B" <Jim B@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6043EF5E-B1BC-4EA1-AB17-493EE5031FCE@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "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.
>> >
>> > :\
>
> OK, It's been quite some time since this post was originally made, but I'd
> like to chalk up another occurrence of this problem. I have the Office
> 2007
> Pro OEM version installed and had no issues with the pin menu for a good 8
> months on my Vista Pro machine. I am only guessing, but it appears my
> Office
> Apps stopped working from the pin menu when I had switched off UAC option
> to
> install an app and then re-enabled it. I have tried created shortcuts of
> the
> apps to the desktop and then pin these shortcuts to the start menu and
> this
> didn't solve anything. The original links in teh Start menu->All Programs
> to
> the office applications appear to work. I'm hoping SP1 fixes these issues

Hi, Andre.

Yes, that's the way it is supposed to work. But back in Nov.-Dec of last
year running Vista Business RTM on two VERY differently configured systems, I
saw and reported the problem. There was no difficulty in pinning the
shortcuts to the Start Menu. They just didn't work!

Brief summary:

Install Vista.
Install Office.
Pin shortcuts to Start Menu.
Try to use shortcuts.
Shortcuts don't work.

In addition to this, the shortcuts could not be called with the start menu
search function. In other words, on a properly functioning system you would
type

open

and hit the Enter key, and the Open Microsoft Office Document function would
occur, bringing up an Explorer dialog for finding and opening the file.
Didn't happen on these machines.

The ONLY way to get any kind of functioning Office application shortcut on
the start menu on these two systems was to create shortcuts directly to the
executables and pin those to the start menu.

I finally reinstalled the OS on both systems and did NOT see the problem
again. These were both installed in the same manner as before, the only
difference being a larger number of updates being installed right after the
OS installation. I have no idea whether or not that has anything to do with
the better behavior.

Jim B: I don't know whether or not UAC has anything to do with this. UAC was
NEVER turned off on the systems I talked about. I wanted to test the OS in a
fully functioning state. Likewise, I've deliberately avoided installing
anything that requires workarounds on both systems. I have to say that they
both work very well -- especially now that the reinstallation has made all of
the Office shortcuts perform propoerly.

Oh, and I also saw this shortcut issue on some test boxes at work, too. Very
strange. Don't see it any more on new installations, and there have been a
number. Whether I and the other folks doing the installations have
unconsciously changed something in the installation / configuration
procedures or whether one of Microsoft's updates is responsible for the
elimination of the problem -- I can't figure.

"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" wrote:

> The Vista Start Menu is not a stark difference from XPs Start Menu, its just
> more functional. Pinning shortcuts to the Start Menu left side, works just
> the same.
>
> Click All Programs > click to Expand the Microsoft Office group > right the
> desired application and click 'Pin to Start menu'.
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "Jim B" <Jim B@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6043EF5E-B1BC-4EA1-AB17-493EE5031FCE@microsoft.com...
> >
> >
> > "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.
> >> >
> >> > :\
> >
> > OK, It's been quite some time since this post was originally made, but I'd
> > like to chalk up another occurrence of this problem. I have the Office
> > 2007
> > Pro OEM version installed and had no issues with the pin menu for a good 8
> > months on my Vista Pro machine. I am only guessing, but it appears my
> > Office
> > Apps stopped working from the pin menu when I had switched off UAC option
> > to
> > install an app and then re-enabled it. I have tried created shortcuts of
> > the
> > apps to the desktop and then pin these shortcuts to the start menu and
> > this
> > didn't solve anything. The original links in teh Start menu->All Programs
> > to
> > the office applications appear to work. I'm hoping SP1 fixes these issues
>
>
>

I have the same problem right now. Everything was working fine but for some
reason now the shortcuts within the quick launch and start menu don't work at
all. You click them and there's no change to anything.
Would appreciate a solution.
Steve

"jimmuh" wrote:
> Hi, Andre.
> Yes, that's the way it is supposed to work. But back in Nov.-Dec of last
> year running Vista Business RTM on two VERY differently configured systems, I
> saw and reported the problem. There was no difficulty in pinning the
> shortcuts to the Start Menu. They just didn't work!
> Brief summary:
etc.

The only solution I know of is to delete the shortcuts that were installed by
the Office installation routine and create your own.

Tell me, did you perform complete Windows updates BEFORE installing Office?

"Steve" wrote:

> I have the same problem right now. Everything was working fine but for some
> reason now the shortcuts within the quick launch and start menu don't work at
> all. You click them and there's no change to anything.
> Would appreciate a solution.
> Steve
>
> "jimmuh" wrote:
> > Hi, Andre.
> > Yes, that's the way it is supposed to work. But back in Nov.-Dec of last
> > year running Vista Business RTM on two VERY differently configured systems, I
> > saw and reported the problem. There was no difficulty in pinning the
> > shortcuts to the Start Menu. They just didn't work!
> > Brief summary:
> etc.

No I did not. I install them selectively.

The only recent change of note to my system was installation of new
protection software Telus EProtect (firewall, virus scan, etc).
Steve

"jimmuh" wrote:
> The only solution I know of is to delete the shortcuts that were installed by
> the Office installation routine and create your own.
> Tell me, did you perform complete Windows updates BEFORE installing Office?

I'm afraid I have never seen what I considered to be a decent explanation of
how / why this phenomenon could occur.

I can only offer my anecdotal evidence, which is this --

On some of the systems that had this problem I installed Vista, then Office,
then updates. On some other systems that had the problem. I installed Vista,
performed updating, then installed Office. I generally tend to install ALL
applicable updates to the OS before adding anything else to the system. Any
system on which I have followed this pattern since the April-May time frame
has NOT had the problem.

I suspect there's an update to Vista which needs to be in place BEFORE
Office 2007 gets installed if this problem with the Office shortcuts is to be
avoided. But attempting any type of reasonable proof of this to be true would
require a great deal of time and effort.

I'm sorry I don't have something more concrete for you.

"Steve" wrote:

> No I did not. I install them selectively.
>
> The only recent change of note to my system was installation of new
> protection software Telus EProtect (firewall, virus scan, etc).
> Steve
>
> "jimmuh" wrote:
> > The only solution I know of is to delete the shortcuts that were installed by
> > the Office installation routine and create your own.
> > Tell me, did you perform complete Windows updates BEFORE installing Office?
>

Jim,

Try "Method 2" here:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
Ignore the article title/description.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Jim B" <Jim B@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6043EF5E-B1BC-4EA1-AB17-493EE5031FCE@microsoft.com...


"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.
> >
> > :\

OK, It's been quite some time since this post was originally made, but I'd
like to chalk up another occurrence of this problem. I have the Office 2007
Pro OEM version installed and had no issues with the pin menu for a good 8
months on my Vista Pro machine. I am only guessing, but it appears my Office
Apps stopped working from the pin menu when I had switched off UAC option to
install an app and then re-enabled it. I have tried created shortcuts of the
apps to the desktop and then pin these shortcuts to the start menu and this
didn't solve anything. The original links in teh Start menu->All Programs to
the office applications appear to work. I'm hoping SP1 fixes these issues