Favorites Menu is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu

June 21, 2007 15 Comments

Windows XP Favorites menu is missing from the Start Menu and is also missing when you try to customize the Start Menu using the Taskbar and Start Menu applet in the Control Panel. The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user accounts settings. The Group Policy for Remove Favorites Menu from Start Menu will cause the Favorites menu to be restricted/disabled (removed) from Start Menu when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Favorites menu can be removed from the Start Menu by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Favorites menu is missing from the Start Menu and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.
Favorites Menu Missing – Start Menu
Favorites Menu – Start Menu
Favorites Menu Option Missing – Taskbar and Start Menu Properties
Favorites Menu Option – Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from “Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry“.

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

  5. Double-click Remove Favorites Menu from Start Menu.
  6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If Favorites menu is restricted/disabled (missing) from the Start Menu on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Navigate to:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  5. Right-click NoFavoritesMenu to select Modify.
  6. Change the value to 0.
  7. Navigate to:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  8. Right-click NoFavoritesMenu to select Modify.
  9. Change the value to 0.
  10. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG ADD

  1. Open a Command Window.
  2. Type:

    REG ADD “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” /v NoFavoritesMenu /t REG_DWORD /d 0

  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Type:

    REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” /v NoFavoritesMenu /t REG_DWORD /d 0

  5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

  1. Download FvrtsMn.Allow.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Right-click FvrtsMn.Allow.reg to select Merge.
  3. Now the registration entries are added for you.

NOTES

The FvrtsMn.Allow.reg file is from my web server (lprf.homeserver.com). You also can view the contents of the FvrtsMn.Allow.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP Editions
Related Articles

Version 1.12
Edited: May 9, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Fixes Tagged with , , , , ,

Programs Menu for All Users Profile is Missing from the Start Menu – Start Menu

June 21, 2007 15 Comments

When opening the Start Menu in Windows XP the All Programs menu may not show all the installed Programs as expected when the Program’s executable shortcut is stored in the All Users profile (C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu). The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account’s settings. The Group Policy for Remove common program groups from Start Menu will cause the All Users profile Start Menu to be restricted (not shown) on the Start Menu when this Group Policy is enabled. Refer to Images below.
Common Programs Removed
Common Programs Shown

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, if the All Users profile Start Menu is restricted (not shown) on the Start Menu can be enforced by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the All Users profile Start Menu is restricted (not shown) on the Start Menu then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

  5. Double-click Remove common program groups from Start Menu.
  6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If the All Users profile Start Menu is restricted (not shown) on the Start Menu on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

  1. Click Start and then Run.
  2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Navigate to:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  5. Right-click NoCommonGroups to select Modify.
  6. Change the value to 0.
  7. Navigate to:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  8. Right-click NoCommonGroups to select Modify.
  9. Change the value to 0.
  10. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG ADD

  1. Open a Command Window.
  2. Type:

    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoCommonGroups /t REG_DWORD /d 0

  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Type:

    REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoCommonGroups /t REG_DWORD /d 0

  5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

  1. Download CmmnGrp.Show.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Right-click CmmnGrp.Show.reg to select Merge.
  3. Now the registration entries are added for you.

NOTES

The CmmnGrp.Show.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com). You also can view the contents of the CmmnGrp.Show.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows XP Editions
Related Articles

Version: 1.5
Edited: May 9, 2012

Filed under Windows XP, Windows XP Fixes Tagged with , , , , , ,