a few days ago i'v used combofix to check and see if there is problems with viruses and etc it seem to be that some hidden folders like programdata were no longer hidden after that any way i hide them again then i discoverd that most shortcuts in my start menu were gone after some inquaieris and a system restore i discoverd that if i hide programdata and all it's content and subdirectories the shortcuts vanise from start menu so why do i have a start menu folder in my folder and why does this happne?thanks in advance.

The Start Menu folder in your user profile contains shortcuts for programs that only you can access (when you install compatible software, you should see a choice for "Install for All Users" versus "Just Me").The folder is required for Windows to work properly.__If this is helpful, please vote. If it resolves your issue, please Propose as Answer. Thanks!

yeah but i'm the only user in this computer and i don't think i ever chose just me i always choose install for all users so why does most of my thing are in programdata and what is it doing there in the first place and not in users folder all users or something like this this windows has many suprises i can see.

yeah but i'm the only user in this computer and i don't think i ever chose just me i always choose install for all users so why does most of my thing are in programdata and what is it doing there in the first place and not in users folder all users or something like this this windows has many suprises i can see. Hi aviramofThe ProgramData folder in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is the new name for the folder that was called All Users in Windows XP. When you install a program a link is automatically placed in your users Start Menu/Programs folder and when you select to make the program available for all users, a link is also placed in the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder.Hope this helps.Thank You for using Windows 7 Ronnie Vernon MVP

Correct. Actually aviramof, Windows has had a separate Start Menu folder for user vs. all users since Windows NT over 14 years ago... it's not a new surprise... I think you just noticed it for the first time. If this was helpful, please vote. If it solves the issue, please click Propose as Answer. Thanks!

the new programdata folder is something new maybe vista had it too i don't know i never used vista for long time any way and i do know about the separate Start Menu folder for user vs. all users the strange thing is that 7 has a user folder and all users folder and the programdata folder basicly windows 7 has a lot of folders and shortcuts and it shouldn't be like this it's too messey this way.