unable to change names of start menu items
i am unable to change the names of items in the start menu that are part of the windows installation (eg windows media center). when i attempt to do so, the name then reverts back to what it was originally. i am able to change the names of any links i have created. explain please. is this a bug or was it planned. it certainly is not this way in xp and previous versions. (i haven't used vista enough to know).thanks.
August 17th, 2009 3:49am

gbr - Exactly which items do you mean? Do you mean the icons on the left - the frequently used programs section? Or do you mean the stuff on the right - like Documents, Pictures, Videos, Games, Computer, Control Panel and so forth?
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August 17th, 2009 4:04am

on the left. eg calculator, event viewer, media player etc.
August 17th, 2009 6:37am

why do you pick the background you do, why do you pick the fonts you do, which gizmos fdo you use etc etc. it's an issue of customizing the appearance of your system to suit you. i think of customizing the start menu to be comfortable to me as one of the most productive things i do when installing windows. i personally change the wording and capitalization to suit my style. every version of windows nt (recall that win 7 is v8 of nt) back to the 1st allowed the user to change the name of almost anything on the start menu.
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August 17th, 2009 7:44am

Firstly, we should make sure you are the administrator on the computer and have the full control of the whole computer. We can follow the below two methods to change the name of the programs: Method 1: Change it from Start Menu in left panel directly ================================ Such as Windows Media Player Click Start Right Click on Windows Media Player, choose Properties Click General tab, type the name which you want to named into the box after the icon Click Apply or OK button After changing the name, we should type the new name of the Windows Media Player and then right click on the icon and choose Pin to Start Menu Method 2: Change it from Start->All Programs ================================ Such as Windows Media Player Click Start->All Programs Right Click on Windows Media Player, choose Rename Type the name which you want to named into the box Click Enter After changing the name, please access Start->All Programs and find the Windows Media Player, right click on the icon and choose Pin to Start Menu. If you want to change the Calculator name, please access Start->All Programs->Accessories to find the Calculator and then rename it. We also should Pin it to Start Menu after changing the name.I hopethe above information can help you.
August 18th, 2009 12:11pm

i appreciate the attempt but all of the suggestions made were of no use. i am still interested in the question and will try again. any item in the start menu (ie c:\program date\microsoft\windows\start menu\programs and so forth) if i rename it will immediately revert to the previous name IF it is a link created by the win7 installation. this is not only true in place in the start menu but using any file manager program i use to access the *.lnk file and try to rename it. curiously if i rename the file in a dos/cmd window the dir command will show the new name even though the start menu does not (i've only tried this twice and not fully explored it, it's a lot of cd command to get there!). i am running win7 with admin priveleges and have full control in security settings. if i install a new program, there's no problem. also if i, for example, want to rename the "Computer Management" link it won't work. however, if i drag compmgmt.msc out to the desktop and "create shortcut here" i can name the *.lnk anything i want before or after i move it to the start menu. any explanation? it was easier with xp and before! thanks.
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September 5th, 2009 9:22pm

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