60. Re-insert Deleted Application Shortcuts In All Programs Menu

Important Question! Can your PC Run Faster?

Having recently opened the Windows Start Menu and clicked on All Programs we noticed that an application we needed to launch was actually missing from the All Programs menu. Maybe we inadvertently deleted it, no one will ever know; all we do know is that it wasn't there when we needed it. Fortunately, for us, it was a simple matter to type the application name in the Start Menu search box and then click on the application file name that appeared in the search results to actually launch the application.

While launching the application from the Start Menu search box was useful it was still not as convenient as simply opening the All Programs menu and clicking on the relevant application shortcut. So how do you go about replacing the missing application shortcut in the All Programs menu? Well the problem is not as hard to remedy as you initially think.

Firstly you need to Search for the application and then Copy it to your desktop.
Click the Start Button.

Fig: 60-1 Type the application name you are looking for in the Start Menu Search box

In the Start Menu Search Box type the name of the application you are looking for. In our example it is Paint.Net.

Fig: 60-2 The application should appear in the top portion of the Search list

When you see the application displayed in the Search Results, Right click on it and, from the drop down menu, Select the Copy option.

Fig: 60-3 Click the Copy option to copy the shortcut to an alternative position, preferably your Desktop

Click on the Show Desktop button on the bottom Right of your screen, then Right Click on a vacant area of the desktop and, from the drop down menu, Click the Paste option. Your application shortcut should now appear on your desktop.

Fig: 60-4 The application (ringed in our illustration) Pasted to the desktop

Now to re-insert the application back into the All Programs menu you need to Click the Start Button and then Right click on the All Programs option. From the drop down menu Click on the Open All Users option.

Fig: 60-5 Right click on the All Programs option to open up the context menu

When you Click on the Open All Users option Windows Explorer will open showing the following screen.

Fig: 60-6 Right click on the Programs folder and then Paste the application shortcut

The first option in the Right Hand Pane of Windows Explorer is Programs.
Now go back to Desktop and Right Click on the application you recently pasted there.
From the Drop Down Menu, Click on Copy.
Next go back to Windows Explorer and Right click on the Programs option.
From the Drop Down Menu, Click Paste.
A message will now appear informing you that you need Administrative permissions to continue. If you are the Administrator or you have Administrative permissions, Click the Continue button.

Fig: 60-7 Click the Continue button on the Destination Folder Access Denied notification

You can now Close the Windows Explorer Window.
If you then Click the Start Menu followed by All Programs you should see you application entry back where it originally was.