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Windows Vista - Start Menu - Taskbar - Toolbars

Display Administrative Tools on the Start Menu

SUMMARY: Provide links to Administrative Tools such as the Event Viewer and Task Scheduler directly from the Start Menu.

Depending on your Windows Vista Start Menu configuration, to access Administrative Tools such as the Reliability and Performance Monitor, you must either type the name of the tool into the Start Menu's search box, or first access the Control Panel and then the Administrative Tools section.

With a simple tweak you can place a link to an expanding Administrative Tools menu directly on the Start Menu, as well as a link from the "All Programs" menu.

A link to the Administrative Tools directly from the Windows Vista Start Menu

1. Right-click an empty area of the Windows Taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. When the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "Start Menu" tab.

3. One "Customize" button should be enabled. Click it.

If you are using the Windows Vista Start Menu:

4. The "Customize Start Menu" dialog box appears. Scroll down to the "System administrative tools" section. Either click the "Display on the All Programs menu" or "Display on the All Programs menu and the Start menu" radio button as desired.

5. Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them.

If you are using the Classic Start Menu:

4. The "Customize Classic Start Menu" dialog box appears. Check "Display administrative tools".

5. Click "OK" on the dialog boxes to close them.