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Windows 7

Stop Highlighting Newly Installed Programs

SUMMARY: The Windows 7 Start Menu highlights programs recently installed - learn how to disable this behavior.

As with earlier versions of Windows, the Windows 7 Start Menu highlights the names of newly-installed software. This way it makes it easier to find these applications, assuming that if you install an application you plan on using it soon.

If you wish to disable this behavior, do the following:

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

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears. Click the "Start Menu" tab.

3. Click the "Customize" button.

4. The "Customize Start Menu" dialog box appears. Scroll down and uncheck "Highlight newly installed programs".

Preventing Windows 7 from highlighting newly installed programs on the Start Menu

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

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.