How to Backup User's Startup Menu
Windows XP
The Startup Menu is the menu you see when you click on All Programs. A virus can alter the Start Menu and if that happens, you will loose the items listed here. To fix this menu, you will have to manually copy the shortcuts to the startup menu, reinstall the programs or copy the startup menu back from a saved file. The easiest way is to copy a backed up copy. Below is a way to back up a copy of the file.
Majority of people back up their files but they don't think about backing this up. Sometimes you are able to fix the damage done by a virus but the startup menu will be damaged. If you backed up the startup menu, you can fix the startup menu simply by copying it back over. There is two files that you need to back up. There is files for individual user's startup menu and there is a menu for all users. This is how to back up the User's Startup Menu.
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Sign into the User's account you want to back up
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Right-click Start
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Click Open
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Save all files listed here to the location you want to save the files to (such as a disk, flash drive or where you want to back it up to)
click here for instructions on how to create a shortcut
If you need to know the actual location that step 2 takes you, it is c:\Documents and Settings\username\Start Menu (substitute the user's name for username)
If you install programs or add anything, you will need to copy the files above again.
For instructions on restoring the backed up file, click here.