Start Menu X replaces the Windows Start menu with a menu for launching programs and opening folders. It can retain the existing program list or arrange applications into virtual groups, giving the same shortcuts a category-based layout. The replacement operates while Start Menu X is running.
Virtual groups
Virtual groups organize applications by purpose without moving their shortcuts on disk. Start Menu X records membership in its own database, so grouping office tools or graphics programs changes how they appear in the menu rather than where Windows stores them.
Group Manager presents a category selector and the programs in the Start menu. Select a category and check an application to add it; clearing its checkbox removes that membership. Programs without a group appear under Other. The Free edition provides five existing groups, while PRO adds controls for creating, editing, deleting and rearranging groups.
The groups also control how much of the application list remains visible. An expanded group shows its contents directly in the menu. A collapsed group keeps its entries out of the main view and reveals them when the pointer passes over it. Frequently used categories can remain expanded while less-used ones stay folded. Simple mode is available in settings for users who prefer the original list arrangement.
Folder launching
Start Menu X PRO lets a folder act as a launcher for a primary application. Its application icon replaces the usual folder icon, and clicking the folder launches that program. Hovering over the folder instead opens the submenu, preserving access to its other entries.
The first application choice is automatic. Afterward, the application most recently launched from the folder becomes its default.
Menu size and the folder list
Start Menu X can display folder contents across the screen rather than confining the application list to a small panel. The menu can be resized, and its scale can be adjusted for different display densities.
A customizable folder list provides access to system locations, personal folders and applications. The selection includes 25 system folders, with options to add other destinations. PRO also allows changes to the menu structure and the addition of tabs, extending how those destinations are arranged.
Power timers
Shutdown and sleep timers sit within the menu alongside its navigation functions. Set a delay and select the power action to have the computer shut down or enter sleep later. Both Free and PRO include these timers.
