Pin Folders to Start Menu - Windows Vista & XP

Pinning Folders to the Start Menu in Windows Vista and XP

In Windows Vista and Windows XP, the Start menu offers a feature to Pin frequently used applications for rapid access. However, a limitation exists: folders cannot be directly pinned. This can be inconvenient, as quick access to folders is often desirable.

Addressing the Limitation with a Registry Modification

A registry adjustment provides a solution to extend the pinning functionality to include folders. While not a recent discovery, this method remains highly practical for users seeking enhanced Start menu customization.

Manual Registry Hack Implementation

To implement this feature, a new item must be added to the right-click context menu. Begin by opening the Registry Editor, regedit.exe, via the Start menu search function.

Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

Within this key, create a new key named {a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8}. No value assignment is required for this new key.

To revert this change and disable the functionality, simply delete the newly created key.

Utilizing a Downloadable Registry Hack

Alternatively, pre-configured registry files can be downloaded and applied. These files streamline the process of enabling or disabling the folder pinning feature.

• EnablePinToStart.reg - Activates the "Pin to Start Menu" option.
• DisablePinToStart.reg - Deactivates the feature by removing the relevant registry key.

After downloading and extracting the archive, double-click the desired .reg file to apply the changes.

How to Pin Folders to the Start Menu

Locate the folder you wish to pin. Hold down the Shift key while right-clicking on the folder. A new option, "Pin to Start Menu," will appear in the context menu.