Speed Up Windows Start Menu - Vista Tip
Boosting Start Menu Speed in Vista
This article provides a straightforward method for accelerating the responsiveness of the Start menu in Windows Vista. A previous guide detailed techniques for enhancing overall user interface snappiness. This particular tip focuses specifically on the Start menu, and combining both approaches will yield even smoother performance.
Implementing this optimization involves modifying the Windows Registry. Therefore, it is crucial to create a system restore point or back up your registry settings before proceeding, as a precaution.
Accessing the Registry Editor
Begin by clicking the Vista Start button and entering "regedit" into the search box. Alternatively, if enabled, you can utilize the RUN command to achieve the same result. Press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
The Registry Editor will open, displaying a hierarchical structure of registry folders in the left pane.
Navigating to the MenuShowDelay Setting
Expand the following key in the left pane: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop. Clicking on "Desktop" will reveal the associated values.
Within the right panel, locate and double-click the entry named "MenuShowDelay".
Modifying the MenuShowDelay Value
Double-clicking "MenuShowDelay" will open an "Edit String" window. The default value is typically 400. Delete this value and replace it with 0. Confirm your changes by clicking "OK" and then exit the Registry Editor.
The modification is now complete! The Start menu should now respond with significantly improved speed.