Menu Inventor

Create your own Start Menu on steroids with this handy freeware. Menu Inventor's pull-down and pop-up laden interface is flexible and easy to navigate. Very novice users may have a little difficulty learning this application, but most will pick up its operation quickly. The user manual goes a great way toward explaining the program, but this is one of those applications experienced users like to dive into and use.

Menu Inventor sits on your desktop and doesn't replace your OS Start Menu. You control it and open other programs from the movable desktop button. Right-click the button and it opens a pop-up user-created menu of programs and controls. It resembles your Start menu, but items are arranged in any set of categories you choose. The easiest method to add links to the menu takes a pair of steps. Copy a shortcut or executable and then choose Paste from Clipboard on Menu Inventor. A dozen other functions make it easy to move, rename, add, delete applications and create new submenus. It's also easy to add hot keys for even quicker access.

Menu Inventor adds a skinnable interface for those unhappy with the default. This is an easy to recommend addition to the desktop of any user irritated with the inflexible Windows Start Menu.