Start Menu Programs for Office Applications Missing

ID: Q158145

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
Microsoft Office for Windows 95 versions 7.0, 97
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 versions 7.0, 97
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95 versions 7.0, 97
Microsoft Word for Windows 95 versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Office or any of the individual Microsoft Office programs on a computer running Windows NT 4.0, then log off and log back on as a new user, the Start Menu shortcuts for the Microsoft Office programs are missing.

NOTE: This does not occur on Microsoft Windows NT 3.51

CAUSE

The Microsoft Office 95 setup program creates program shortcuts in the Personal Group for the user who installed Microsoft Office. This behavior is different from the previous version of Microsoft Windows NT in which program icons were placed in a Common Group. The Common Group allows all users access after logging in.

RESOLUTION

Use the following steps to move the program shortcuts to the "All Users" Start Menu profile (equivalent to a Common Group).

1. Start Windows Explorer.

2. Navigate to the \<windir>\profiles\<userx>\Start Menu\Programs folder,

   where <windir> is the Windows NT system folder and <userx> is the user
   who installed the Microsoft Office application(s). For example, if the
   user who installed Office was logged on as JDOE, there will be a \JDOE
   folder.

3. Select the Microsoft Office program(s) you want to move.

4. On the Edit menu, click Cut.

5. Navigate to the \<windir>\profiles\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

   folder.

6. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

The Microsoft Office program shortcuts should now be available on the Start Menu for All Users, regardless of who logs on.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the setup program in Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: gone disappeared default

Keywords          : nt32ap NTSrvWkst offwinsetup 
Version           : WinNT:4.0;Off:7.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: July 7, 1998