Marta,

%homepath%\Start Menu\Programs
should be the equivalent of
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Start Menu\Programs

You need to look at...
Start Menu 'All Programs' is empty or nothing happens when you click the
menu
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm

It sounds like something is messed up with
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:98163AF5-0171-43A3-88CF-66A090426AA5@microsoft.com,
Marta LG <martalg1@yahoo.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hello all:
>
> I was following Wesley's instructions about the ...%homepath%\Start
> Menu\Programs and the %allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs. On the first
> one I got the following message: "Windows cannot find \Documents. Make
> sure you type the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a
> file, click the Start button, and then click Search." THEN on the second
> one when I copied pasted on the Run window and clicked OK it did work, it
> connected me to a folder named Programs. I tried the Classic Menu and
> shows that I have an empty All Programs menu. What do I need to do next
> to get my Programs back to the Start-All Programs menu. Your assistance
> will be greatly appreciated.
> --
> Marta
> Romans 1:16
>
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
> Reg,
>
> Are you using the XP Start Menu? If so, try changing to the Classic Start
> Menu and see if the Programs folder appears full. Right click Start
> button | Properties | Select Classic Start Menu | Click Apply | Click OK |
>
> Then click the Start button and point to Programs. Anything? All
> Programs (or Programs) is really a combination of %homepath%\Start
> Menu\Programs
> and %allusersprofile%\Start Menu\Programs
>
> Do the programs appear if you... Start | Run | Paste the following in the
> box and click OK...%homepath%\Start Menu\Programs and Start | Run | Paste
> the following in the box and click OK...%allusersprofile%\Start
> Menu\Programs
>
> Anything?
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:7Xmuf.5836$7f7.1163@trnddc08,
> R. Drapeau <drapeaur@verizon.net> hunted and pecked:
> Wes,
>
> Thank you very much, but unfortunately that didn't work. This appears to
> be a nasty problem that many people have had. I researched further and
> there does not appear to be a clear explaination or resolution.
>
> Reg
>
> "Wesley Vogel" <123WVogel955@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:OJO4quAEGHA.3528@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Start Menu 'All Programs' is empty or nothing happens when you click the
> menu http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:2Ukuf.1625$A64.874@trnddc07,
> R. Drapeau <drapeaur@verizon.net> hunted and pecked:
> "I'm running Win XP, SP2. When I the standard Start Menu, when I select
> "All Programs" nothing shows up...it's like the "All Programs" group
> doesn't have anything to show. However, when I change to "Classic Start
> Menu" when I select the "Programs" group I do have programs listed. Any
> ideas what could be causing this would be appreciated.
>
> Thank you.