Windows Pinning items to the "Start menu"
Windows Start menu for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be organized into a great time saver for applications that you must use everyday. In Windows 8 something similar can be set up in the "Metro" view. It is a good practice to not make this list of items long, and to keep it to programs or items that you need daily. For example, if you use Word, Excel, Outlook, and the Internet for school or your job, everyday, pin only those items to the Windows Start menu. Then, when you hit the Windows key and down arrow, those will be the programs you always hear, and can hit Enter on to open. Do the following activities to develop this skill. There are headings on this web page for your convenience. Hit the letter h to move forward, or Shift h to move backward through the headings. When you find an activity you want to do, down arrow through the steps. On the first read of this page it is advised that you read the entire page, then start from the beginning. There is an audio demonstration (MP3 format) that you can hit Enter on to listen, or to download to put on another device. When you are finished move to the link at the bottom of this page titled "BACK" to go to the "Simple Windows Lessons" web page.
NOTE: You can pin program type items to the Windows Start menu. Other items such as documents cannot be pinned to the Windows Start menu.
1. Hit the Windows key one time.
2. Up arrow to the "All Programs" menu item.
3. Right arrow one time to open the "All Programs" sub menu.
4. Down arrow or hit them letter m until you get to "Microsoft Office..."
5. Right arrow one time.
6. Down arrow to "Word..."
7. Hit the Applications key one time.
8. Down arrow to the "Pin to Start Menu" item.
9. Hit the Enter key one time and "Word..." is pinned to the Windows Start menu.
10. Hit the Windows key one time.
11. Down arrow to see if the "Word..." program is pinned to the top of the Windows Start menu.
12. Repeat the above steps to pin any program you wish to the Windows Start menu.
1. Hit the Windows key one time.
2. Type excel
3. Down arrow until you hear "Excel."
4. Hit the Applications key one time.
5. Down arrow to the "Pin to Start Menu" item.
6. Hit the Enter key one time and the Excel program is pinned to the top of the Windows Start menu.
7. Hit the Windows key one time.
8. Down arrow to see if "Excel" has been pinned to the Windows Start menu.
1. Press and hold down the Windows key and hit the letter d or m to move to the Windows Desktop.
2. Find the icon for your accessibility program, such as "JAWS, NVDA, ZoomText, Magic," or others.
3. Hit the Application key one time.
4. Down arrow to the "Pin to Start Menu" item.
5. Hit the Enter key one time.
6. Hit the Windows key one time.
7. Down arrow to see if your accessibility program is at the top of the Windows Start menu.
1. Hit the Windows key one time.
2. Down arrow to the program you want "unpinned" or taken off the Windows Start menu.
3. Hit the Applications key.
4. Down arrow to the "Unpin from Start menu" item.
5. Hit the Enter key one time and the item will be unpinned from the top of the Windows Start menu.
6. Hit the Windows key one time.
7. Down arrow to see if the item has been unpinned from the Windows Start menu.
NOTE: You can use the same activities above to pin items to the Windows Taskbar. When you hit the Applications key on an item, instead of selecting "Pin to Start menu," pick "Pin to Taskbar."
Audio Demonstration for Pinning Items (Programs) to the Windows Start Menu Link