What you can't do, no matter what you try, is to make the Start Menu show all the programs you have installed.

But attaching things there is nice. Even better than the KDE menu.

I can't get over this. It doesn't help that the search (start>type) constantly doesn't find apps I'm looking for. It's to the point where I'm pinning everything to my taskbar.

My workflow for a decade or more was to hit the Windows key then start typing to find indexed apps. It's almost useless to me now and I don't really get why.

> I don't really get why

I got looking. It's an acknowledged bug. MS isn't even calling it a feature. It's just about as old as Windows 10, and unfixed.

I'm not what the point is, given there are probably hundreds of bugs that somebody would say "This is the #1 worst bug in Windows 10." But for me, this is the #1 worst bug in Windows 10.

Assuming they're honest, and in their defence, MS has been much more honest and transparent recently: could you imagine being the one poor soul who's been working on that bug for almost two years now? People keep reporting that bug, and you keep ruling out possible explanations.

I've indeed seen that kind of thing happen, so yes, there can be some poor soul doing this. But it's still more likely that MS doesn't think Windows not letting you run your programs is a high priority problem.

I've basically given up. I just use [Launchy](http://www.launchy.net/) instead.

Although it's discontinued, so I should really find a replacement.

Google "Classic Shell". It's a freeware, allowing you to replace your start menu with either a XP or a 7 like start menu.

'Member when windows did what you needed right out of the box?

Do you mean the "Show app list in Start Menu" Option?

I can't remember if its on or off by default (If its off then I switched it on long ago and can't remember) but on my setup with the option on (settings -> Personalization -> Start -> Show app list in Start Menu. Just in case it is turn off by default) I get a scrolling list on the left hand side of the start menu under "Most Used" (I have show recently added apps turned off) that feels like it behaves just like all programs has on <= 7 (Only briefly used 8 and I replaced its start menu with Classic Shell when I did) in that if during install you have the option to "add program to start menu" it appears in the start menu.

<EDIT> Here's a screen shot of what it looks like when I press the start button - http://i.imgur.com/0VdDm7v.jpg </EDIT>

Just like <= 7 (and presuming 8) its just a folder full of short cuts ("%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu") to the apps launchers/uninstallers/config/help/etc that you have installed.

What I do find annoying compared to <=7 is the ability to right click and just remove things from the list (perhaps its an option in group policies and I've just not found it, tbh I've not looked) without going to the folder I included above and deleting the shortcut.

If i wanted to work to customize my OS, i would have Nuxed it.

If you don't want to work to customize your OS, you accept the defaults. Those are your two options, and you've already ruled out one of them.

Option 3: Use an OS (or at least OS version) that offers better defaults, while still running the software that you need.

Well then the OS that you're complaining about isn't exactly "your OS" is it? It's now someone else's OS and you're just complaining about something you don't even use.

You want to play word games? Fine.

Scenario: I'm using X 2.0. The defaults are shit, and I complain. Nothing happens. At this point, I've got three options. Deal with the shitty defaults, customize the OS, or move elsewhere.