OEM+link+the+XP+Start+menu+How+to+get+rid+of

OEM link the XP Start menu How to get rid of

Some hardware vendors install all sorts of programs, links and insinuate themselves into the OS in a most annoying way. You might find links in the Start menu that take you to the vendor's web site, for instance. If you never use it, it's just taking up space, but if you try to delete it like a normal shortcut, you find that doesn't work. Luckily, you do not have to just learn to live with it. Here's what you can do: 1. Right click the Start menu and select Properties. 2. Click Start Menu tab, then the Customize button. 3. Click the Advanced tab. 4. In the list of Start Menu items, uncheck the box labelled Manufacturer Link. 5. Click OK.

But what if it's not in the list? Do not despair. You can still kill it by editing the registry (as always, be careful and back up your registry first): 1. In the registry editor, go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > StartMenu > StartPanel 2. Double click the ShowOEMLink entry in the right pane. 3. Set the value to 0. 4. Restart Windows.  