This registry hack forces the use of the classic windows start menu and disables the Windows XP style menu. Good hack for admins.

1. Click START–>RUN and type REGEDIT. Click OK.

2. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
then SOFTWARE
then Microsoft
then Windows
then CurrentVersion
then Policies
then Explorer

3. Double-click on NoSimpleStartMenu if it exists.

If it doesn’t, right-click on ADVANCED and Select NEW–>DWORD VALUE and name it NoSimpleStartMenu

4. Set this value to 1 to disable the XP menu.

This setting will permanently disable the Windows XP style Start Menu unles the policy or registry is changed.