Keep Start Menu From Closing After Opening Applications
If you want to open more than one application without having to navigate through the whole start menu again, you can use a little-known trick to keep the start menu open after you click on an item.
Just hold down the shift key while you click on an item under the All Programs group, and you'll notice the start menu stays up while the application loads in back of it… notice how the notepad window has focus.

There are a few caveats:
- This only works on the All Programs menu if you are using the XP-style menu in XP.
- This doesn't work at all with the Vista-style start menu.
- Works perfectly if you are using the Classic Start menu in either Vista or XP.
- Some applications will demand focus and make it close anyway.
Enjoy!
The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. When he's not coming up with great how-to articles, he's probably writing at his personal blog. This article was written on 09/11/07 and tagged with: Windows, Windows Vista, Desktop Customization


Freaking Fantastic!
I will probably forget to use it though.
Question: How to keep other menues open after you click on the selection, other than start program menues?
Tips that don't apply to Vista should not be listed in the Vista Tips section.
@Ronc
It does work in Vista with the classic menu.
It works on XP Style start menu as well.