The Windows 7 Start menu is used for a variety of purposes including starting programs, changing settings, finding your files, and shutting down the computer. In previous versions of Windows, you usually had desktop icons setup to access My Computer, quick launch bar icons for accessing other programs or settings, and so forth. In Windows 7, you can still have all of those things, but the Start menu is really where you begin and end everything! You access the Start menu in the lower right hand corner of your screen. There are several configuration options you have with the Start menu and this tutorial, we’ll explore how you access those features.

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Properties.
   
2. Click on the Customize button at the top right.
   
3. There are many options to customize in the Start menu. Scroll through the list to see all of the different features you can customize.
4. Once you’ve made any changes, click OK to save your settings.