GeekByte: Turn off Highlighting of Newly Installed Programs in Windows XP and Vista

I’m usually all for it when the computer tries to help you out and do something for you. Usually. Sometimes it can be downright maddening. If you have Windows XP you may have noticed at some point that when you install a new program it will highlight it in the Start menu. You’ll usually notice it when you have a clean install of XP and you haven’t gone in and dinked around with the settings yet. Some people like it…some don’t. If you would like to turn off the highlighting (which is one of the first things I do when I reinstall my OS), follow the steps below for your operating system.

Windows XP
1. Right click the Start menu and choose Properties. A new window will open.
2. Click the Start Menu tab at the top of the window.
3. Make sure that “Start Menu” is selected. If “Classic Start Menu” is selected, just click cancel on the window. The rest of the procedure isn’t valid for that option.
4. Click on the Customize button. A new window will open.
5. Click the Advanced tab on the new window.
6. Uncheck the Highlight Newly Installed Programs check box.
7. Click OK on both windows to save your changes.

Windows Vista
1. Right click the Start menu and choose Properties. A new window will open.
2. Make sure the Start Menu tab at the top of the window is selected.
3. The “Start Menu” option must be selected. If “Classic Start Menu” is selected, just click cancel on the window. The rest of the procedure isn’t valid for that option.
4. Scroll down until you see the option “Highlight Newly Installed Programs.”
5. Uncheck the checkbox next to that option.
6. Click OK on both windows to save your changes.