As said above, I have always tried (usually failed) to not use desktops as dumping grounds. I did look at virtual desktops when I was at work but never really used them as I don't think they save do they? I can see that they might be good but I think it would confuse me. And I think, as they look pretty much the same that I might get lost and panic and lose something! But that is probably based on a lack of info.

I am actually really happy with my current start menu which seems to work for what I'm doing these days. If I find I'm using something often I just add it to start and because it's organised into little sections I just add a little icon to a section if I find I use it much.

I added Device Manager today so it's one click away as I found it fiddly to get to. I came across a lovely little registry hack (I am as certain as I can be that it is safe) which allows you to Pin ANYTHING to Start. So any document, program, system process etc can be pinned to start and become one click away once it's run as long as you can create a shortcut to it. Once you have created the shortcut the option to Pin to Start appears and you can then delete the shortcut and it just works.

The hack is create a reg file from this in notepad (don't do this if you don't fiddle about in the registry) and run it as Admin. If not admin it will just do the particular User.

*****

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{470C0EBD-5D73-4d58-9CED-E91E22E23282}]
@="Pin to Start"

*****

It gets overwritten when Windows is upgraded but (of course) there is a pintostart.reg pinned to the start :) So WINDOWS key - one click and it's done. I have definitely adapted to launching everything from WINDOWS - choose program/file/resource/system file and only occasionally launch things from Taskbar or one of the very few things on my desktop. I particularly like being able to access the Settings - Sound/Device Manager/Display/Clocks and Stopwatches etc/Power and Sleep/Windows Update/etc - via WINDOWS key and a single click

Perhaps oone day I'll use it right :)