olddude -

I don't see any indication that the KB article linked is applicable to the problem here. It addresses something else.

The most likely problem here is that the "optimizer" program that was run decided that the missing programs weren't important enough, and deleted them from the Start Menu.

Somewhere on the C:\ drive there is a folder called "Start," and shortcuts in that folder are what tells the Start Menu what to display. It's probably not easy to find, and probably is a Hidden + System File that won't display without playing fancy tricks (possibly requiring log on as Administrator just to see). If you really want to see the folder, I suspect that in WinXP it's somewhere under the username, since different users can see different menus if the user has added programs that haven't been shared, although it could be in C:\Windows or something similar.

The recommended method for tweaking it is in Control Panel, but I don't recall what name was used for the applicable section in WinXP. In Vista, it's at "Taskbar and Start Menu." If you can find the right place, you should find a "Customize" or something similar, probably with an "Advanced" button to click, and if you drill in far enough you should find a place to "Add Programs." When you click the Add button, you should find a "Browse" option where you can go to the program you want to add and "click it in" so that it will show in the Start Menu. Some versions of Windows have required a reboot before the change will show, but I think that probably was pre-XP(?).

In Vista, putting "Start Menu" in Help gets a Help item where there's a link to the place for doing it, but neither Help nor the place it takes you to tells you where you are when you get there.

Sorry I can't be more specific, but this is one of those places where Microsoft just says "ask your Administrator" and my Administrator is a little below par today.

John