Add a Website Link to the Start Menu

A start menu link to a website you visit often can save time and steps. Instead of opening your Internet browser and navigating to the website link, you can just click on one icon to open it automatically. There is more than one way to add a website link to the start menu. Two methods are listed below.

Add a link from Internet Explorer

Step1

Open Internet Explorer. You have to use Internet Explorer to create the shortcut. Once it's created, it will open in your default browser.

Step2

Type the name of the website you want to link to in the browser box. Click on "Favorites" from the menu. Click "Add to favorites."

Step3

Click "Favorites." Click on the link you just added.

Step4

Hold down the left mouse key. Drag the "favorite" to the start button. You will see the link as an item in your start button.

Step5

Right click the shortcut and select "Remove from this list" to delete the shortcut from your start menu.

Add a Link with Registry Editor version 5.0

Step1

Click on the start button. Click "Programs," "Accessories" and then "Notepad."

Step2

Type or cut and paste "[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] @="website link" " into the notepad screen. Replace "website link" with the name you want for your shortcut. Hit enter to make a space.

Step3

Enter "[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon] @="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\shell32.dll,-47" " on the next line.

Step4

Copy or type "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag] "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}" "

Step5

Hit the enter key. Type ""method"="ShellExecute" ". Hit the enter key again. Type " "Command"="link" ".

Step6

Press the enter key. Type ""Param1"=" followed by the URL of the website you want to appear in the start menu. Put quotes around the name of the URL.

Step7

Click "File" and then "Save as." Type "link.reg" in the file name box.

Step8

Browse to the folder where you saved "link.reg." Right click on the "link.reg" file. Choose "Merge" from the menu.