Color Me Perplexed

[BobH]

Why is it that Control Panel > Programs and Features lists programs that do not appear in the Start menu list?

[HansV]

Some are programs that only run in the background, or that are installed as support for other programs, such as drivers and runtime packages of software development tools. For example, here is a part of what I see:

S0296.png

The only programs in this section that one would run by themself are Firefox and Notepad++. All the others are supporting utilities.

[BobH]

Thanks, Hans! I agree that programs that are not standalone executables shouldn't appear in the Start Menu; however, I have apps showing in Programs and Features that are standalone executables that do not appear in the Start Menu. Have I, perhaps, unknowingly edited the Start Menu? Is that even possible?

[HansV]

Some programs ask you during installation whether you want to add them to the Start menu. If you forget to tick that check box (or inadvertently clear it if it was already ticked), you won't get a Start menu icon.
But you can always add it afterwards - see How to add app shortcuts to the Start menu manually on Windows 10

[BobH]

Good to know. Thanks again.