Windows 7 Start Menu Items Missing

Question

If I click the start menu -> All Programs almost all my installed programs seem to be missing from the start menu despite some of them being on the initial regulalry used screen. As far as I can see this has happened within the last week possibly after windows updates installed.

Does anyone else have this issue?

Anyone know a fix?

I have looked in all the locations I can think of for start menu items and can't see them anywhere so it does actually look like they have been removed. I tried as system restore that didn't work.

Solution

I went to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu and found that all of the folders were shown as "Hidden" so I clicked on the properties and then unchecked the Hidden box, clicked on the start menu, all programs and everything was there!

Easy fix!