Assuming you're running Win98, copy the text below (between the hash marks), and paste it into Notepad. Save the file with a .reg extension, then merge it into your Registry (right-click the file and select "Merge", or just double-click it).
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REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Folder\StartMenuScrollPrograms]
"Type"="checkbox"
"Text"="Multi-Column Start Menu Style"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"ValueName"="StartMenuScrollPrograms"
"CheckedValue"="false"
"UncheckedValue"="true"
"DefaultValue"="true"
"HelpID"="update.hlp"
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Because of the way the forum formats paths...in the above, there should be no spaces between any of the letters in the following words:
Curr entVersion...should read CurrentVersion
StartMenuScrol lPrograms...should read StartMenuScrollPrograms
Expl orer...should read Explorer
After you've pasted the above in Notepad, edit the above words so they don't contain spaces...then save it.
If you need to revert back to the scrolling Programs menu, merge the following...
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REGEDIT4
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced\Folder\StartMenuScrollPrograms]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"StartMenuScrollPrograms"=-
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The same thing I noted above about the spaces applies to this edit as well. You'll need to reboot for the change to take effect.