How do I get rid of Document and Settings folders links in the start menu? When I attempt to delete them, the actually folder on the hard drive go to the recycle bin as well.
The folders are not for applications, they are documents and settings folders for users. They don't act like shortcuts because when I attempt to delete them, the folders are removed from the Documents and Settings directory and they even look like real folders from the properties. If it matters, I notice that there is a new folder within the Documents and Settings directory called Programs, with a subfolder named Startup.

Which particular MS OS are you using 95, 98, ME. Win 2000 or XP?

I'm using Windows 2000 with SP3 installed.

Documents and settings hold information of all the users with in it, and when you do into there you will see your login name, in there go to startmenu, and inside of there you will see your programs folder, this programs folder is the same one you see in your startmenu

I know that, but it doesn't affect my situation because the folders in the start menu are the actual Documents and Settings folders that are on my hard drive and that would make it impossible for them to be within themselves. Therefore, there is nothing within the Start Menu folder of my user directory.

Well cut and paste one into a different directory
and then check your startmenu and see if its in there, and then get rid of the one which is in the smenu

You might find your answer Here

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/en/...rogram.htm

Get TweakUI from download.microsoft.com it can remove/alter any of the startmenu items without altering the harddrive's linked folder.

Thanks, TweakUI did the trick. The problem was somehow the Start Menu was linked to the Documents and Settings directory, causing every folder within it to be in the start menu. I changed it to the All Users start menu folder since it is empty.