xp pro you can use more then 5 as the elder geek is showing, but i have a way to utilize more then 5 in xp home, it requires "Resource Hacker"...here is the simplest way that i have found to do this, 20 steps from start to finish, which includes not only the text of "start" but the icon, and the hover text as well.... http://sarahlane.typepad.com/sarahword/2004/06/hack_xps_start_.html