SMOz — Start Menu Organizer: Clean, Categorize, Control Your Windows Start Menu

Overview — SMOz: The Smart Start Menu Organizer for Faster App Access

SMOz (Start Menu Organizer) is a lightweight Windows utility that automatically organizes shortcuts in the Start menu into user-defined categories using a template-driven approach.

Key features

• Template-based categorization: Uses editable template files (categories + matching patterns or regex) to sort shortcuts into folders.
• Batch operations with undo/redo: Apply changes in bulk and undo/redo unlimited steps (memory permitting).
• Drag & drop UI: Graphical interface for reorganizing items and creating categories.
• Icon previews: Displays icons for Start menu items to make reorganization easier.
• Atomic changes: Applies filesystem changes atomically to avoid partial modifications.
• Compatibility & tech: Originally written in C# for .NET Framework 2.0; historically tested on Windows XP and later versions (users report needing admin rights on Windows 7+).
• Open-source / license: Project hosted on SourceForge (GPL v2). Latest public releases date from mid‑2000s; project activity is limited but downloadable builds are available on SourceForge and third‑party archives.

When to use it

• You have a cluttered All Programs / Start menu and want to group similar apps (Internet, Multimedia, Office, Programming, etc.).
• You prefer rule/template-driven automation to manual folder edits.
• You need a small, offline tool that runs on legacy Windows environments.

Caveats

• Interface and template editor can be non‑intuitive for new users.
• Some reviewers note limited documentation and the need to run as Administrator on newer Windows.
• Project appears inactive; binaries and sources are available from SourceForge and archive sites—exercise usual caution with third‑party downloads.

Sources: SMOz project page (smoz.sourceforge.net), SourceForge project listing, Softonic and archival download sites.