To make Windows use multiple Start Menu Columns instead of a single scrolling column (in Programs), like Windows 9x had. Also if you are using Classic Mode in XP:

1. Open RegEdit (by start>run)
2. Go to the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer\ Advanced
3. On the right pane, right click and create a new string value StartMenuScrollPrograms
(the above string is case-sensitive)
4. Right click the new string value and select modify
5. Set the value to FALSE
6. Close RegEdit.