>I've got this user that is asking how she can clean up the list that is in the drop down. I can't find anything about how and where this is stored. Any help?
>

It's a directory, actually. Have the user right-click on the Start Button, select Explore; it should position on the user's Start Menu subfolder, with the Programs folder that corresponds to their Program option from the Start/Programs dialog right there. Entries in trhe Programs folder correspond to shortcuts in Folders under the Programs folder; deleting a folder wipes out that leg of the programs hierarchy as far as access via shortcuts; users should do this cautiously, since it may interfere with badly-written uninstallers doing their work.