Customizing the Windows 7 Start Menu

Factual Questions
1

My Google skills are weak, but I have tried. Is it possible to customize the right side of the Windows 7 Start menu? Mine currently reads from the top down: my computer’s name, Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos. Then a divider line followed by, Games and My Computer. Then another divider line followed by, Control Panel, Devices and Printers, Default Programs, Help and Support, Run…

I assume this is the default menu.

I’d like to add a new category to that top group. But how?

2

Is there a “settings” option if you right click your start button ?
There might be a “customize” option in there…

3

Yes, a right click yields a Properties > Taskbar and Start Menu panel with a customize button but that opens a list of check box options for the items that appear in that right pane. There seems to be no option to actually ADD anything new there.