what you can do is put numbers at the beginning of the names your start menu shortcuts
Better still, make a directory where you will create shortcuts.
Mine is like C:\Documents and Settings\Ray\shortcuts
Create a personal PATH environment variable pointing to that directory.
System Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables, New
User variable named Path, Value= %homedrive%%homepath%\shortcuts
or name the directory explicitly.
Copy useful shortcuts into that directory -
copy don't move! Rename them to something short. I use 1 or 2 letter names. E.g. I use FF for Firefox.
To run something, do Windows-R (or Ctrl-Esc then R) then type the short name in the Run dialogue.
I made a shortcut called S that takes me straight to the shortcuts directory, making it easy to add new ones.
But in any case remap the Scroll Lock to work as a Windows key. I do this for whenever I use a Windowsless keyboard. There really isn't a downside that I can see.