There are some previously posted tips on the subject of removing items from the Apple menu. However, this one works without deleting lines or using a special editor for the configuration file. Try this:
cd /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A\
/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/Resources\
/English.lproj/StandardMenus.nib
sudo cp objects.xib objects_old.xib
sudo pico objects.xib
<boolean name="hidden">TRUE</boolean>
<boolean name="disabled">TRUE</boolean>
Here's an example for hiding the "Mac OS X Software" item:
..
<object class="IBCarbonMenuItem" id="221">
<boolean name="hidden">TRUE</boolean>
<string name="title">Mac OS X Software _</string>
<ostype name="command">soft</ostype>
...
Save the file with a Control-X, and then restart the Finder.If you want completely hide "Software Update" for Users, but not for the admin, do this. Logged in as admin, move the Software Update control panel into your home directory:
sudo mv /System/Library/PreferencePanes/SoftwareUpdate.prefPane ~/
Then open the panel and install it only for admin, so a folder /Library/PerferencesPanes is created and the ControlPanel is inside. After this, move the application itself into the Admin's Home directory, so you can't open it in the "About Macintosh" menu as a user:
sudo mv /System/Library/CoreServices/Software\ Update.app /~
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20050426093415728