How do you clean up the Open With right-click context menu?

CorneliusM · 06 Jul 2010

I've looked at a few posts here and, I googled this but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for.
My Right-click Open With Context menu is full of choices I either never made nor see any point in being there: "Open [avi/flv/jpg] with Google Chrome" or a program that cannot open videos is taking up the list and I'm sick of watching what I'm clicking on and double-checking what I'm clicking. I saw a registry edit for how to combat this which got rid of some items though, there are numerous others and the method in which to reorder the wanted selections have not worked at all.
I don't mind going into the registry (again) if I have to but, I really want to get rid of the either unnecessary and, the ridiculous entries listed on the OpenWith menu!
Thanks in advance!

derekimo · 06 Jul 2010

This little tool is pretty good for that,

Context Menu Editor v1.1 by ~binarybuddy on deviantART

Bill2 · 06 Jul 2010

ShellMenuView for windows items.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shell_menu_view.html

Or ShellExView for 3rd party programs.

ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows

CorneliusM · 06 Jul 2010

Thanks guys, none of those managed to give me the option for the Open With context just gave me the default open with option to remove/change

DarkStar GT · 06 Jul 2010

If you're feeling brave, have a look at my reply #8:
Q: Assigninig icons to File types

-- make a System Restore Point first
-- export any Registry keys before you change them
-- look for an equivalent key where you don't have any problems and use that as a reference

DMHolt57 · 06 Jul 2010

...does this help?

Adding "Open With" Menu Command

The Open With context menu is only available when you Shift+right-click a file. But there is a way to add this option automatically to the menu every time you right-click a file. Launch the registry editor and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command\. This subkey is actually the action to open the "Open With" box for "unknown" files when windows can't find the suitable application to open a file with.
To add this action to every file, we must copy out the value of the Default string on the right pane. Press Ctrl+C or right-click and select Copy.
Now go back to the top of the list and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*. Right-click on it and choose New Key. Name this subkey shell. Right-click on shell key and add a new subkey named openas. Right-click this key and add a new subkey named command. Now double-click the default string value in the right-hand pane. A dialog box will pop up. Press Ctrl-V to paste the complicated command line you copied earlier. Click OK.

derekimo · 06 Jul 2010

So are you trying to remove stuff from the open with context menu?

see if this tutorial helps,

Open with - Clean Up and Remove Programs

CorneliusM · 06 Jul 2010

I dunno what's wrong but, either the choices I want to remove aren't in the OpenWithLists or, removing them doesn't change anything at all

Thanks again guys!

SIW2 · 06 Jul 2010

What are the entries you want to remove?

CorneliusM · 07 Jul 2010

SIW2 said:

What are the entries you want to remove?

Well for jpgs and avis and some other file types, it has internet explorer and google chrome as an option even though I've never ever used them to open anything! Then there's Ifranview which shows up on every Open With option of previously used programs which I only use to open gif files.
I've looked in the appropriate registry locations and removed them but, they still show up on the drop down Open With list.