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Windows 7 - Menus Open to the Left or Right Side

 

Menus Open to the Left or Right Side

How to Set Windows 7 Menus to Open to the Left or Right Side
Published by Brink
12-05-2008
Default Menus Open to the Left or Right Side

How to Set Windows 7 Menus to Open to the Left or Right Side

information   Information
This will show you how to set all menus (ex: context menu, Menu bar, etc...) in Windows 7 to open to the left or right side of where you click at.
warning   Warning
If the menu does not have enough room to fully open at the border of the window or display screen, it will compensate and open from the opposite direction of the border instead. This will override whatever side you have the menu set to open on below.

EXAMPLE: Right-handed
NOTE: Menus open to the left of your hand.
Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-right_handed.jpg
EXAMPLE: Left-handed
NOTE: Menus open to the right of your hand.
Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-left-handed.jpg




OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download
1. To Have Menus Open to the Left
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Menus_Open_To_Left.reg
download
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Have Menus Open to the Right
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Menus_Open_To_Right.reg
download
3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file on the desktop if you like.




OPTION TWO

Manually in Registry Editor
1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search line and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-reg1.jpg
4. To Have Menus Open to the Left
A) In the right pane of Windows, right click on a empty space and click on New and String Value. Type MenuDropAlignment and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you already have MenuDropAlignment, then skip this step and go to step 4B instead.
Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-reg2.jpg
B) In the right pane, right click on MenuDropAlignment and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

C) Type 1 and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-modify.jpg
D) Go to step 6.
5. To Have Menus Open to the Right
A) In the right pane of Windows, right click on MenuDropAlignment and click on Delete and Yes. (see screenshot below step 4B)

OR

B) Repeat all steps in step 4, and type 0 in step 4C instead.
6. Close regedit.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn





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02-23-2010   #1
kookster


Windows 7 64-bit Windows 7 32-bit
 
 


I cant find the "Tablet PC Settings" folder, I'm guessing it only exists on tablet PC's, is there a way to add it to non tablet PC's? Cause I've always wanted these to show up to the left of the mouse.

My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Kookster,

Double check in Windows Features to make sure that you have the Tablet PC Components option checked. Afterwards, it should be available in the Control Panel.

Menus Open to the Left or Right Side-windows_features.jpg

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #3
Jonathan_King


Windows 7 Professional x64
 
 


Shawn, I do have the feature turned on, and I still don't see anything in Control Panel. A search for it was fruitless.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


02-23-2010   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Um, it seems that MS removed Tablet PC Settings in the Control Panel.

Well, I'll have to do some more digging on this. These are the settings for this in the registry in Vista.

RIGHT_HANDED
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"MenuDropAlignment"="1"


LEFT_HANDED
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"MenuDropAlignment"="0"


UPDATE:
They work, but you have to log off and on and not just kill/restart explorer. Tutorial has been updated with this new way.

Last edited by Brink; 02-23-2010 at 04:11 PM.. Reason: Update
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #5
Jonathan_King


Windows 7 Professional x64
 
 


That works very well now Shawn. Thanks!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're most welcome.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #7
kookster


Windows 7 64-bit Windows 7 32-bit
 
 


Thanks Brink works just fine now.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-23-2010   #8
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're most welcome.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
04-28-2010   #9
NoN


Windows 7 Professional SP1 - x64
 
 


Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by Brink View Post
Hello Kookster,

Double check in Windows Features to make sure that you have the Tablet PC Components option checked. Afterwards, it should be available in the Control Panel.

Attachment 56125

Hope this helps,
Shawn
Hi Shawn, i was hanging around reading a thread...and linked here.

Seems Tablet PC Components does exist on my Win 7 (it is checked on mine), and aswell the registry key:
"RIGHT_HANDED
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"MenuDropAlignment"="1"."

No need to create the key now, just have to set to 0 or 1....

Last edited by NoN; 04-28-2010 at 01:24 PM..
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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