Is there a way to customize context menus? For example, if I right click on the task bar a context menu comes up and one of the options is Start Task Manager. This menu option runs tskmgr.exe in the Windows/system32 folder. Can I make a option like this or change the option in the menu to run a different program or shortcut?
There are TONS of ways to customize context menus, and there are many different types of context menus within Windows 7 (i.e. the Start Menu context menu, the Taskbar context menu, the Send To context menu, the Windows Explorer context menus, etc). Take a look through our extensive Tutorials sections, and in addition, here's some third party apps that may offer additional customizing options for you:
ShellMenuView - Disable/enable context menu items of Explorer free and doesn’t require installation
FileMenu Tools allows you to customize the context menu of Windows Explorer, including:
Add some built-in utilities that perform operations on files and folders.
Add customized commands which run external applications, copy or move to a specific folder, or delete specific file types.
Configure the "Send to..." sub-menu.
Enable or disable commands which are added by other applications to the context menu.
Right-Click Extender download and reviews from SnapFiles
Thanks, those links are really useful, but they only handle right clicks for files and folders. They don't work for the taskbar. I did a google search and search of the forums and I didn't find anything.
Have you checked the 'How Do I Customize the Taskbar?' link at the bottom of the Taskbar Menu?
By the way, are you using the old Taskbar Context Menu or the new Tasbar Context Menu? Windows 7 introduced a redesigned right-click Taskbar Context Menu for the Taskbar icons which includes new features, although the old Context Menu from previous versions of Windows is still there. If you're using the old menu, you might not be getting all your available options.
To show the NEW Context Menu - Click and drag upwards an application's Taskbar icon to show the new Taskbar Context Menu using a fade in effect (similar to right-clicking the application's Taskbar icon).
To show the OLD Classic Context Menu – Hit Shift + right-click an application's icon in the Taskbar or Start Menu to show the Classic Windows Context Menu. To get the same result, you can also right-click an application's live Thumbnail.
You can start any program from the taskbar if you make a toolbar. No need to change the existing shortcut. Toolbars - How to Use in Windows 7 and Vista
Is this a general question or do you want to run another program via the taskbar shortcut in place of Windows Task Manager? If it is the latter then many of the available alternatives allow you to replace windows own Task Manager, via their own settings, and then the Taskbar shortcut would open your chosen replacement.
System Explorer
Main > Options > General > check the box- Set System Explorer As Main Task Manager
Process Explorer
From the menu bar select Options and select 'Replace Task Manager' from the drop-down menu
There are others...
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