Solved No context menu when installing programs

[Muyfa666]

I'm going nuts here. Since yesterday, many of my context items from programs I use was gone. This was using Win8.1 Preview x64.

After trying lots of stuff that didn't work, I decided to format my computer (wanted to go back to Win7 anyways) and so I did. Some installing later I'm done. BUT WAIT! In my freshly installed Win7 Ultimate x64 I still don't get any context options when installing most of my programs.

I have no idea how this came to be? My context items worked flawless until yesterday. Virua? Nah - fresh install makes no difference. A Windows update or something?

Please, if anyone have a clue - help.

 

[archer]

Hi Muyfa666, Welcome to Sevenforums.

Please clarify you are not getting any options in the context menu or just some.

You can try using 7zip.Tools>Options.

Hope this helps.

 

[Muyfa666]

7-Zip is actually one of the few programs that DOES work and adds context menu. Very few (or none) of my programs add context anymore. One of the very troublesome programs are hkSFV for example.

 

[archer]

I suggest you use CCleaner. Use the cleaner and the registry cleaner. check all the boxes.
Right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced System Settings, Advanced Tab, Performance-Settings, Uncheck both:

Fade or Slide menus into view and
Fade out Menu Items after clicking

Keep us posted.

 

[Muyfa666]

I use CCleaner about once a month. I tried this, but to avail.

 

[MilesAhead]

I'm going nuts here. Since yesterday, many of my context items from programs I use was gone. This was using Win8.1 Preview x64.

After trying lots of stuff that didn't work, I decided to format my computer (wanted to go back to Win7 anyways) and so I did. Some installing later I'm done. BUT WAIT! In my freshly installed Win7 Ultimate x64 I still don't get any context options when installing most of my programs.

I have no idea how this came to be? My context items worked flawless until yesterday. Virua? Nah - fresh install makes no difference. A Windows update or something?

Please, if anyone have a clue - help.

Are these programs 32 bit programs? Many 32 bit programs will not show a context menu in 64 bit Windows because the Explorer is 64 bit. Perhaps since you reinstalled you have forgotten and expect them all to have a context menu? Have you tried a program you are sure is a 64 bit app and has context menu options?

 

[Muyfa666]

I am very certain the context worked before the weekend. I use the program all the time, so I would notice right away when it stopped working...

 

[Muyfa666]

My guess is that the 64-bit/32-bit suggestion is kind of on the spot. But I am 100% sure I've been using this 32-bit program in a 64-bit environment since Vista. I haven't used a 32-bit since XP.

Is there any way to fix it manually?

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm no expert but I did find one.
Take a look at these Tutorials by Brink. Also go to the bottom of the Tutorial page and there you will find many more options.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/45421-send-context-menu-remove-restore-default-items.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/28677-new-context-menu-remove-restore-default-menu-items.html

 

[DavidE]

Here is another tutorial that has advanced options - can add a program to context menu.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/75606-advanced-context-menu.html

 

[Muyfa666]

I am thankful for your help fellas. But for the program hkSFV this won't work. I have no idea what the command line is for using it, so when I try it as "send to", it just crashes. :-( I cannot understand how this always worked and it just doesn't. I have no idea what is different about both Win7 and Win8...

 

[DavidE]

I found a forum thread about other people having this issue with hkSFV.
It looks like this program is quite old, so compatibility mode may help, or look for a newer program.
Big-O Software; View topic - hkSFV and Windows 7

You could also run a System File Check to make sure you don't have Windows integrity problems.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[MilesAhead]

My guess is that the 64-bit/32-bit suggestion is kind of on the spot. But I am 100% sure I've been using this 32-bit program in a 64-bit environment since Vista. I haven't used a 32-bit since XP.

Is there any way to fix it manually?

A 32 bit program can use the 64 bit context menu if it knows about it. For example 32 bit FreeCommander has an option to show the 32 bit or 64 bit context menu.

The weird thing is I have noticed on my own 64 bit Vista OS that sometimes the Explorer run out of the SysWow64 folder(the 32 bit emulation system in 64 bit Windows) it can be 32 bit or 64 bit. There seems to be no rhyme or reason which comes up. Wreaks havoc with the context menu. The only way to tell is to look in Task Manager and see if that copy of Explorer has the asterisk indicating it's a 32 bit app. Strange.

edit: but I have no way to tell if this is affecting your application though.

 

[Muyfa666]

I read that thread. The problem is, there really is no other tool that works just like I want except for hkSFV.

I am fairly sure it's a Windows Update that changed this. I know for certain that I used the tool from the context menu on the 8th of september, because I organized pictures for backup. Then I installed some updates and it was gone.

I have not been able to try it on any other computer around me, since they all have the latest updates automatically.

I may have to resign on this. :-(

 

[MilesAhead]

Is there the possibility to roll back the updates? Or is being up to date mandatory?

 

[Muyfa666]

Right now, since it's a new installtion and I installed the updates all at once, I'll lose all the updates if I roll back.

Also, rolling back on my work computer is not allowed, so it's hard to try.

 

[DavidE]

Windows supports removing individual updates, so you don't have to roll back and lose all updates.
Are you are allowed to remove individual updates on your work computer ?

You said you went from Windows 8.1 preview back to Windows 7.
In my experience, I would not be allowed to do something like that on a work computer without Management approval, or risk losing my job.

Anyway, I believe I had 24 W7-x64 Updates for the last Patch Tuesday, Sep-10-2013 as:
17 for Office 2010
7 for Windows (and 1 of those was the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool)

Assuming an Office update didn't break hkSFV, you may be able to uninstall each of the 6 Windows updates one at a time to try and determine which update broke it...

 

[Muyfa666]

Yes, I know Windows supports individual removing, but I don't want to refrain from updating for the rest of life.

I am not really allowed to remove any updates from work, but now I'm talking about my personal computer. I just tried hkSFV on my work computer (with all altest updates) to see if it worked there, and it didn't, as expected.

I did a reformat, then installed Win7, then all the updates (ALOT of updates). Then I reinstalled Win8.

Now, strictly speaking about my home computer:

All my updates are dated 2013-09-16 as I installed them all then. If I could find out exactly which updates was released no earlier than 2013-09-08 I could try to remove them individually. If this solved the probem, I could reinstall them one by one to see which one breaks the program.

 

[DavidE]

Here are screen prints showing what I installed for the last Patch Tuesday updates.
You can see the KB #'s, so you can compare what you have and uninstall accordingly.

The system I'm showing has Win 7 x64 Professional and Office 2010 x64.
It is fully up to date, except Bing Bar and Bing Desktop that are hidden unwanted updates.

 

[Muyfa666]

I'll give this a go and let you know if it makes a difference.